Page 106 of Knot Gonna Lie
My gut turned cold. “What Owen problem?”
“Did you think he would remain silent?” His smile sharpened. “Owen’s family have been spreading word of your fraud through back channels—quiet, careful, but effective.Within a month, every dealer will know Luca Coco stole his brother’s identity to claim an omega.” He spread his hands. “Unless someone with greater influence convinces them otherwise.”
Eli’s fists clenched. “You’re blackmailing us.”
“I’m offering solutions.” Zeke’s gaze slid to my brother. “Speaking of which—I know about Nova. The omega who refuses to choose because his heart belongs to someone the lottery board would never approve. A gamma, isn’t it? Tragic.”
The room went silent except for Elara’s labored breaths against my throat.
"I'd take her." Zeke’s words came out with a purr. "Nova and whatever baggage comes with her. The gamma too, if necessary. My planet has space for… unconventional bonds. In return, we create a partnership between our companies. A true alliance that strengthens both our positions."
“You want tobuyNova?” My voice came out steeped in disgust.
“I want to give her sanctuary. There’s a difference.” Zeke leaned forward, eyes glinting. “The board will never allow a gamma-omega bond. But a private sponsorship here? With my protection? That’s freedom.”
"And this partnership?" Eli's voice came out carefully controlled.
“Mutual benefit. Your pharmaceuticals need new markets—I control seven systems outside Federation oversight. You need protection from Owen’s family and whoever else who want to mess with your company and clans—I have contacts who make the station’s brokers look like children. You get legitimacy where you lack it. I get access where I lack it.” His smile cut like glass. “Call it evolution. Two companies becoming something greater. Something untouchable.”
The offer hung in the room full of silence. Every instinct screamed to refuse, to burn this place to ash for daring to touch what was mine. But Elara trembled in my arms, her heat surging faster, and everything about his offer sounded reasonable.
Sometimes victory meant knowing when to negotiate.
“Draft the agreement.” Each word scraped my throat raw. “But Seth examines them first. If I see one bruise—”
“There won’t be.” Zeke rose smoothly, power rippling through the gesture. “Omegas are sacred here. Even borrowed ones.”
Seth was already moving—hands gentle but clinical as he checked Stella, then Maia. Their whispered assurances that they were unharmed did nothing to quiet the fury boiling in me. When he reached Elara, his eyes told me everything: she was untouched, but the heat was coming fast.
We had hours at most.
"The documentation will take time," Zeke noted, watching Seth work. "Your omega needs her nest. I can provide—"
"No." The refusal came from Elara, muffled against my throat. "My nest. My pack.Please."
"Then we draft quickly." Zeke moved to the wall console, fingers flying across the interface. "I assume you have a ship waiting?"
“Ready for departure,” Eli said flatly, though his gaze never left Zeke.
The next twenty minutes blurred—contracts, signatures, legal jargon laced with threat. Elara flushed hotter against me, sweet heat-scent thickening until every alpha in the room fought to keep control. Seth and Jaxom leaned close, steadying her, offering anchor while her biology screamed.
When Zeke slid the final contract across, I signed without reading. Eli pressed his stylus hard enough to crack it.
Nothing mattered except getting Elara somewhere safe.
"A pleasure doing business." Zeke's mockery followed us to the door. "Oh, and Jaxom? Your sister’s next ceremony is in three weeks. After our partnership finalizes, I’ll extend her an offer she won’t refuse. Sanctuary. Freedom. Whoever she chooses, gamma or not, in her pack. Planet Tera places no limits on love.”
Jaxom’s only response was a growl that promised future violence—or perhaps reluctant gratitude. “Don’t hurt my sister.”
“I would never,” Zeke replied, gesturing his arms wide. “She will be the queen of my empire, want for not. And allowed to do anything she please… her boundaries would be limitless once my claiming mark is upon her neck.”
The journey back to the ship became a test of control. Elara barely remained conscious, heat consuming her from within while we ran through Tera's streets. Stella and Maia flanked us, their beta instincts screaming to protect their omega even as they stumbled from exhaustion. Seth managed her symptoms with hyposprays that bought us minutes, not hours.
By the time we reached theSerpent's Dream, Elara burned like a star in my arms.
"Direct course to the estate," I barked at Xavier as we boarded. "Maximum burn."
"Luca." Jaxom caught my arm before I could carry her to the nest. "What he said about Nova—about offering her sanctuary with her gamma—"
