Page 111 of Knot Gonna Lie
"I'm fine, Quinn. Better than fine." Elara shifted, sitting up straighter though she maintained contact with all three of us. The movement revealed the constellation of claiming marks across her throat—Luca's deep and possessive, mine careful and reverent, Seth's precise and deliberate. Quinn's eyes tracked them, something like approval warming her expression.
"They're treating you right?" The question came loaded with threat. Behind her, her girlfriend smiled at the protective display.
"They're perfect." No hesitation, no qualification. Just truth that resonated through our bonds and made Luca's chest rumble with satisfaction.
The screen split as two more figures joined the call. Nova appeared first, her dark hair pulled back severely, sharp eyes that matched mine scanning the scene. Alleria flanked her, protective even through video, her gamma presence palpable despite the distance.
"Brother." Nova's greeting carried cautious warmth. Her gaze shifted to Elara, cataloging everything from her satisfied glow to the way we curved around her like living shields. “So your clan’s omega who finally caught you.”
"Caught all of us, actually." Seth's interjection surprised everyone, including himself. Color rose in his golden skin, but he didn't retract the claim.
Nova's eyebrow arched—an expression I knew preceded either cutting sarcasm or grudging respect. "A full pack. How... traditional."
"We survived her first heat off suppressants." Luca's alpha pride colored every word. "Twelve days, and she's blooming."
"Twelve days?" Alleria leaned forward, her concern sharp. "The average is five to seven, even for rebounds."
“I’m apparently above average.” Elara’s dry humor broke the tension, pulling a snort from Nova that might’ve been approval.
"Speaking of above average," Luca straightened, his business voice emerging. "We have news."
The words hung in the silence. If it wasn’t for the connection symbol, I would’ve thought the call had froze. I felt Elara's hand tighten in mine, offering support for what came next.
“We’ve found an alpha willing to take you both.” My voice felt too loud in the sudden quiet. “Powerful enough the matrons wouldn’t dare challenge his claim.”
Nova went still—the kind of stillness that meant her mind was running through calculations faster than I could follow. Alleria’s hand settled on her shoulder, grounding
"What does he want?" Alleria's question cut straight to bone. "Alphas that powerful don't offer protection for free."
"An alliance with my company." Luca said evenly. “And his mark on Nova’s neck.”
Nova’s expression flickered through half a dozen micro-emotions before locking down.
"He's serious about protection," I added, needing her to understand. "Alpha Zeke controls the asteroid mining consortiums, has private military contractors, enough wealth to build his own space station if he wanted. The matrons might scheme, but they wouldn't dare move against him directly."
"And in return, I become what? His omega trophy?" Bitterness edged her voice.
"His queen." Elara's interjection surprised us all. She leaned forward, addressing my sister directly. "Of his business empire. It's contracted—formal terms, legal protection. You'd have autonomy within the arrangement."
“A business deal dressed up like romance.” Nova’s laugh was hollow.
"He said..." I swallowed, pushing past the knot in my throat. "He said he'd support your programming work. The systems you wanted to develop before—before your sweetness came. Full funding, no oversight."
Nova's inhale was audible even through the feed. Before her scent changed, she'd been developing revolutionary programs that could change the tide against the matrons.
"What about me?" Alleria spat, her voice held a possessive edge could have cut steel. "Alphas don't typically tolerate gammas claiming their omegas."
"He knows about you." Seth's clinical tone helped defuse the tension. "The arrangement explicitly allows for your bond to continue. He's... unconventional in his approach to pack dynamics."
"Unconventional." Nova rolled the word. "You mean he doesn't care who else I'm with as long as I wear his mark and play corporate queen?"
“Essentially.” Luca’s bluntness cut through any illusions. “He wants the alliance, the public claim, and an omega who can match him. The rest is negotiable.”
Silence stretched taut. Elara’s hope pressed warm against our bonds.
"It's too perfect." Nova finally spoke. "Protection, funding, freedom to maintain my existing bond with Alleria? Where's the trap?"
"Maybe there isn't one." Elara’s voice carried lived truth. “Sometimes alphas surprise you. Sometimes they want partnership more than possession."
