Page 93 of The Knotty Omega

The words had poured out of me, raw and real, starting with how I had wanted a pack since I was a little girl, but after an incident at eighteen that led me to me leaving my family, I realized that what I had thought was doting and loving behavior was actually stifling and controlling. The incident left me desperate to avoid a pack at any costs, and I started on heat suppressants, closely followed by scent blockers.

I worked on my bachelor’s, had an internship in the Starbook City Gazette and then the Modern Nest Magazine while I worked on my master’s. Then, a year ago, I was hired as a staff writer, and six months after that, I was approached for a specialty article. Glossing over some of the details regarding the deal I made with Grady, I say that I volunteered to write an article on the OMS. From there I detailed how I felt as I went through the matching process, noting how comfortable the setting of the waiting area made me and how the employees put me at ease. How professional and kind my security guard was, as well as how he stepped in to save me when one of my packs got handsy.

Then I get to how I met my pack. How the scent cards had smelled wonderful, but was nothing compared to the real thing. How I fell in love with my alphas one by one, from Ollie’s sunshine to Mattie’s calmness, Simon’s carefulness, to Titus’ overprotective nature and Archie’s ability to snark but still keep his cool. I go over our dates, (giving the PG version), and include how we had a little bit of baggage to get through, but now I’ve found my pack and we’re happier than we’ve ever been.

I finish the piece, tears welling in my eyes as I think about everything I’ve been through to get to this point.

Writing that had been…therapeutic. Not that everything that’s happened to me the last month has been traumatic, but it has beena lot. To see the story of me meeting my pack written out like a love story…I have tears in my eyes as I stare at the screen of my computer, overcome with emotion.

That’s where the rest of my pack finds me, sitting cross legged in my nest as I stare at the screen. My overwhelmed scent must have reached out to them like a beacon.

“What’s wrong, angel?” Titus comes up to the nest, looking at me with concern in his eyes. All my guys surround me, looking at me with the same worrying look.

“Was there another email from the Sheffield pack?” Simon asks cautiously.

“No, nothing like that.” I shake my head. “I…I finished writing my article on the OMS process and it just seems so clinical. So…stale. I wrote a different version.”

Turning around my computer to face them, they all gather around the screen to read. I watch as their expressions turn from cautious, to angry, to smug, to happy all in the span of a few minutes.

By the time they’re done reading, they all have tears in their eyes, and Mattie leans over to press a kiss to my cheek. “That is beautifully written,amore mio.”

“Thank you,” I bite my lip, “I’m just debating on which version to send to Grady.”

“Send them both.” Archie shrugs. “He can decide which direction he wants to go with for the article, but even if they don’t use that version, it’s still a masterpiece.”

Ollie grins as he crawls into the nest next to me, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Damn straight, Tink. It belongs in a museum.”

I snort a laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

Simon chuffs and climbs in as well. “We certainly would, sweetheart. You’re so talented and brave. We’re so lucky to have you as a mate.”

The rest of the guys quickly agree, and soon I’m buried beneath a pile of male bodies, all pressing kisses to my face and hair, lovingly caressing anything they can reach.

Thisis what heaven feels like.

***

“What thefuckdo you want?” Titus snarls, pushing me behind him.

“I just need to talk to you,” Brody says quickly, desperation lining his voice.

The whole pack had gone out for dinner, and we were on our way back to the car when Brody Sheffield caught up to us. My pack is snarling around me, all noise aimed at the lone Sheffield pack member.

“Hey man, I don’t say this a lot, but you need to fuck off,” Ollie snaps.

“Listen,” Brody holds up his hands in a placating gesture. “I had no part in any of what my pack has done. I didn’t even know about any of it until the police brought me in for questioning.”

I mean, he wasn’t on the security tape that showed them near my apartment building. Is it possible he’s telling the truth?”

Titus growls. “Like we’d believe a word—”

“Let him talk,” I say, stepping out from behind Titus. “Brody was least asshole-y on our date, and when they cornered me at the auction, he was trying to get them to back off.”

My pack grumbles, but they let him speak.

“Chadwick figured out that you’re the…” he looks around before whispering, “the Knotty Omega.” Well, we already knew that, but still. Shit. “They…” he shakes his head, “they’ve lost their minds. They keep blaming you for Trina leaving us when it wastheirfault. They knew how much her schooling meant to her. Or maybe they didn’t, I’m not really sure now.I’mthe one who would help her study all the time.”

“Why are you telling us this?” Titus snaps, his fingers twitching in an itch to pull me closer.

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