Page 4 of Knot Quite Ready

Still, despite Agatha longing for a mate that could handle all of her needs, I have been lucky that she has let me hole up in my room with snacks, a tent full of blankets, and several vibrators and chargers to ease the ache. It may be because she doesn’t sense any wolf around, but whatever it was, I was glad for small miracles. All in all, it looks like I running out of time to replenish my room fridge and charge up my toys.

Briefly, I wonder how amazing my heat could be if I had a mate to take care of my needs not just any mate, but a true mate. Like my mother was lucky enough to find. Someone who loves me for me and not for the political alliances our mating would bring.No. Do not go there, Aneira.I quickly stifle the thoughts and squash them into the ‘do not touch’ category of my brain with barbed wire and steel to encase it.

I've learned that living in the moment makes life easier for Aggy and me. Back when I was with my pack, I was always scared about the future, stressing over what they expected from me or if I'd be pushed into some political marriage like my mom. My grandpa's plans for me weighed heavy on my mind, and I was sick of feeling paralyzed by those fears.

Once Aggy and I were free from his grip, we decided we'd had enough. It was time to focus on the present, on the choices we could make, and the life we could live for ourselves, not just for the pack. That's when we started finding joy in the little things—the sun's warmth, the beauty of nature, and making new friends.

So fuck Grandpa and his outdated and abusive rules. The new Aneira can handle her fresh reality and build a life where she's accepted and loved for who she is. Right now, I am free, and that is all that matters.

“Hey. Annie. You okay, babe?” Storm delicately steps around my books and nestles into my side, placing her head on my shoulder. I sigh in contentment, leaning my head toward hers. Wolves are naturally tactile, and constant touches and reassurance were a few of the things I missed the most since leaving. Storm and her penchant to snuggle definitely makes up for it.

“Yeah.” I blow out a breath. “Just thinking about some shit, nothing to worry about. I think it’s just the exhaustion catching up to me. Anyway, what time is it?” I have no idea how long I’ve been asleep.

She checks her watch. “A little past two. Do you need a hand with these books?”

I look around the room and wince. It’s still carnage around me, and I had to keep the shop closed while I restocked, but I know we have to get things ready for tonight, so I nod, gratefully accepting her help.

We get to it, after I throw on my clothes, an easy conversation flows between us, and I tell her about the hot delivery guy and his salacious offer. I then have to physically restrain her from running upstairs and grabbing my phone to call him on my behalf.

Squealing in excitement, she jumps up and down, forgetting the stack of books in front of her, “You gotta wear that turquoise dress, you know, the one that hugs all your curves. That is a sexy as-shit outfit.” She huffs at the look on my face and hauls a stack of books closer to place them in alphabetical order.

“I think you’re more invested in my sex life than I am,” I start, and she cuts me off.

“No, I am more invested in yourconsistentsex life. I mean, seriously, quickies are fun and all, but they arequickies. Wham bam, and those fuckersneversay ‘thank you, ma’am.’ Although if they did, I’d take back the pussy and erase it from their minds. But yeah, “ she waves her hands in the air, “ no passion, no sexy words. Just grunting and nutting,” she wrinkles her face in distaste, and I roll my eyes.

“I don’t want passion,” I lie. “I just need to get the edge off, you know I cannot get involved with anyone seriously. Besides, grunting is sexy.” It’s not. “It is very caveman. You Tarzan, Me Jane.”

Storm narrows her eyes, and I feel the daggers of disapproval carving into my skin. “You stop right fucking there, Aneira. Tarzan was a sexy, gentlemanly beast. All because of a certain fellow gentleman named Phil Collins. If you diminish Tarzan, you take away the power of our Patron Saint Collins, and I will not have you take the name of Phil Collins in vain. Not in this bookshop.”

“But the movie was written by…” I start, and she jumps to cover my mouth with the palm of her hand.

She looks around the shop, her eyes wide before turning back to meet my gaze, her fiery look shooting a shiver of apprehension down my spine, “without the dulcet tones of his voice, Tarzan may have taken longer to become one with his inner beast. If you ask me and fellow followers of the Collins Revolution, Phil Collins is the only reason Tarzan didn’t become some British pansy who ate crumpets without a good cup of tea. I mean, who even are those guys? Some kind of fucking unevolved savages? No. No.” She breathes deeply, her chest heaving. “Phil Collins is sacred.”

She is a terrifying little thing; she doesn’t even have teeth. I am proud.Agatha’s voice thrums through my head, and I roll my eyes.

