Page 38 of Knot Letting Go

Yet it was ridiculous. I forced myself to remember the split lip and black eye. The brothers had fought over me. Life was no fairy tale.

I wouldn’t be able to choose either. I couldn’t forever set them against each other. It would be too cruel.

That meant leaving, because I didn’t think either of them would pretend nothing had happened between us after my heat was done. I wouldn’t be able to either, and I didn’t want to leave.

Tears flowed as I washed off. What should I do?

I finally turned off the water when my fingers were wrinkly, dried off, and dressed. The sun hadn’t risen yet and wouldn’t for at least another hour. I was too wound up to sleep. I sat down with my phone, but nothing was keeping my attention.

Quill or Konstantin? To stay or to leave?

I’d left home just over two weeks ago for the wedding, and I’ve already gotten myself into a situation that I’d never thought I’d be in. All my life, I’d followed the rules, and then with a few moments where I’d forgotten myself, I was in heat.

I needed to talk this through. Trying to handle it alone was driving me mad. I took a deep breath and opened up my favorite contacts list.

All of my friends had been through their heats, and all of them were unexpected. Nicolette should be sleeping, and if she wasn’t, she would be dealing with her twins. I didn’t want to disturb her. Callista… I wasn’t ready for that conversation yet.

That left Kienna, who was in Ireland with her mates. She’d be awake, though.

I hesitated for a moment. Kienna was wild and crazy. She was the opposite of me. Yet when her heat had hit, she did everything in her power to flee. So no matter that we were different, she should understand how I was feeling.

I tapped her name and let the phone ring. My shoulders sagged when it went to voicemail. I hung up without leaving a message.

Guess I was in this alone.

Ten seconds later, my phone rang for a facetime chat with Kienna. I clicked to accept and was greeted by my friend’s forehead and a gorgeous blue sky behind her.

Kienna adjusted her phone and grinned at me. “Good morning, girl!”

“Hi Kienna. How’s the trip going?”

“I. LOVE. Ireland. I never want to leave.” Kienna took a bite of toast with something brightly colored on it. “We’re just having some breakfast before we go out for more tourist stuff. I have discovered orange marmalade and I can never be without it again. I will marry orange marmalade and live in an orange marmalade house.”

One of the guys shouted a protest and they laughed. Kienna stuck out her tongue at them. “You’ll just have to share me.”

“I’m so glad you’re having a good time.” I squeezed the arm of my chair and pushed myself forward to the reason for my call. “Uh, do you have a minute to talk privately?”

Kienna swallowed and glanced around. “There’s no one else out here. What’s going on?”

What did she mean there was no one else there? All five of her mates were talking in the background. “Well, it’s private. Can you maybe go up to your room for it?”

“I could, but girl, you know I tell my pack everything. You might as well just let them hear what’s going on in your own words. I do have a tendency to exaggerate.”

Oh God. She did. I knew if I told any of my friends what was happening, they’d share with their mates. I loved that aspect of their relationships, but it made me even more nervous. “Alright.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to gather up the courage to tell them about what was going on. “Okay. So… I’ve met a compatible Alpha.”

Kienna gasped and hooted. “Yes! It’s about time. Who is he? Is he treating you like the princess you are?”

Kane leaned in over Kienna’s shoulder. “If he isn’t, we can deal with him if you want.”

“No, no, no.” That was the last thing I needed. “The thing is, I also met a second compatible Alpha, and they’re brothers. I don’t want to have to choose between them.”

“Then don’t.” Kienna smirked and gestured to her pack who had quieted down. “If they want you, they’ll make it work.”

I took in a few deep breaths. If only it were that easy. I opened my mouth to tell her exactly my situation when Alderic reached over to put a hand on Kienna’s.

“Do you remember where Aubrielle is, Ki?” He raised his brows as he looked at her. The smart Beta had figured it out already. “She’s at Birk Manor.” And when Kienna didn’t react, he added, “With your cousins.”

Kienna gasped and stuck her face right up to the camera. “Holy fuck. Quill and Kon? Really?”

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