Page 19 of Knot Their Valentine

I was shaking my head, attempting to back away, when Quin cut me off. “You don't upset my instincts, Harlow. I like when you're around. I like spending time with you.” Quin reaches over, grabbing my hand, and tugs me into his side. His scent blossoms in the air around us, making me dizzy with need. “This will be fun, and if Cae says anything to piss you off, we can tie him up in my bed.”

Every thought I had about escaping flees my mind as the mental image of Cae tied up in a bed floods in.

Maybe naked.

“I-I have to work tomorrow…” I manage to mumble weakly.

“I promise to have you tucked into bed by ten.” Cae winks.

Maybe it's my hormones, or maybe I spent too much time worrying about Quin's instincts and not enough time worrying about mine. Either way, I really want to say yes.

To stay here with them. To share in this moment with these men that aren’t mine. That can't be mine.

That don't even want me.

But if they don't want me, why do they act like they do? Why would Cae bring me the same gift he brought his Omega?

Why would Quin want me to stay right now? He could have Cae all to himself as they share this romantic moment.

Scents don't lie. Quinton’s peach cobbler scent is like a siren's call, luring me in. Caelum’s Alpha scent of caramelized apricots promises a pack.

A family that wants me. The real me.

The woman I am, not the woman they think they can turn me into.

This is insane. I need to show them that.

I need to make them see that having another Omega around isn't the right call. I'm like a time bomb waiting to go off.

“Let me go change,” I whisper, picking my blanket up off the floor. I feel like I walk away from them in a trance. What I'm doing is reckless. It could get me kicked out. Tonight.

Then I'd be forced to move back in with my parents. I haven't even looked for any Omega housing…

I'm in my closet, staring at all the clothes I've already hung up. I came in here with a specific goal.

My hands tremble slightly as I remove my clothes, until I'm in nothing but my thong.

I grab a thin, white tank top, and a pair of tight, black elastic shorts that show off the curve of my ass.

Glancing in the mirror, you can see my breasts through the shirt.

I still don't have on any scent blocker, but even if I did, I wouldn't use it right now. What I'm about to do requires my scent to be in full bloom for the two men waiting out there.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed being here, even if it was only for six days. The guys are clean and safe. And they're also not my mother.

I guess I have really low standards. Requirement number one for being my roommate? Be anyone other than my mother, and you're all set.

I love the woman, but her constant hovering is more than I can take on a good day. Let alone, every single day.

I tie my pink hair up into a messy bun, clean my makeup up, take one last look in the mirror, and head back to the kitchen.

The second the men see me, I regret my decision. This plan relies on turning them on, to show them that instincts will always trump whatever rational reasoning skills you have. But also on showing them how turned on I am, which means that we're all suffering tonight, that pushing Omegas can have consequences. Hoping that Quin’s repressed instincts realize the dilemma and prove that my presence here was not a good idea. Cae’s petty bullshit aside.

Only, when the three of us go to bed, only one person is going to bed alone. Me.

“I didn't wanna get my clothes dirty,” I mumble with a shrug as I approach the counter, both men keeping their eyes trained on me.

Cae has one hand on the microwave door, but he's facing me as I stop at the edge of the marble topped island. Quinton is across from me, pulling the green leaves off of the strawberries.A neat row of already washed strawberries sit waiting to be skewered on the cutting board in front of him.

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