Page 4 of Knot Their Valentine

My style doesn’t help. But for her, I tried to look semi Omega-ish. Rather than black, I wore white. I paired my dress with white knee-high fishnets with a pink bow at the top. My light pink chunky heels are the same shade of pink as my hair, and I removed all my usual black jewelry just to please her.

She turns to smile at me, and for just a second, our eyes meet, and I think…fucking here we go. She gives me a once over, but rather than the annoyance I expected, she gives a barely perceptible nod.

For one silly second, I feel like maybe she’s not disappointed in me. Then she opens her mouth and lies pour out.

My heart aches as I listen to the woman who birthed me speak.

“Harlow is a second-year psychology major.” Wrong, I dropped out. “She loves pack dates and group activities.” Wrong again. I have never, in my twenty years of life, ever been on a pack date. “She’s active in the community and loves volunteering at local charities.” Okay, half lie? I do volunteer,but that's something that bothers her… I teach art at a local community center from time to time. Something she calls a waste of time. “Harlow enjoys outdoor activities and sports and would be a great companion for any pack looking to explore the wilderness.” The fuuuuuuck?

In what fucking universe, Mother?

It takes extreme effort to control the looks I want to send her way as I stare out into the crowd, smiling like this isn’t absolute fucking bullshit. My eyes lock on a pair of amber ones, and for a startling moment, I think someone sees me for the real me.

Caelum looks…angry? Upset or at least a little bothered. He knows everything my mother just said is bullshit. For just a moment, I use Caelum like an anchor, keeping myself upright and whole.

Then he goes and ruins it. My mother starts the bid, and with a smirk, Caelum raises his paddle.

I watch as Jack’s paddle shoots into the air next, and I relax marginally. Hopefully, Jack doesn't take that whole outdoors bullshit too seriously.

But as my mother rattles off numbers, Caelum continues to shove his fucking paddle into the air every time Jack outbids him.

“Don’t. You. Dare,” I mouth as discreetly as possible.

The fucker blows me a kiss, and I nearly snarl. I snap my gaze away from him and focus on Jack. Please save me. I fucking beg you, Jack.

“You motherfucker,”I growl, shoving Caelum as he smiles at me like the smug bastard he is.

His scent, meant to draw Omegas in like a magnet, fills the hall, trapping me where I stand. Fucking apricots, juicy, warm, caramelized apricots.

I am not the exception to that rule, and the more compatible two people are, the more their scent reminds the other of their favorite things.

I could die beneath a mountain of sweets, a very happy Omega. Images of licking Caelum until I find out if he tastes as good as he smells fill my head, and I try to remind myself he’s Satan's rejected spawn.

“That’s not very nice, Harlow.” The fuck grins at me, and I take a deep breath, ready to stab him. He came to this clusterfuck alone, which means I don’t have my usual buffer of Quinton to distract me from the full force of how frustrating Caelum is.

“Why the ever loving–”

“Any way I can convince you to drop your bid, Caelum?” Jack asks as he approaches from behind me. I snap my jaw shut and step forward so I can spin around and face the other Alpha. I pout at Cae.

“Yes, can’t you drop your bid? I would much rather spend my Valentine's Day with Jack’s pack.” I blink up at Cae, trying not to glare daggers at him in front of Jack.

“No chance. Fair is fair. I won the Omega. She’s all ours this year.” Cae grins, patting Jack on the back. “Better luck next time, bud,” and then he’s walking away.

Cae

As I step into the apartment, Quinton jumps up from the couch, a huge smile on his face, making my heart ache. Lachlan grins, watching the way Quin lights up.

I wrap Quin in my arms and hug him to my chest. He buries his face against my neck, and I groan. He feels so good. He smells so good. He’s so fucking good.

I want to bend him over right here. Let Lachlan watch me fuck our Omega, but I know Quin wouldn’t want that… At least, I don’t think he would. Not yet. But soon, I hope.

“So I have something to tell you both,” I say as I lead Quin to the couch.

“Oh, hell, what now?” Lachlan turns the TV off and looks up at me. I snort, shaking my head at him, making room for Quin to curl up against my side.

“Harlow is back in town, and she needs a place to live. I offered our guest room.” I get right to the point.

“She’s an unmated Omega…” Lachlan looks between Quin and me, and I nod. I know what he’s thinking. But he doesn’t know what I know. What Quin really needs. What I realized almost too late has been missing all along.

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