Page 21 of Knot Gonna Lie
But the moment my betas stepped closer, the hair on my neck rose. Logic said they weren’t a threat. Still, their presence scraped against something raw and newly awakened in me.
Possessiveness, primal and untested.
Perhaps their earlier lack of support still rankled. Or maybe sensing their hesitation about welcoming an omega into our ranks had planted seeds of irritation. Now, with her warm weight in my arms, their doubts felt like betrayal—proof that I’d been right to risk everything for this moment.
Even knowing they’d come to welcome us, I hadn’t anticipated the primal fury that would surge through me upon returning with her. I’d wanted my three unattached betas present for their roles in the crew, hoping their availability would help Elara form a pack without mate-related drama.
Ultimately, the choice remained hers. I would be her alpha. Whoever she selected to surround herself would be her decision once my mark branded her skin.
Her needy scent flared, tickling my nose—a wordless demand for pleasure, for satisfaction of her desires. My hardened cock pressed against reason, insisting this wasn’t the time or place for such thoughts. Even protected by my crew, we weren’t within our ship’s sanctuary where I could relax, knowing no one else would try claiming Elara from me.
“It’s okay,” Elara whispered, pressing her palm against my chest as she pulled back to lock her emerald eyes with mine. “I don’t feel faint anymore now that we’re out of that arena. I think I’m stable enough to stand. You can hold my waist if you need to touch me.”
I glanced at my hovering betas and sighed, recognizing she could sense my possessiveness. Alpha instincts raged within me, demanding I not share. Too soon for her attention to drift toward someone else, even clan members.
Growling softly, I nodded and gently lowered her feet to the floor. I cursed the beast I’d become, my instincts chantingminein relentless rhythm as her flowery-cream scent wrapped around me like silk bonds.
Was this how all alphas felt once chosen?
How did they endure it—the near miss of claiming an omega, only to lose her?
In any other session, I would’ve walked out of that arena with the rest of the potentials she’d shown interest in. Her caretaker would’ve escorted us to a waiting room to negotiate courting boundaries.
But not this time.
Elara had skipped every formality, insisting she didn’t need them. She believed I was the only one for her.
We’d just exited the arena, and already my instincts screamed against letting her go, against allowing her out of my sight. I could only hope this drive to keep her attached to my hip would soften once my mark claimed her neck.
I wanted her—desperately.
But I also wanted freedom for both of us to remain individuals.
Biting back frustration, I gripped her hip and positioned her before me, cursing the station’s ventilation system for failing me now. I could almost taste her sweetness, inhaling her divine aroma as I pressed her against me. The instant injection of her scent flooded the room, and the way she deliberately wiggled her curves against my rigid length made her enjoyment of my touch crystal clear.
We might be strangers, but I could already sense our partnership would succeed—provided I could master this sudden possessiveness.
CHAPTER TEN
ELARA
The symphony of scents within the room turned dizzying as our combined essences wove together with the three males present. Somehow, our merged aromas conjured visions of warm sandy shores where tropical drinks were savored after indulging in chocolate-covered berries. My thighs clenched as heat pooled low in my belly, mouthwatering from the erotic cocktail we’d created.
I could pinpoint the exact moment they caught my scent—their eyes darkening like storm clouds gathering on distant horizons. Yet the three betas refused to maintain eye contact with me, terrified that pulling their gaze from their alpha in this charged moment would invite retribution.
Melting into my alpha’s embrace, I welcomed his steady grip—all strength tempered with exquisite care. The rigid heat pressed against my lower back filled me with fierce pride, knowing how profoundly my presence affected him.
That I wasn’t the only one burning with want.
The clenched fists and restless shifting revealed the betas’ interest as clearly as spoken words.
That didn’t grant them an open invitation to my nest.
Tucking my hair behind my ear, I was unable to suppress the smile blooming across my lips—soft and slow—like dawn breaking.
The Elders had explained how just a whisper of a needy omega’s aroma could send an entire room spiraling into frenzy. A wise omega aligned herself with a powerful alpha who commanded absolute control over his clan—the larger, the better. The way these three maintained respectful distance, refusing to crowd or overwhelm me, proved exactly that level of dominance.
Tonight belonged to my alpha and me alone—precious hours to explore each other without interference. I wouldn’t allow anyone else, regardless of how their scent sang to my blood, to join us. Entertainment might be negotiable once his mark branded my throat. Anyone within my alpha’s clan would become available for my choosing, should I deem them worthy of such sacred honor.
