Page 27 of Knot Their Girl
Wow.
I hear a door creak open, and I imagine it’s Colter. I turn around right as Colter himself strolls into the room, and the moment he spots me, he halts, his amber eyes widening. The beta wears a hoodie, its sleeves tugged all the way down, along with sweats that have paint all over them. In fact, so does his face. He has a smudge of green just beneath his left eye and maybe even some in his brown hair—a few shades lighter than Gideon’s. He has a typical beta build: maybe five-eight or so, not overly muscled. Normal, for lack of a better word.
But cute.
Before the silence can stretch out too long between us, I say, “Hi. I’m Raeka. You’re Colter, right?”
Still staring at me with wide eyes, he nods once, though he doesn’t dare come closer.
“Gideon probably wanted to be the one to officially introduce us, but—” I shrug. “—I don’t see the point of waiting around. You can come closer, you know. I don’t bite.” To try to make him feelmore comfortable, I turn my eyes back to the painting. “You’re really good. You should see me try to paint. A third grader could make better stuff than me.”
While I’m not looking at him, he cautiously approaches, though he takes his good old time doing it.
I use my peripherals to watch him approach. He’s like a frightened animal; if you stare at him too much, he’s likely to bolt. But soon enough he stands within a few feet of me, and I turn a wide smile his way. “I’m so jealous of your skill.”
He swallows hard, then points to his throat and shakes his head.
“I know,” I say. “Gideon told me. It’s okay. Trust me, I can talk enough for the both of us.”
I don’t want to come on too strong, especially since he’s under the impression I’m here for Gideon and not him, so I sigh as I step away from him and his canvas.
“I guess I’ll see you later, when Gideon introduces us.” I give him a wave and turn to leave, and I’m pretty sure he signs the wordbye.
Hmm. As I walk toward the stairs, away from Colter and his art studio, basically his entire floor of the house, I can’t help but think about the beta. I saw traces of his uncle in him, but at the same time, he was softer all around. His face was less hard, less angular, like most alpha’s faces are. Those amber eyes of his, though I didn’t get a good, long look into them in fear of scaring him off, did seem insanely sad.
It sounded like he went mute after he lost his parents. I don’t know if he witnessed the whole thing, or even how his parents died, but the trauma must be intense. I can’t imagine what that’s like.
No matter what happens here, I hope I can help him come out of his shell a little. Someone with his talent shouldn’t lockhimself away in a house like this—he should be out in the world, sharing his creations.
He’s a Chase. I’m sure someone would love to buy his art.
I make my way to the first floor of the house, and when I step off the final step, I hear two masculine voices conversing near the front door. Huh. Maybe Gideon didn’t make it up and actuallydidhear the door.
Or maybe it was just good timing.
Regardless, it’s time for me to meet whatever alpha would become my bodyguard, whether I was in this house or out and about in the world.
I follow the voices, and as I get closer, I’m hit with a strange mix of scents. One is cinnamon, Gideon’s, and the other… I stop in my tracks, much like Colter did when he first saw me. The other scent is all-too familiar, a thick musk, a woodsy scent.
No way.
I force myself to keep going, and I turn along with the hall and spot them both further down. Gideon and the other alpha.
Pax Alabaster.
Chapter Thirteen – Pax
I can smell her diluted scent before she shows herself, and I can’t help it, the moment she steps into my view, my gaze turns upon her and the rest of the space around me fades away, even Gideon Chase.
Maybe Gideon might be saying something, but I don’t hear him. All I can do is focus on that omega and the way she stares at me with those silvery-gray eyes. Her lips part somewhat, and I hate that I notice how they pucker.
“Well, well,” I say, my sour mood about this job turning into something else… something I’m not ready to name just yet. “I’d ask if you’re surprised to see me again, but I have the feeling I already know the answer.” Even though I’m secretly thrilled to see her again, I’m not about to confess that to her or to Gideon.
If she accepted an offer from him, that means she belongs to him. She’s not up for grabs.
She barks out a laugh. “I didn’t know you were the bodyguard Gideon hired, no.”
Before I can tell her I don’t believe her, Gideon himself coughs and earns both our stares. “She’s telling the truth. I assumed she was comfortable with you after seeing you two at the Omega Garden. Was I wrong?” He glances between us, waiting for one of us to speak up.
