Page 30 of Knot Their Girl
When I don’t say anything back, he asks a question: “What did you think of her?”
What did I think of Raeka? I could say something normal, like she seemed cool and she was very pretty. I could tell my uncle that she’d pop him out some beautiful kids and he canfinally stop paying so much attention to me. So many things I could say, and yet…
All I do is shrug.
Gideon mimics my shrugging motion. “What does that that mean?”
I assume he won’t let it be, that he wants an actual answer, so I heave a sigh and tell him what I think he wants to hear:She seemed nice.And then, for some reason, I add,Why’d you pick her?
“She’s lively. I thought she’d be a breath of fresh air in this house. God knows we both need some.” It looks as if there’s more my uncle wants to say, but he must stop himself, repeating the statement about dinner: “Thirty minutes, okay? Please clean up and join us downstairs. You already met Raeka, but at least let me introduce you to Pax.”
Pax. He must be the other alpha that’s moving in. Don’t really understand why we need another alpha in this house, unless Gideon is worried about someone trying to steal Raeka from him or something. My uncle isn’t the strongest alpha; he’s kind of a nerd, which is apparently not typical when it comes to alpha-kind. Maybe he’s concerned he won’t be able to fully protect both Raeka and me if something happened.
To that, I say: let it happen to me, then. Life sucks. I don’t know why I’m still here. I should’ve died eleven years ago, with my parents. This sham of a life I’m living… it’s no real life. The world wouldn’t miss me. Gideon might, but the world wouldn’t.
I know my uncle won’t let me remain upstairs tonight for dinner, so I sigh and give him a nod, relenting even though I don’t want to. Sitting at a table with his new omega and the odd alpha bodyguard? Not my idea of fun.
But maybe their addition to the house will give Gideon something else to focus on instead of me. Maybe I’ll have more peace and quiet.
As I think that thought, something deep inside tells me I can’t be more wrong.
Chapter Fifteen – Raeka
Dinnertime at the Chase residence is much like dinnertime at the Whittenhall house, only things are a million times more awkward here. Gideon bakes some pasta and chicken dish, and only after everyone has a heaping of it on their plates does the fourth member of this house come downstairs and join us.
I’m already seated next to the head of the table, where Gideon will sit, but Pax remains standing, I guess to greet Colter.
Gideon lights up when he sees his nephew, a cute expression that I can’t focus on too much lest my thoughts stray even more. “Colter, this is Pax. Pax, Colter.” As he introduces the two, Pax goes to offer his hand to the beta.
“It’s good to meet you,” Pax says, hand extended. Seeing him near the beta, it’s clear again just how different he is to everyone in this house. Bigger, taller, more muscular all around. The definition of an über alpha.
I watch as Colter hesitantly takes Pax’s hand, shaking it once before pulling away and going to claim the seat straight across from me. As he sits down, I wonder if I should smile at him or not. In the end, I don’t; don’t want to freak him out or anything, especially if Gideon hasn’t told him yet about the truth of this whole thing.
Pax takes a seat on my other side, and I stiffen; I’m in the middle of an alpha sandwich here, right where I never wanted to be. I have to mentally remind myself that neither of these alphas want me, that I don’t want them, and that I’m really here for the beta across from me—the beta who’s currently acting as if he wants to sink into his baggy hoodie and disappear forever.
I don’t blame him. I could use a big hoodie like that right now. Sitting between Gideon and Pax is like sitting between a fence and a brick wall; I have nowhere to go, even if I tried to.Some omegas would kill to be in this position, but I would rather not.
Dinner is awkward. Like, super awkward. It’s like we’re strangers, forced to eat together—oh, wait. Wearestrangers forced to eat together. For a long time, nothing but the sound of forks scraping against the plate fill the air, with the occasional swish of liquid when someone picks up their glass of water.
Pax shovels his food into his mouth like he’s running a marathon or something, whereas Gideon takes his time. He’s the only one who doesn’t hit his fork on his plate when he eats. Colter mostly moves around the food on his plate, looking a strange mixture of bored and depressed, like he’s a thousand miles away.
“So,” I break the silence of the table, causing all three guys to look at me. “Is this how it’s going to be every night? We have to eat together like this? Not going to lie, I’m getting vivid flashbacks to eating dinner together at my parents’ house—never mind that it was just yesterday. Does everyone else feel as awkward as I do?” I raise a hand, waiting for anyone else to raise theirs in solidarity.
But nobody does. The three guys just stare at me like I spoke all that in another language.
“Jeez,” I deadpan, “tough crowd tonight. Are we supposed to eat in silence every night then? I’m just warning you, that’s going to get old.”
Gideon is the one who answers, “No, we can talk. What, um, do you want to talk about?”
“How about you tell me what a normal day for you and Colter looks like?” I try to include Colter in the conversation; it’s hard though, because I don’t yet know a bit of sign language, and it doesn’t look like he brought anything down to aid him in joining the discussion.
“Well, typically I’m up at seven. I make coffee and breakfast for myself, then I get to work. I work from home typically, so I’m near Colter if he needs me. Usually I’m in my office making calls, sending emails, doing a bit of designing.” He glances at his nephew. “Colter is always upstairs, either painting or planning his next painting. This is actually the first time he’s joined me for dinner down here in years.”
“Wow,” I say, glancing at Colter, who still acts like he wants to disappear. “You must really love painting.”
All the beta does is shrug.
I turn to Pax. “What’s a normal day for you look like?”
