Page 46 of Knot His Reality

“Okay, it won’t take me much longer. I’ll be right out.” I pull on my clothes and run a brush through my hair before throwing it up in a messy bun. I don’t have time for makeup, but I don’t mind.

I prefer to wear makeup, but it’s not because I don’t think I look pretty without it. I just like the way it makes me look and feel. I’m confident enough in my skin to not need makeup.

Brooke is practically dancing from foot to foot when I open the bathroom door.

“Finally!” she shouts, pushing me to the side. “I didn’t know you were going to take that long of a shower. I have to pee so bad.”

I laugh, feeling a little bad for hogging the bathroom, but I know there are other bathrooms she could’ve used. As soon as she’s finished, we’re out the door and heading toward the second-floor living room.

Bree’s already there, chatting with the other suitors when we arrive. She lifts her hand in greeting, waving us over to join them. There are four couches and a loveseat set up in a horseshoe, facing a camera. There are a few others set up at different angles, but this seems to be the primary ones.

“I’m sorry we were almost late. I decided I needed a shower,” I tell Bree, and she nods.

“That’s not a problem. We still have a few minutes. The suitors tend to arrive a little early just because you’re all sequestered up here. Go ahead and meet the other suitors and then we can get going.”

Nodding, I turn to find the twins waiting for me. “Hey, Alexei. Nikolai. This is my roommate, Brooke.”

“Twins?” Brooke’s eyes widen. “Damn, you’re both hot. Sorry. I’m Brooke. Wait, she said that already. Hi.”

Alexei laughs, reaching out to take her hand. “It is nice to meet you, Brooke.”

“And an accent? I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Brooke lifts her hand to her forehead and pretends to swoon. “I’m just kidding. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

Nikolai just nods at her as Alexei wraps an arm around my shoulders and drags me toward the others. “We have met everyone. We will introduce you.”

“Thanks, Alexei.”

He pulls me over to a woman, who must be Victoria, and when she turns around, I understand what Brooke was going on about. She really is the prettiest woman I’ve ever met, and I can’t believe she’s forty.

“Victoria, this is Camila. Victoria is the head alpha of her pack. This is Eric and Milo.” Alexei points to the broad alpha and the slender beta, who’s grinning at me. I only get a chance to wave and say hello before he drags me to the next group of people where Rhys is chatting.

I meet Quinn, the hot alpha actor I’ve had a crush on for years, plus alphas Daniel and Lee. This time he gives me a chance to at least shake their hands before he’s pulling me toward one of the couches.

“Alexei, what are you doing?” I ask with a laugh.

“I am making sure you are safe. These are new people, and we do not know them. Nikolai and I will keep you safe.” He pulls me onto the couch beside him, Nikolai taking my other side.

I bite my lip, my eyes meeting Brooke’s. She’s wiggling her eyebrows up and down, and I don’t even want to know what she’s thinking right now.

“While I appreciate you both looking out for me, I don’t think I’m unsafe.”

Alexei shrugs. “And we will make sure you are not. It is fine. We are friends. Do not worry.”

I don’t think I’m going to convince them I don’t need their protection. It’s adorable, and more than a little hilarious. As if there aren’t cameras everywhere. Patting their knees, I settle into the couch.

“Thank you.”

Nikolai grunts and Alexei beams at me.

Rhys snickers as he walks by, obviously having heard what Alexei said. “And what about me? Do I not need protection?”

“No,” Nikolai growls. “You are alpha. Alpha can protect self. Camila is beta female. So small.”

I bury my face in my hands, biting back my laughter. He sounds so serious and sincere.

“I’m a beta and smaller than she is. Does that mean you’ll protect me, too?”

Glancing over my hands, I see my redhead roommate glancing between the twins, her mouth turned up in amusement.

---