Page 1 of The Knotty Omega

CHAPTER ONE

Dear Knotty Omega,

The pack that I’m courting just told me they want me to drop out of school and focus on starting our family. I’m a year from graduating with my master's degree, and they just dropped this bomb on me like it was inevitable, even though we talked about me finishing school. We’re scent-sympathetic. What if I tell them no and they drop me and then I never find a pack that smells as good as they do? What if I listen to them and always regret it after?

Signed,

Uncertain Grad-Student

Those fucking knot-heads. You can’t just change your mind because you think your omega should start popping out babies. My fingers start typing a furious reply, the keys clacking aggressively in the now nearly empty bull pen of the office floor where I work.

Dear Uncertain Grad-Student,

Tell those knot-heads that under no uncertain circumstances will you be giving up YEARS of work, just because they decided

“Hey CJ, how’s it going?” Archie’s upbeat voice jolts me out of my rage, his ocean breeze scent almost immediately calming me. I don't know what it is about him that does it. It's not likeallbeta scents have this calming effect, it just seems to be him.

“Hey Arch,” I swallow, quickly exiting out of my email even though he can’t possibly see past the privacy screen on my computer. “Good day?” I ask, looking up at him where he’s poked his head over my cubicle wall.

Talking with Archie has always been so easy. Like talking to “one of the girls”...that I want to strip down and ride like cowgirl.

He’s been flirty with me since my first day nearly a year ago. I had been over the moon smitten until I saw the bite mark on his neck. A bite mark means one alpha at best, and a pack at worst.

I wish things were different. He’s funny, witty, and snarky as hell.

He could have been perfect.

The beta smiles broadly at me, a dazzling grin that makes my heart skip a beat, despite knowing nothing can ever happen between us. Looking at him makes me feel like a teen again, flipping through my copy of Omega-Bop magazine and swooning over the heartthrobs within the pages.

His mop of wavy black hair reaches his ears, and his amber eyes glint in that way they do when he’s about to make a snarky comment.

“If by good, you mean having to listen to Laura preen about the new alpha she’s supposedly dating for my entire lunch break, then yes, I had a fantastic day.” He rolls his eyes.

“God,” I snort, “is it an obscure Hungarian actor again? Or maybe she’s going after another Turkish prince.” It’s like she thinks that just because she’s the Editor in Chief's personal assistant, we’re not going to question anything she says. Like, okay, maybeoneCzech model is believable. But does she honestly expect us to believe that she’s been whisked off to Europe every other weekend for the last six months by different guys?

“Apparently he’s a tech tycoon from Yemen.” Archie wrinkles his nose, and we both laugh. “Speaking of Alphas, how’s Reggie doing? Still annoyed by you working?”

I sigh.

Reggie.

“He…demands attention when I get home, but nothing that will make me quit my job. Normally a night in on the couch is enough to get him in a better mood.” Best to not lie in this situation.

“Good.” He nods. “We should get everyone together sometime, we could barbecue, hang out by the pool…”

I shake my head. “No, Reggie hates water. - er, pools. And most people. It’s better if we just hang out just the two of us.”

“I hear you.” Archie chuckles. “There’s no reasoning with them once they make their mind up. Mattie still won’t step foot in a mini golf course.”

I want to hear the story. I really do. But hearing more about his alpha will just remind me that he’ll never be mine.

At my silence, his face turns somber and he rubs the back of his neck. “I hope I’m not overstepping, here, Cady…” Oh. He never calls me by my first name. It’s been “CJ” since I shook his hand and introduced myself as Cady Jackman. “And I don’t mean to insinuate anything, but if you’re not happy, or if he’s not treating you right…you can’t break bonds, but I can get my Alphas to talk to him.”

A laugh escapes me. “He’s an asshole, but he’s my asshole. I’m good, Arch. I promise.” I quickly smother the warmth taking over my heart at the fact that he's risking an uncomfortable conversation to make sure I'm okay.

“All I mean is any pack would be lucky to have you, Cady. Beautiful, smart, funny…what’s not to love?” With that, he shoots me a wink and walks out of the office, and I try to pretend that his words didn’t rip my heart out of my chest.

Sighing, I turn back to my computer and open my email back up, Archie’s calming beta scent still lingering in my nose as I delete what I had typed out previously.

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