Page 32 of The Knotty Omega

“Fine, but I get to buy ice cream,” she snarks, standing up from her seat.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time!” Ollie jumps up from the table. “I’ll race you outside!”

They take off like two kids competing for shotgun and Simon, Archie, Matt and I all stare after them.

Damn, this little omega is really going to keep us on our toes.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Idon’t remember the last time I felt so…free.

There was an ice cream shop across the street from the restaurant we had eaten at, and after buying Brennan a cone, I told him to feel free to take off. He had me sign some kind of form on his tablet, and then he left me with a hand on the shoulder, telling me he’s happy for me.

Mattie has a double scoop of pistachio ice cream, while Archie has the almond fudge. Ollie, unsurprisingly, went for rainbow sherbert. Simon asked for strawberry cheesecake.

Titus tried to not get anything, but after pulling out my omega-grade pouty lip, he succumbed and got a small chocolate cone.

I’m still a little wary. I want things to work out with them, I really do. But what if, scent match or not, it doesn’t? I’ll be right back where I started, packless, jobless, with only an asshole cat to keep me company.

We walk through the park just down the street, grass covering the small hills and trees surrounding the man-made ponds. Archie and Matteo walk in front of us, hand in hand, and I can’t help but notice how cute they are together. Matteo calls Archiecucciolo, so I have to make a note to look up what it means later. Simon and Ollie are on either side of me, while Titus brings up the rear, eyes darting around the area like he’s going to take down a frisbee if it gets too close to us.

Simon has just finished telling me about some of his work at the hospital when Ollie sidles up next to me. “So, Tink,” he takes a giant lick of rainbow sherbert ice cream, “you seemed comfortable with your OMS bodyguard back there.”

I nod, running my tongue along the side of my salted caramel ice cream. I don’t miss the way his eyes track the movement. If one thing’s for sure, physical attraction is not an issue with this pack. Ollie’s massive build,tattoos, and piercings scream “bad boy”, but his personality is more like an excitable puppy.

“Yeah, he’s been with me this week. We became sort of friends after my first pack meeting fizzled out.”

“Oh?” Ollie’s brows raise in interest. “Did something happen?”

My nose wrinkles, and I shrug. “Not really…except…okay, don’t judge me.” My cheeks flame and Ollie’s eyes light up in glee. “They were perfectly nice and respectable. They were proper gentlemen, but…”

“...But…?” Ollie prods, grinning.

“They were just so boring!” My head drops back as I complain. “They kept talking about how they golf and go fishing which is fine for them, but come on! Don’t make it your entire personality! They all looked the same, dressed the same, and worked for a hedge fund.”

“Snore,” Ollie says dramatically.

“Exactly.” I nod, pointing at him with my ice cream cone. “You get it. So, I decided to shake things up a little by mentioning my reading habits.”

Ollie’s eyes light up as he remembers Brennan's comment from earlier and he jumps up and down like a toddler, pointing at me. “Oh! Oh! Monster smut! Monster smut!”

Titus comes up behind him and cuffs him on the back of the head. “Stop yelling ‘monster smut’ in public.”

That gets a giggle out of me as Ollie shoots Titus a glare. Then he turns his puppy dog eyes towards me. “Ty hurt me, Tink. Kiss it better?”

Rolling my eyes, I take step toward him. Peppermint and chocolate flood my senses, and before I can even pretend like I’m going to kiss the back of his head better, he bends down and brushes his lips against mine, then backs up with a triumphant grin. “All better!”

“Alright Casa Nova,” Titus hooks an arm around Ollie’s neck and drags him backwards. “Give the rest of the pack some time to chat with the omega.”

As if on cue, the rest of the pack stops walking, but I continue until I’m just behind Mattie and Archie. They separate, and each put an arm around me so I’m in the middle of them. Sweet caramel and bourbon send a wave of need through me, while the scent of ocean breeze calms me, and I let out a sigh of contentment as I nestle into both their sides.

“Tesoro mio,” Mattie purrs, “you seem to be getting along with everyone so far.” I resist the urge to melt into his side at his purr. That is some potent shit.

“I am,” my voice is breathy as I look up at him. “I just want you to know, I’ll never try to get between the two of you...except right now obviously. Or like…when you want me to be.” My cheeks heat at the thought of being between the two of them in bed, but I push through what I'm trying to say. “I just mean I’ll never try to keep the two of you from each other. It’s obvious you love each other very much.”

“I did not think you would,” Matteo says, a kind smile on his face. “Archie has told me many things about you, one of them being your kind and understanding heart.”

I turn my face downward, smiling shyly. “I have to admit, Matteo, I’m glad to finally meet you as well. I’ve heard a thing or two about you too.”

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