Page 85 of Knot Like Other Girls

Roman's eyes close briefly, as if gathering strength. "With your scent matches."

The words hang in the air between us. Five simple syllables that rewrite everything I thought I knew.

"What?" My voice comes out as a whisper.

"We're your scent matches, Bella," Troy says quietly. "All of us."

The world tilts on its axis.

Scent matches?

"No, that can't... you would have said something." Yet even as I protest, pieces start clicking into place. The instant connection I felt when they arrived. The way their scents call to me like nothing I've ever experienced. The comfort and safety I feel in their presence.

"We've been wearing scent blockers," Roman explains, still holding me steady. "You're engaged. We were hired to protect you, not to complicate your life and put additional pressure on you."

A hysterical laugh bubbles up in my throat. "Not engaged yet. And he was cheating on me the whole time."

"I wanted to kill him," Liam growls, and the naked honesty in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. "Still do."

Another cramp, worse than before, makes me gasp. My legs give out completely, and Roman scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing. The movement presses me against his chest. His body is so warm, so solid against mine, and every cell in my body is screaming for more.

They're my scent matches.

It makes no sense and perfect sense at the same time.

The way I've been drawn to them from the start. The inexplicable comfort I feel when I'm around these alphas. The flutter in my chest when Cole gave me that carved duck. The rush of energy during training sessions with Liam. The laughter that comes so easily with Troy. The quiet moments with Savva. Roman's steadying presence.

It was never gratitude or friendship or even simple attraction. It was this—this bone-deep recognition that's now impossible to ignore as my heat strips away every barrier I've carefully constructed.

"We need to get her somewhere private," Savva says, his voice tight with restraint. "The living room is too exposed."

"Guest suite," I manage to say between shallow breaths. "My backup suppressants... in my purse."

They’re right about one thing. If they are my scent matches, and I’m already feeling the heat this intensely, it won’t be enough to stave it off completely, but it might help. Buy me some time to process this.

Roman's arms tighten around me as he strides toward the hallway, the others following at a careful distance. Each step jostles me against his chest, sending sparks of sensation through my oversensitive skin. His scent wraps around me—cedar and rain—making my head spin with want.

Another cramp hits me as we reach the guest suite, so intense I cry out, clutching at Roman's shirt. He kicks the door open, carrying me swiftly to the bed. As soon as he tries to set me down, I cling tighter, unwilling to lose the contact.

Troy enters moments later with my purse. His usual easy smile is nowhere to be seen, replaced by an expression of tightly controlled restraint. I notice he's staying by the door, keeping his distance.

They're all keeping their distance now, each alpha positioned around the room like sentinels. Savva stands by the window, his knuckles white where he grips the sill. Liam leans against the wall, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Even Cole lingers in the doorway, though he looks ready to bolt at any moment. Roman stands beside the bed, watching me with those golden-hazel eyes, so dark now they're almost black.

"Here." Troy tosses my purse to Roman, who catches it one-handed.

With trembling fingers, I dig through the bag, finally locating the small case of suppressants I keep for an emergency. The pills are designed for breakthrough symptoms, not a full heat, but they should take the edge off enough for me to think clearly.

"Water," I croak, and Savva moves immediately, retrieving a bottle from the mini-fridge in the corner.

I swallow two pills, chasing them with half the bottle of water. My throat is parched, my skin burning. Everything hurts and aches with an intensity I've never experienced before. Is this what a full heat feels like? How do omegas survive this without going mad?

"How long until they start working?" Roman asks, his voice rough.

"Twenty minutes, maybe?" I curl around myself, hugging my knees to my chest. "I've never had to use them before."

Twenty minutes feels like an eternity when every second drags like glass across raw nerves. I focus on my breathing, trying to ignore the way my body is screaming for alpha touch.

For their touches.

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