Page 26 of The Knotty Omega

CHAPTER TWELVE

“What the fuck, Arch?!” The words are out of my mouth as soon as I spot Archie among the pack that I’m supposed to meet. I may have brushed it off as a simple coincidence, if Brennan hadn’t just told me they planned on meeting me outside —and they’re the only ones standing here.

“CJ, I can explain,” Archie says slowly, holding his hands up as he approaches me, the rest of the pack having the good sense to stay back. I can’t even look at the rest of them right now. Archie is bad enough with his gorgeous face and blue polo.

I back up, running into Brennan’s chest. “Are you okay, Miss Cady? Do you know them?”

“I work with the beta,” I say quietly.

“Are they a threat?” Despite the anger I feel towards Archie right now, I can’t say that I find them to be dangerous.

Next to Archie is a tall, golden-tanned man with dark brown hair and deep green eyes, standing at least at 6’5”. Based on the protective hand that’s placed on the beta’s shoulder, I’d assume this alpha ishisalpha, Matteo.

His green button down brings out his eyes, and his gray slacks are obviously tailored, not to mention the way his sleeves are rolled up is giving serious arm porn.

To Archie’s right is a man the same height as him, about 6’1”. He has auburn hair that is pushed back but parted down the middle, the longest strands hitting at his eyebrows. His black square framed glasses make him look distinguished, while his hazel eyes shine with warmth. His light purple dress shirt is a bold choice to be sure, but it works for him.

On the beta's other side, is a man so jacked I’m surprised he’s not tipping over from his muscle mass. He’s a little taller than the redhead, with brown hair in a buzz cut, and honey brown eyes that look at me with a guardedness my omega wants to wipe away. Black tribal style tattoos run up his arms, disappearing under his shirt sleeves. His black t-shirt and dark green cargo pants scream ex-military, something I didn’t realize I was attracted to until now.

Lastly, on Mattie’s other side, is the tallest of them all. Hair so blonde it almost looks bleached, his blue eyes nearly piercing through my soul. Colorful tattoos climb up both his arms, the half rolled up sleeves of his flannel covering the top part of his arms. There’s a tattoo with three roses covering the right half of his neck. Black gauges pierce his ears, and while he’s leaner than the two bigger alphas, it’s obvious he’s built. I might be intimidated if I saw him on the street, but his smile is pure joy as he takes me in, one that I find myself returning briefly before shaking my head, focusing my attention back on Archie.

Despite feeling like I walked into some sort of set-up, I don’t feel like I’m in any kind of danger. I sigh. “I don’t think so.”

Archie moves closer, his hands still raised as his pack looks apprehensive behind him. “Look, I know this looks bad—”

“Looksbad?” I let out a bitter laugh. “How the fuck did this even happen Arch? You don’t look nearly as shocked to see me as I am to see you standing here. What, did you…did you rig the scent cards or something? Do you have an in with the OMS?”

“No, Cady…” He shakes his head. “I have a confession.”

My eyes narrow as I cross my arms. “Speak, then.”

He takes another step before his nostrils flare and his eyes widen. “Shit, Cady, did you stop your medication? You smell—”

“After you make your confession, you’re going to tell me how you know about that.” I hiss, jamming a finger into his chest and knowing there's only one medication he could be talking about. I had decided to not take my TruBond pill last night, just so I could avoid another confrontation like the one with pack dickhead.

He has the decency to look sheepish. “Do you remember the pocket square you found? The one that smelled like bourbon and caramel?”

“Yes…?” It comes out sounding like a question, though I suddenly have a feeling I know where this is going.

“That was Mattie’s. I may have…snuck it into the office and planted it by your desk.”

Well now I feel like a right idiot. That was an alpha’s smell?

Oh.Fuck.

That washisalpha’s smell.

I’ve never reacted like that to a scent before. But why did he do that?

“Tell me,” I choke out, Brennan still standing silently behind me.

Archie’s pack is still standing silently behind him, like they’re too afraid to move. Like if they do, it might spook me and send me running.

“It was about two months ago. It was the day you ran into me…” he trails off. I remember that day. I had been carrying a huge stack of papers to help the fashion development department with something and ran straight into him, sending the papers flying everywhere.

“I remember.” My voice comes out a whisper as I stare at the beta I’ve been half in love with for so long.

“When I got home, your scent from when you ran into me…it was all over me. The guys…they went nuts. It was obvious you guys were at least a scent sympathetic match. That’s when I stopped feeling so guilty about the major crush I had on you.” He gives a wry smile. “But then, the next day when I was going to talk to you…”

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