Page 3 of Knot My Boss

“Hey, everyone,” Dayton says, as her chin wobbles. My brow furrows with concern. Dayton is the more emotional one of the two of us. I want to know who’s ass I have to kick for upsetting my sister.

“What’s wrong?” I blurt in anger.

The question hangs in the air, causing the worry and concern for Dayton to ratchet up.

“I’m pregnant!” Dayton yells, bouncing up and down, her excitement palpable.

Kali reacts first, squealing like a teenage girl at a Swiftie concert.

“I’m gonna be a grandpa?” my dad asks reverently.

“Yep,” Dayton confirms.

“Do you know the due date yet?” I ask, mentally calculating where I will be in the spring semester.

“According to Octavia, because of the shifter side, late January,” Dayton answers, biting her lip nervously.

“What aren’t you saying?” I ask sternly, knowing my sister’s tells.

“I’m having quadruplets,” Dayton answers after a long pause.

The three of us are speechless.

“Kid, are you coming to do this or what?” Benson barks from the doorway.

“Shit!” I exclaim. “Yeah, be there in a minute.”

“Who’s that?” Dad asks.

“My boss. I gotta go. Congratulations, Dayton. I’m happy for you and Kyle. I’ll call you this weekend,” I rush out, needing to get back in the shop.

Ending the call, I wander back inside with Benson hot on my heels.

“Everything okay?” he asks as I settle in, ready to start work.

“Yeah,” I answer before launching into the news of my sister’s pregnancy. When Benson started working on my ink, I told him how my dad, Kali, and I had set my sister up with a paranormal mate. That’s how I found out Benson is a shifter. He didn’t volunteer what kind, and I knew better than to ask outright.

Benson lets out a long, low whistle.

“She won’t make it to term,” he says cryptically, causing my anxiety to spike.

Before he can elaborate, Benson gets called away, leaving me alone with my assignment and concern for Dayton.

My timeline just changed.

Chapter 3 - Arek

Ilove my family, but days like today, I swear, they are going to drive me into an early grave.

Currently, the matriarchs of the town’s founding families are holding court in the middle of our restaurant, Simmer Down.

When I say ours, I mean my family, the Palmers, and by extension, the Martins. My father, Altos Palmer, is the former alpha. He has one brother, Mycah Palmer, and one sister, Domella Martin.

Our family is easily the largest in town, thanks to the multiple births that occur so frequently among shifters.

“Arek, honey,” Aunt Mitzi calls out to me as I cross the dining room. “Can you come here, please?”

Warily approaching the table where my great-aunt Mitzi Palmer sits with Glenys Hamilton and Kendyl Morris, I check over the table to see what’s wrong.

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