Page 6 of Knot Gonna Lie
Gammas were the only gender capable of resisting both alpha barks and omega whines. They brought balance to society—ensuring alphas never overstepped their bounds, betas were treated fairly, and omegas weren’t abused.
“That’s enough, Elara,” Quinn said, gripping my shoulder. Her touch felt oddly wrong upon my skin—a first shock. Soon it lifted as she overrode the alpha’s scent and surrounded me with her own. Her aroma was so familiar it felt almost mine—and would remain so until I was claimed. “Leave the male alone, and let’s depart. It seems you’re too affected by your approaching heat to be in public right now. We don’t need you giving the wrong person dangerous ideas.”
“I don’t want to,” I whined and pouted, closing my eyes as I gripped my savior’s suit harder, hoping to avoid forced removal. “I don’t want to leave, especially without knowing his name.”
“Is it only my name that you want?” the remaining alpha asked, chuckling with a sound that made his chest bounce slightly with each laugh. “Aren’t you missing something?”
“What?”
The word escaped before I could stop it, tumbling from my lips like water over stones.
“I’d advise you to watch your tongue, alpha. If you don’t, the same threat I just gave—”
“Owen,” he interrupted her smoothly. “His name is Owen, and his twin brother’s name is Keanu. They’ve been known for hunting down unmated omegas without their gammas aboard the station, hoping to convince them that two are better than one when it comes time for The Den.”
“He didn’t mention a brother.” Quinn raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing her voice. “How do I know you’re speaking truth?”
“I’ve heard of them,” Toasty confirmed, crossing his arms while nodding gravely. “They’ve drifted in here from time to time, scoping out pieces they could give their future omega. Unfortunately, they’re no longer welcome after what he just displayed.”
“Toasty, could you please package those three pieces this omega was examining for her dress and charge them to my account?” The alpha gestured toward the jewelry in the black case. “Once my betas finish their shopping and pay, we’ll be on our way.”
My betas.
The way he spoke those two words suggested more pack than clan. How could I compete with an alpha who didn’t need an omega? Yet he lacked any lingering scents that would come from bonding with another—and he hadn’t resisted my touch.
Could he be uninterested in me? Possibly, but if so, why give me such expensive gifts when we were strangers? People wouldn’t do that unless hoping to impress someone or seek forgiveness, especially since we hadn’t met in The Den. Furthermore, he’d never formally announced courtship intentions, so why make such a grandiose gesture? There had to be a reason I couldn’t see.
“I can’t…”
“You must,” Toasty said, his words carrying an underlying warning but lacking the power of a command, much less than what an alpha refusing to use their bark would possess. “Do you know who he is?”
Suddenly, I realized the man who’d instinctively attracted me might be someone of importance. Someone who could afford such lavish gifts to mere strangers without thought.
Gifts I didn’t want or care about, even coming from him.
We were going to purchase something here anyway before this embarrassing event erupted. What was the point of wearing something gifted by someone I didn’t know, especially when I was supposed to wear these items to select an alpha to spend eternity with? Why would I want to wear something that reminded me of someone I could never have? What wouldmy future alpha think, knowing another had given me such elaborate gifts?
Forcing myself to release him, I stepped back into Quinn’s embrace. He wasn’t mine, no matter how much I wanted him to be. It wasn’t fair to cling to him, unwelcome, when he had a pack.
Quinn instantly pressed her wrist beneath my nose, forcing her calming scent to overtake his. My arousal soon faded—as the heavy fog lifted from my mind like shooting stars blasting through asteroid fields—dispelling the empty promises his aroma had whispered.
“He’s Mr. Coco, co-owner of Coco Pharma,” Toasty whispered; his voice had instantly lost its bite.
“Elara,” Quinn hissed. My name emerged more like a curse as she tightened her grip on me. “What are you doing?” she whispered in my ear before pulling away. “I apologize for my omega, Mr. Coco. Unfortunately, she’s approaching her heat and makes her debut at The Den tomorrow.”
“There’s no need for apologies.” He spun around and straightened his jacket from the wrinkles I’d created, smoothing away evidence of my desperate touch. “Others, especially alphas, should control themselves around omegas, regardless of their heat status. That’s the point of being vetted. So they can move freely amongst others without trouble.”
“Are you sure you want to pay for my jewelry?”
Scanning his body, I tried to prevent myself from licking my lips as I absorbed his athletic build, dressed in his black business suit like a treasure wrapped to be hidden from me. His sapphire vest and tie brought out his icy blue eyes as they locked onto mine. My chest ached as I drew deep breaths, forcing myself to calm and not lunge for the male I could somehow still scent over my gamma’s aroma. Instead, he stared at me in shock, as ifunsure how to respond to my question or perhaps confused why I wasn’t blindly accepting his gift.
Omegas loved gifts…and I would love whatever Quinn had selected for me for my debut, but I hadn’t met him in The Den, and we weren’t currently in our courtship phase. Perhaps that was why something deep inside felt so wrong.
“I thought all omegas loved being spoiled.” He offered me a soft smile that made my heart flutter like caged wings. “It would be my honor to provide you with these pieces. It’s not as if alphas don’t already sponsor omegas. We provide you with safe homes away from the rest of the human race as we work on rebuilding. Our government focuses on expanding our reach within the galaxy, providing enough space to create alpha-led communities. It’s in our best interest to shelter our future from past mistakes and only allow those who’ve proved themselves worthy the opportunity to court an omega.
“All omegas should be treated like the treasures they are, surrounded by their caretakers until you select the alpha you want to fulfill your dreams. Then, it’s up to them to win your heart.” He glanced over his shoulder at his pack, who watched our exchange with curious intensity. Taking a deep breath, Mr. Coco turned toward me before releasing a deep sigh. His icy blue eyes had darkened into sapphire gems, studying me as he licked his kissable lips. “If we never meet again, at least I know I was able to help your gamma by intervening.”
“I had it under control,” Quinn muttered, pulling her wrist from my nose with unnecessary roughness. She’d never been aggressive with me before—never like this. Did his very presence threaten her? He hadn’t done anything to justify her anger. “I’m fully capable of doing my job.”
