Page 87 of Knot Our Reality

“Really? You find me studio space and want me to play for you? You really are perfect.”

I snort. “Far from it.”

He gets situated with the guitar and then he’s playing the most beautiful, haunting melody I’ve ever heard. When he sings, I lose my shit and start perfuming.

I guess there’s something to be said about being around a rockstar.

Chapter Twenty-four

Wilder

“Camden, I’m going to need you to calm down,” I tell my omega with a chuckle.

He stops bouncing, turning his head to blink at me. “What?”

“You’ve almost knocked into like three other suitors since we arrived.” I gesture to the other suitors, who are watching Camden with amusement in their gazes.

“Oh.” Camden shoots me a sheepish grin. “I was bouncing around, wasn’t I?”

I nod. “You were.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just so nervous.”

As if I didn’t know that. It’s coursing down our bond and has been all day. I’ve done what I could to distract him and make him feel better, but he hasn’t been able to settle.

Not that he has a reason to be nervous. Emilia said she wouldn’t bond with anyone until they met her boys, and they certainly approved. He’s definitely getting a red rose tonight.

Me, on the other hand? I have no idea where I stand with her. We have the beginning of a connection, but I don’t think we’re there yet.

Which means I don’t know where it leaves us. We haven’t really gotten much time together. Hell, Camden only got to spend time with her the other night after a date went badly.

I straighten as the ballroom doors open and Reginald steps in with Emilia on his arm. The two of them head straight onto the stage, Emiliastopping beside the table with the vase of roses that’s so full of added greenery I can’t even make out more than one or two of the roses.

“Welcome back to our viewers and suitors alike. We’ve now arrived at the third rose ceremony. We have a lot of exciting things coming for you tonight. I’d tell you about them, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, I’ll turn the stage over to our omega, Emilia.”

Emilia shakes her head, but a smile lights up her face. “I don’t want to keep harping on how different my season is from past ones, but it really is. I have kids who need me, and I can’t make decisions that affect them just as much as they do me without their input—even if they’re young. Which is why I had Camden and Wilder join me for family day this past week. Hawk is my oldest at seven, and he doesn’t feel comfortable with me being around all these men he hasn’t met.

“He’s become my protector since we lost his dads. As much as I’d have preferred him to enjoy his time as a child, he takes his role seriously. Because of that, I told him our week four dates would be with him and his brother so he can meet all of you.” She pauses, taking a deep breath, her smile dimming. “I don’t want to bring a lot of people into their lives who are likely to leave, so I have to make some hard decisions this week.”

It’s clear she’s nervous, and all I want to do is make it better for her. Only, I don’t think I can, but Camden can.

Speaking of my omega, he lets out a whine, and Emilia’s eyes find him. She immediately relaxes.

“You know what? I was going to do this in a different order, but I don’t want to wait any longer. Camden and Wilder, will you join me on the stage?”

“Hey, that’s my job.” Reginald grins, and I’m pretty sure she flips him off, but I can’t be sure.

I place my hand on Camden’s lower back, leading him onto the stage until we stand in front of Emilia, and I forget how to breathe.

“I was going to save this until the end, but something tells me I’m going to need you, Camden.” She plucks two roses from the vase, hiding them behind her back as she turns back to us. “Camden, I’ve felt aconnection to you from day one. No matter how much I tried to deny that you were made for me, I think I knew it at that first moment we met. That’s why I want to invite you to be the first member of my pack.”

“Thank fuck!” Camden screams, throwing himself at Emilia and kissing her. The red rose she was about to offer him is crushed between the two of them, but neither of them seems to care.

I clear my throat when the kiss goes from relief and excitement to something more, both of their perfumes filling the air. “Omegas,” I warn them.

“Oh. Right. On stage. Being filmed.” Camden looks dazed as he takes the mangled rose from her.

I chuckle as Emilia also fights to focus.

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