Page 107 of Knot Your Karma
“Started telling the truth,” Father corrects coldly. “Started calling out systematic emotional abuse.”
Blake’s head swivels between our parents as if he’s watching a tennis match, his practiced smile flickering on and off as he searches their faces for any sign of the automatic support that’s always been there before.
“Mom, Dad, Father, you have to understand—I never meant for things to get complicated. Karma was just one option among many. I was being smart, strategic about finding the right mate?—”
“Like the values we raised you with?” Dad asks. “Like honesty? Like fidelity? Like basic respect for omega autonomy?”
“It’s not that simple?—”
“It’s exactly that simple,” I interrupt. “You made promises you didn’t mean. You lied for months. You broke every rule of decent omega treatment that these three taught us and acted surprised when there were consequences.”
“But taking the compass?—”
“Was the only power she had when you held all the cards. Think she should’ve just quietly disappeared? Let you move on without consequences?”
Blake’s practiced charm is completely gone now, replaced by something that looks like genuine panic. His alpha scent goes thin and defensive while mine strengthens with territorial certainty, the room’s atmosphere shifting as dominance hierarchies rearrange themselves around truth instead of manipulation.
Father moves closer to Blake. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? To that woman? To this family? To the values we tried to instill in you?”
“She stole from our family. From our heritage. You can’t just?—”
“I can do whatever I want. My life, my pack, my choice.” I cross my arms, letting him see exactly how unmoved I am by his distress. “And I choose Karma. I choose the woman you were too stupid to value.”
“But the ceremony—I’m family. You can’t exclude family from something this important.”
“Watch me.”
The words hang in the air like a challenge. Blake looks between me and our parents, clearly expecting intervention, support, some kind of family loyalty that will override what he’s starting to realize is permanent exclusion.
“James?” Mom asks quietly.
Dad’s eyes move between us as if he’s weighing evidence in a business deal—taking in my squared shoulders and honest expression, then Blake’s defensive posture and fidgeting hands. His jaw sets with the kind of finality that’s closed million-dollar negotiations.
“We support Declan,” Dad says firmly, his voice carrying absolute certainty.
Father nods slowly, his academic mind clearly having processed all the available evidence. “Every time we enabled Blake’s behavior, we made this outcome more likely. We bear responsibility for not stopping this pattern years ago.”
“And Blake?” Mom asks, hands pressing against her heart.
“Blake faces the consequences of his choices,” Father says with quiet finality. “Actions have results. Some results can’t be fixed with apologies or family money.”
Blake stares at our parents as if he’s never seen them before, his confident stance completely dissolved. “Dad, Father, you can’t be serious. She’s just?—”
“She’s just what?” Father asks dangerously, his voice carrying the kind of quiet authority that could destroy academic careers. “Just the woman your brother loves? Just someone who deserves better than your treatment? Just anomega who figured out consequences when no one else would make them?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Blake says desperately, hands reaching out in pleading gestures that find no receptive audience. “Things just got complicated?—”
“Things got complicated because you made them complicated. Because you chose lies instead of honesty about what you wanted.” I move toward the door, done with this conversation and ready to get back to my pack. “Had months to choose her. You chose everyone else instead. Now you live with that.”
“Declan, wait?—”
“No.” I turn back one last time, letting him see exactly how final this is. “You’re not invited. You’re not welcome around my pack. You’re not part of this celebration. And if you try to show up anyway, if you do anything to make Karma feel unsafe, I will personally remove you from this town.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“Try me.”
I head for the door, pausing only to address our parents. “Mom, Dad, Father, you want to meet my pack, be part of the ceremony, you’re welcome. Blake isn’t part of that invitation. Not now, not ever.”
