Page 52 of Knot His Reality

As soon as I sit, Aubrey is offering me a cup of coffee. “I don’t know how you take it, but it looks like you could use this.”

The coffee smells great, but he smells even better. This morning, I’m able to pick up all the notes of his scent—peach, grapefruit, cherry blossom, and vanilla. Still unexpected but lovely.

“Thank you,” I shoot him a grateful smile as I reach for the sugar and creamer until it’s perfect.

“It’s usually frowned upon to infer that an omega doesn’t look good,” Santiago says, voice haughty.

My eyes narrow in his direction as I take a long sip of my coffee, internally cursing as I burn my tongue. “I didn’t sleep well last night, Santiago. It would’ve been weird if someone didn’t mention it. At no point in time did he say I didn’t look good, but even if he had, it would be understandable. Believe it or not, I have a mirror in my suite, and I know just how bad I look right now.”

Oh, boy. It looks like I won’t be holding my tongue today.

Wiping a hand over my face, I shake my head. The hand holding my coffee shakes, and it’s all just too much. As much anxiety as it gives me, there has to be a conversation about the previous night. My well-being is something I need to take very seriously, and if I allow this to continue, I won’t have the energy needed to meet my last four suitors tonight.

“You know what? We’re not doing this today. This tension is exactly why I didn’t sleep well last night. While I understand that not all suitors are going to get along with one another, last night was not okay. Santiago, you are one of nineteen suitors. The way you treated Gracie, and even Aubrey, last night was unacceptable. You don’t have to agree with what she’s saying, but you do need to respect her as a person.

“Nolan, if you expect to be someone for me to seriously consider as being a part of my pack, you have to interact with me and the other suitors. I’m choosing a pack here, not just a single mate. If you cannot get along with others, then you’ll have no place in my pack. That goes for both of you. Confronting people is not something I do easily, so I want you to understand just how upset this has me. If it continues, the date will either end or individuals might be asked to leave.”

Santiago frowns as he tilts his head. “I’m not sure I understand?”

“Really? You don’t understand that scoffing while Gracie was talking about something she loves was rude and inappropriate? Talking over her and down to her?” I can’t tell if he’s being serious right now. Surely, he can’t be, right?

He waves dismissively. “I’m just not interested in the same things she is. I’m sure the twenty-three-year age gap has something to do with that.”

“Do not dismiss me.” I slam my hands onto the table, watching as four sets of eyes widen. “I’m bringing you an issue that upset me badly enough that I went to bed early and didn’t sleep. You don’t just get to wave me off as if you’ve done nothing wrong. My intention is to send no one home at tomorrow’s rose ceremony, but I will not keep someone who acts like I’m overreacting. Is this how you expect your omega to want to be treated? Because if so, you have the wrong fucking omega.”

“Is there a problem here?” Tessa asks, hovering in the doorway with eyes ablaze as she glares at Santiago.

I shrug, leaning back in my chair as I pin the alpha with my gaze. “I don’t know. Is there?”

He shakes his head with a sigh. “Fuck. No. Damn it. I’m sorry, Remington. You’re right that I’m dismissing your concerns, and that’s not okay. Nor was it okay to be dismissive of Gracie last night. I’m already fucking this up.”

“You are,” I agree, relaxing slightly as I watch the put-together alpha losing it. “At least you’re moving in the right direction now.”

“I’m aware I have some bad habits when it comes to other people. It has caused some issues at work, and it’s something I’m working on.” Santiago shakes his head. “Clearly, I’ve already fallen back into those bad habits. I know an apology won’t make up for the way I treated either of you—or you, Aubrey—but I am sorry. You were right to call me out on it, and if I do it again, I would appreciate you mentioning it to me.

“I was raised to act a certain way around others, and changing my way of thinking has been difficult. I told you my family is stubborn, but I didn’t mention how arrogant and elitist they are—that I was. That’s another reason I chose to work outside of the family business. I’d like to tell you a story, if you wouldn’t mind indulging me? Not that I deserve it.”

Gracie gives him a soft smile. “Everyone messes up from time to time. We’re all a work in progress. We need to be patient with one another when a mistake is made. Just dismissing someone will not help them learn. It will cause them to harden their hearts to others. I accept your apology, and I would like to hear your story if Remington would like to.”

That right there is why the crack about the age difference between Santiago and Gracie made me so angry. She’s so mature and wise beyond her years.

Santiago ducks his head. “You honor me, little beta. Remington, should I tell my story or go pack my bags?”

“No one is packing their bags. Tessa, thank you. I believe we have it from here.” My smile is tight as she leaves us, but I know she won’t go too far just in case something else happens. “I’m willing to hear you out, but I need you to understand that an apology isn’t enough. I expect you to prove through your actions that you truly are sorry. Before you tell us your story, I’d like to check in with Nolan. Also, for the love of the gods, please call me Remy.”

“Oh, ummm…I’m sorry, Remy.” Nolan shakes his head. “I wasn’t trying to be an asshole last night or anything. I’m just not great with people, and I figured it would be better to sit back and see the group dynamic before trying to figure out where I fit in. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to any of you, I just like to get a feel for things before throwing myself in. I promise I’ll interact more today.”

Now I feel like an ass. If anyone understands being an introvert and not wanting to put yourself out there until you’re comfortable, it’s me.

I sigh. “No, please don’t apologize, Nolan. I’m the one who owes you an apology. Believe it or not, I’m an introvert, so I understand what you’re saying. I just took it as you being disinterested, and this is what I get for making assumptions. Gracie is right. We all make mistakes, so I hope you’ll forgive me for my misstep.”

Nolan’s mouth turns up at the corner in a half smile, which is the most emotion I’ve seen from him so far. As he speaks, he leans closer and allows me to fully enjoy his cardamon, sage, and clove scent. “There’s nothing to forgive, and I still stand by my statement. We’re all strangers and the only way we can become something more than strangers is by interacting.”

“I’m starting to feel a lot better about today,” I admit, my attention falling back to Santiago. “As I said, I’m willing to hear you out. If you believe there’s a story we need to hear, I’m happy to hear it. Please don’t take the fact that I’m going to be eating my breakfast during it as disinterest. My stress levels are finally low enough for me to realize just how hungry I am.”

“Yes, please eat, Remy.” He pauses, possibly collecting his thoughts before he continues, “I was engaged once, just after I graduated with my master’s degree. I met Yolanda at school, and she was unlike anyone I grew up around in my affluent family. She was there on a scholarship, as there was no way she could afford the university’s tuition without it. She grew up in the lower middle class, her family having just enough to be happy. I proposed the night of my graduation and took her home to introduce her to my family.” He looks away. “That turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life.”

Any story that starts out with the wordsbiggest mistake of my lifeis usually a pretty damn important one.

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