Page 73 of The Knotty Omega

All of the purring has stopped as Ollie, Archie, Mattie and Simon look between Titus and me, gauging my reaction.

“Daughter?” I ask, standing from Ollie’s lap and taking a step towards my grumpy alpha. “You…do you guys want kids?” We haven’t talked about anything like that yet. We haven’t even talked about bonding yet.

Titus swallows, looking nervously around the room. His honey brown eyes settle on me, his eyes roaming my face, looking for some indication of what I’m feeling. His campfire and toasted marshmallow scent strengthens slightly when he gives a slight nod, his features turning from nervous to certain.

“Someday, yes,” he says, taking a step towards me, “And I won’t pretend that I haven’t thought about what a little girl with your curly blonde hair and my eyes would look like running around here. Or a little boy with Simon's auburn hair and your blues.”

His words make my heart pound in my chest so hard, I can’t even laugh when Ollie goes, “Hey, what about me?!”

Titus rolls his eyes. “Trust me. I’ve gone through every variation possible, I’m just trying to not freak angel out.”

“What do you think, blossom?” Archie comes up next to me, threading his fingers through mine. “Would you ever want little grumpy kids running around?”

“Well…” I clear my throat, “While they aren’t currently on my radar, I would like to have them someday.” Titus gives me a small smile that makes my heart flutter. “But I also think that talking about kids should be talked about after bonds and bites, which was the next thing I wanted to talk to you guys about.”

“What about bonds and bites,tesoro mio?” Mattie asks carefully.

“Well…” my cheeks flush, and I go to sit back down on the couch, while my pack stays standing, staring at me like I’m about to read out lottery numbers. “Everyone knows that alphas near rut most times during an omegas heat, which can make it hard to resist a bonding bite, especially when said omega is begging for it.” I swallow roughly, eyeing each member of my pack carefully. “After my run in with Pack Anderson, I was determined to never have a pack. After meeting all of you though? Living with you, sharing meals, playing…” my lips turn up at the corners in a small smile, “you are nothing like that pack. You encourage me to make my own choices, and there’s no jealousy, no competition, and we all just…fit. So, I want you guys. To bond me. If you’ll have me.”

My words seem to unleash a dam of activity and I’m swept into so many arms at once I can’t keep straight what limb belongs to who. Kisses are being peppered all over my face, blinding smiles fill my sight, and words of praise fill my ears.

“You have made me the happiest alpha alive,amore mio,” Mattie purrs, pulling me into his arms.

“Hell yeah! I’m gonna bond the fuck outta you, Tink.” Ollie comes up behind me and nuzzles my neck, making me giggle.

Someone tugs on my arm until I’m pulled from between Ollie and Mattie and into Titus’ embrace. “You mean it?” He asks softly. “You can’t leave my grumpy ass if we bond you.”

“I’ve never meant anything more,” I smile up at him and then Simon is in front of me, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.

“I can’t wait to feel you in here,” he takes my hand and presses over his heart, which I can feel beating wildly.

And then Archie is standing in front of me, looking a little unsure of himself. Mattie places a reassuring hand on his shoulder and nods at him.

“Blossom?” Archie asks tentatively, holding out his arms.

“What’s wrong, Arch?” I frown, wanting to smooth away the crease between his brows.

“Would you…I mean…would you want to…” he rubs the back of his neck, looking to Matie for reassurance. I don’t like that he’s so nervous. What’s going on? Before I can ask, he finally spits it out. “Will you bond me during your heat?”

My jaw nearly drops. “Can…can I do that?”

Mattie nods emphatically. “Yes. It only works during the omega’s heat, but they are able to form direct bonds with betas as well.”

“Oh, Arch,” I say softly, stepping up to him and wrapping my arms around his waist. “If I had known I could do that, I would have offered it up a long time ago.”

His breath catches as his arms come around me. “Really?”

I smile, resting my chin on his chest as I look up at him. “Really. I didn’t have any beta dads, so I didn’t even now that was a thing. I figured I’d be able to feel you through my bond with Mattie. But having a direct line to you? That is so much better.”

He leans down and captures my lips in a soft kiss. “I love you,” he murmurs, nuzzling his nose against mine.

“I love you too, my Omega-Bop Teen heartthrob.”

Archie barks a laugh. “Omega-Bop Teen heartthrob?”

Chuckling, I give him a wink. “You always reminded me of the boys I would crush on in those magazines as a teen.”

“So it’s settled,” Simon looks around the room, “we’ll bond during Cady’s heat. There’s a lot of research that says how beneficial it is to wait until the end—”

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