Page 149 of Knot Like Other Girls

Troy snorts softly. "Us getting the third degree from protective locals? Pretty much every time."

"Usually with more posturing from local alphas," Savva adds, cutting his omelet into perfect squares. "Having you with us changes the dynamic."

"How so?"

"Five lone alphas read as potential trouble," Roman explains. "Military bearing, combat training—it shows, even when we try to downplay it."

"But with an omega..." Cole starts, then seems to reconsider his words.

"With an omega, they assume we have something to protect," Liam finishes for him. "Makes us seem less like mercenaries and more like a pack."

"Which we are," Troy points out, drizzling more syrup over his remaining pancakes. "A pack, I mean."

A pack.

My pack, potentially, if I choose it.

We finish our breakfast amid lighter conversation, with all the alphas offering me bites of their food to make sure I've tried everything. From the corner of my eye, I notice an elderly couple watching our table with curious smiles. The beta woman whispers something to her alpha husband, who nods approvingly. Somehow, despite the intimidating appearance of my alphas, this simple act of sharing food has made us look less threatening to the locals, more like what we're becoming.

A family.

As we prepare to leave, I notice several patrons watching us with open curiosity now. A young woman with a toddler on her hip gives me an encouraging smile. An older man raises hiscoffee mug in a small salute. The initial wariness seems to have transformed into tentative welcome, and I wonder how much of that is due to my presence.

Outside, the day has brightened, patches of blue sky visible between the clouds. The air feels warmer now, and I inhale deeply, enjoying the clean scent of the surrounding wilderness.

"Where to next?" I ask, though I already know the answer.

"Omega shop," Roman says, checking his watch. "Should be open by now."

"Soft Spot," I remember from our earlier conversations.

"Yep," Troy confirms. "The owners are a mated omega pair who've been together thirty years. Moved here from Seattle to open the shop."

"You seem to know a lot about them," I observe.

Troy grins at me. "I make it my business to know everything about everyone. And their honey peanut butter cookies kick ass."

"Of course it's about food," Liam groans, cuffing Troy lightly on the back of the head.

We begin walking down Main Street toward Soft Spot, falling back into our instinctive formation with Roman and Liam leading, and me protected in the middle. The town is fully awake now, with shopkeepers opening their doors and more pedestrians on the sidewalks. A few nod or smile as we pass, that initial small-town friendliness warming as they note my presence among the alphas.

As we turn onto Lakeside Drive, the view opens up dramatically. The street runs parallel to the water, with small jetties extending into the lake and a narrow beach of smooth stones rather than sand. Across the water, mountains rise majestically, their lower slopes covered in dense forest that gives way to exposed rock near the peaks. Even with today's cloud cover, it's breathtaking.

"Wow," I murmur, slowing to take in the view. "Beautiful."

"Just wait until sunset," Savva says beside me, his voice softening as he follows my gaze. "The mountains turn gold and purple."

It can't possibly be more beautiful than this. Can it?

"There's the shop," Troy points out, drawing my attention to a charming storefront about halfway down the block.

Soft Spot occupies what appears to be a converted Victorian house, painted a cheerful buttercup yellow with white trim. Window boxes overflow with colorful flowers and a carved wooden sign in the shape of the Greek omega symbol hangs above the entrance. It's painted with the shop's name in flowing script following the arched shape.

As we walk up to the porch, I notice small details that make the place even more inviting. Wind chimes hanging from the eaves, a collection of painted stones arranged artfully along the walkway, cushioned rocking chairs on the veranda where customers can sit and enjoy the lake view.

"It's perfect," I breathe, already feeling comfortable before we've even stepped inside.

"Thought you'd like it," Roman says, the corner of his mouth lifting in a rare half-smile.

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