“Besides,” Storm continues in her normal voice, turning away as if she didn’t just have a breakdown. “Tarzan had that loin cloth thing going for him. A sweaty club romp could neva! I mean, take these horny bitches, for example,” she waves dramatically at the books on the wall with a spin, almost falling over the pile of books in front of her, and I giggle. She scowls at me, “Like I was saying. Take these horny bitches. They all get thoroughly fucked in their stories. No grunting, none of that ‘oh that pussy is tight’ shit,” she deepens her voice, mimicking a good 90 percent of my bathroom lovers, pretty spot on. “You need more than that. At least call this guy and get a consistent, passionate fuck every once in a while. In a bed, couch, or on top of the kitchen counter. At least you already know he can lift your tall ass. Munch on that pussy while holding you in the air, Lion King style. Hell, let him eat that pussy for sunrise and sunset while you stare at the shadowy place. Having a regular booty call is better than the shit you’ve been doing.”

With a laugh, I shake my head at her first passionate speech of the morning. She was just getting started. Expecting quite a few more, I turn back to finish up my stack of books, and I don’t reply, choosing to walk around filling up the empty spots on the shelves, ignoring her pointed stares. And for a while, I think she’s let it go until she opens her mouth again. “Call him, you Lucious Lupine.Nowis the only time that you are ever going to experience. Fuck your past. Don’t let it fuck you. The dick is limp, anyway. Don’t let limp dick win.” She says pointedly, finishing her stack and heading toward the back. “I’m going downstairs to make sure we have everything we need for tonight, call him you wolf-tastic whore.” She disappears, and I sit and walk to one of the many comfortable chairs.

I bite back a sigh, she isn’t wrong. Having something consistent, especially with the high sex drive of shifters, would be useful, but it wasn’t possible. I admit her tangents are part of the reason I would ever consider, barely, something like it. Maybe a regular rotation or something with a strong shifter who also had the same itch to scratch.

I smile as I hear her singing as she makes her way to the lower levels. Storm always seemed to connect the dots of life before I do. She is a special one, for sure. We met when I was new in town and overly cautious about everything. Despite all of my precautions, I was so sure that the enforcers would come and drag me back to the commune, and I would have to face their wrath, but then along came Storm. Her personality is just like her name, all-encompassing and intense. She was working in the Bed and Breakfast I was staying in, and after looking at me, decided then and there that we would be friends. Eventually, after several tangents, I gave in to her demands for friendship, she’s not someone you really say no to. Ultimately, it’s been almost 8 years, and my old pack still hasn’t found me. That, or the shame, finally killed my grandfather socially and he didn’t bother setting up a search party.

My friendship with a human caught me off guard, but Agatha didn’t see an issue with it, seeing something in Storm to trust, and slowly, I did too. One day, she scared the shit out of me in a shop, and I whirled around with my wolf peeking out my eyes, ready to react. That was it for me, I was ready to pack my shit up and leave, but all she said was, “cool.” Since then, my wolf and agreed to keep her forever. And after a drunken night of a full-blown confession and rant, she knew the majority of the bullshit of my past, swore secrecy and fealty to me, and offered a secret assassination mission. I knew she would protect me with her life… or rather…the lives of the people she would surely stab—blood-thirsty little thing.

Storm is the reason I snagged this bookshop before it even hit the market. After venting one too many times at the B&B about needing my own space and dreaming of a bookstore close to where I could roam freely at night, she whipped out her phone in a heartbeat. Calling her grandparents, who happened to know the store's owners wanting to retire, I managed to secure this heavenly spot.

During the complete makeover of the place and the addition of a few extras, Storm didn't hesitate when I asked for her help with my other venture. The one that operated beneath the shop after hours, letting me unleash my pent-up frustrations in a way that surpassed any physical pleasure.

Blood and fury.

Chapter4

Casimir

My teeth grind together in an attempt to keep my temper under control. To the world, I am a civilized gentleman, my old-world money going into local charities and schools wherever I roamed. Little do they know that it’s all a front to keep them quiet, just look the other way, ignore my furry tail, and no harm will come to them. Granted, they couldn’t see my tail, but that was beside the point. Covers saved lives, mine and my packs’.

Accidents still happen, though. For example, we had an unfortunate incident a few months ago down in Norfolk where one of my younger pack members hit it off with the wrong girl, a human, and it got a little too heated. She freaked out when his knot appeared, and I had to spend a fortune getting everyone’s mind wiped so we could leave the town without consequences.

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