Page 49 of Knot Quite Ready

“My son does not deserve a mate as unique and beautiful as you, do you know that?” I reel back like I’ve been slapped.

“What?” Reduced to beauty? Instead of the dazzling ferocious lupine, I am? Rude.

“My son is a useless tool. I tried to drown him as a pup, but unfortunately, even then, he was strong. Figured it was a sign that he would be worthy of my time. Shame that he amounted to nothing. The final insult is his trying to establish a new pack. He should be here, with me, sharing the legacy. At least, with the deal I’ve made, Casimir’s offspring will remain with me.”

My blood runs cold at his words, “There is no way that I will let you have my child.”

He darts forward and runs a finger down my cheek, and I fight the flinch. “Oh, my darling. You don’t have a choice in the matter. You’re an Omega. It’s sweet you thought, even for a moment, that you have a say in things, but you really don’t. As much as I admire your spirit, my patience wears thin. I will break you, and you will realize that you are nothing more than a beautiful,silentbreeding machine. ”

I shoot to my feet and ignore the head rush at getting up so suddenly. “As someone who claims to know my grandfather, you seem to have little knowledge of me at all. You won’t break me. The fact that I’m an Omega or that I am pregnant doesn’t factor in here. Those are titles that you use to make yourself feel a little bit more powerful. But how about you remove the bracelet and give me full access to my wolf? I will fucking show you just powerful I am,” I step closer and get a thrill of satisfaction as he takes a small step back. “The only reason Cas is my mate is becauseI chose him, and he knows this. Our bond goes beyond fate, it is stronger because I made that choice without coercion. You and my grandfather still operate under the very wrong impression that removing a choice is a weapon…not realizing that whatever you weaponize can be used against you. Tell me, Miro…how is that working out for you? Got your entire pack? Your heir? Willing pack-members?” I say mockingly.

“Pity. It looks like all you have is your drug addiction and a pack full of derision. You’re a self-made timebomb. Congratulations, you must be so proud of your…what was it you called it? Oh, legacy.” I snort. Agatha fights a little harder to get out, and I hide the shock of her increasing presence from my face.

Despite my desire to rip his throat out, a quick flick to the door makes me remember that the door is locked from the outside, effectively stopping any plan of attack that is whirring in my head. I can’t imagine anyone, despite what a shitty person Miro was, would take kindly to, ‘Hey, I killed your Alpha, let me out now, please.’ I step back with a growl and sink back into the gross bed, placing my head in my hands to rub away the ache that starts.Fuck me,I say for the thousandth time.

Kidnapping and incarceration while pregnant, 10 out 10, do NOT recommend.

Surprisingly, he drops next to me and rubs my back. “I have to admire your strength, little omega. I still stand by what I said. You are far too unique for my son.” Back to snuggly Miro, then.

“That’s not for you to decide.” My head is still in my hands, but I can feel his hand tense on my back for a second before he pulls it away.

“You know, after a year of actually trying to search for you, you have become quite an obsession. Your grandfather can be very persuasive, though. At first, his offer didn’t appeal to me, I mean, why bother putting in effort for afemale?But after a couple of minutes, I saw the merit of taking what was owed to me. Even if it were a generation late, I mean, wolves are long-lived, you know, our circumstance wouldn’t be too odd. With that and now throwing my traitorous son into the mix, I now have, even more so, a personal investment.” He stands and leans back against the wall facing me, and I grimace, finding it difficult to follow along as he quickly rambles, spittle flying out of his mouth.

I feel a flicker of apprehension as I try to piece together his seemingly nonsensical words. A generation late? My grandfather’s promises? Owed to him? A sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.

He takes a staggering breath, although it does nothing to dispel his heavy breathing and the veins that are beginning to throb on his neck and face. Drug haze. His eyes narrow as he meets my gaze, “If you still haven’t connected all the dots, I will share.” he steps off the wall and claps once in glee as he gets to his point.

“I was once promised to be your mother’s mate,” he scowls, “so imagine my surprise when I get to your pack lands to find out that the bitch ran away, and fifteen years later, the whore is brought back, pregnant. Spoiled goods. Useless. A shame, she was a real beauty, breaking her would have been a distinct pleasure.” He mutters the last.

“But… I am pregnant,” I point out.

He shrugs, “With my genes, technically. Casimir looks so much like me…it works. Besides, I think I am more than glad that it didn’t work out…you’re more beautiful than Esmeralda, and that is saying something.” He reaches down to touch me, but I slap his hand away. His growl fills the room, “You’ll get used to my touch Aneira because as I was saying, after talking to your grandfather, when your initial mating to the Redwood pack didn’t work out, he kept it relatively quiet. There was a bounty, but it wasn’t worth too much effort. But now? We agreed that I would find you. And when I did? As is my due, you would be my new mate…in penance for your mother’s fuckup.”

Chapter25

Aneira

Aniera

My mouth gapes, and I just stare at him. I was expecting some sort of fuckery, but not HBO-worthy fuckery. Moon, I hope this ends better than Game of Thrones.

“You…mom…mate?” I ask my mouth not quite catching up to my brain.

Slouching against the wall, his eyes have taken on a faraway quality. “Your grandfather and I had a longstanding agreement. Esmerelda and I were going to be mates since we were kids. My father owned this pack, and her father owned theirs. We would be mated, and together, we were going to be a super pack, a formidable presence in the UK.” He rubs his chin as he rakes his gaze over me suggestively.

I want to recoil but will myself to stay quiet and not react. How the fuck could this man want to be my mate?

“How the fuck do you plan to be my mate when I already have one? It will never work.” Welp, there goes my will.

He moves forward and grips me by the back of my neck, forcing me to look at him. “Did nothing I say penetrate your thick skull? Your mom fucked it all up for me, so it’s only natural for me to have you. It’s unfortunate that you’re with my son, but I’ve broken a bond once. I can do it again. A little benefit of blood magic.”

I stare at him, slack-jawed.Look at that…more dragons in the air.

His eyes soften, and he coos, “Does that shock you? Don’t worry, you’ll have a mate worthy of you. Your eyes will be fully opened to the true power of our world.” He pulls me up against his chest.

Take that suit, day-old vomit. Small victories.

“Now, I need you to go and get dressed. There will be plenty of time for talking and more…later.” Faster than I can register, he bangs on the door and the moment it’s unlocked he grips my hand in his and tugs me up the small stairs, through the house until we are retracing our steps from last night.

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