Page 12 of Knot Shattered
His eyes were so beautiful. The right side was a pale ice blue, and the left was a deep emerald green. I felt like I could get lost in them for days.
They stood together like a wall of controlled power, each alpha different but unified, radiating confidence and an ease with violence that sent my heart racing. The faintest hint of their combined scents drifted toward me, dulled by the scent cancelers, yet still reaching me just enough to unsettle me completely. A dizzying blend of spice, leather, cedar, and dark amber, edged with something smoother, like bourbon poured slowly over ice.
But it wasn’t just the physical attraction or even their striking presence that rattled me most. It was the sudden surge of awareness deep within my bones. The gut-wrenching realization that these four alphas standing across the room weren’t just visitors or allies.
They were mine.Mates
I felt my heartbeat hammer violently against my ribcage, and panic swelled fast, tightening my throat. My fingertips trembled as I gripped the edge of the table, suddenly desperate to ground myself. Memories flashed, chains, darkness, fear, and for a second, I nearly bolted. I sucked in a lung full of air and slowly let it out. I took a moment as we studied each other while the others were oblivious to let my intuition get a feel for them.
Even radiating the controlled violence they did, I didn’t feel like they would turn that violence on me, but maybeforme. Henry stepped forward smoothly, subtly blocking their direct view of me, giving me just enough of a barrier to calm down. I rub my hand against my chest and blink slowly, staring at Henry.
“Odette?” His voice is a soft, familiar rasp that I cling to.
“My mates. They are my mates.” I gasp out.
I forced myself to focus on Henry’s comforting solidity, feeling the alphas’ intense gazes soften slightly, becoming respectful, understanding, even. Their eyes were still on me, though, watching carefully but gently, sensing my panic but wisely holding back.
Swallowing hard, I straightened slightly, still trembling, but determined not to crumble—not here, not now. This wasn’t the time to lose myself. Not with so many eyes on me. Not with these alphas, who could clearly sense my vulnerability, watching every breath I took.
I wanted this. I wasn’t ready for this. But I couldn’t deny the strange, hopeful ache forming somewhere deep beneath my fear. They were dangerous, intense, protective, and real. And they were mine.
Holy shit were they mine.
“O, you good? What’s up?” Fallon’s voice broke through my daze, pulling my attention away from the four alphas slowly making their way toward us. She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at my face. “What’s going on with your face?”
The absurdity of that question was enough to snap me out of my spiral completely. I looked down at Fallon, blinking once before laughter bubbled unexpectedly from my chest. The sound felt foreign, but undeniably good. For a second, I forgot the basement, forgot the darkness, forgot everything except the warmth suddenly flooding my veins.
“My mates,” I said simply, gesturing toward the approaching alphas, not bothering to hide the smile that was taking over my entire face. It felt so good to smile, to breathe easily for even one fleeting moment.
Fallon and Violet both gasped audibly, spinning to look at the four alphas again with new intensity, studying them nowas potential family instead of just visitors. I heard a ripple of soft, amused chuckles from around the room. My face warmed slightly, but for once it wasn’t embarrassment. It was joy.
Henry shot me a questioning glance, instantly protective, but I met his gaze and shook my head gently, silently reassuring him I was fine. His expression softened immediately, understanding passing wordlessly between us as he took a respectful step back, giving me room to breathe.
Micha reached me first, his presence calm yet powerful as he smiled softly down at me. “Hi,” I managed to say, voice slightly breathless. “I’m Odette.”
He gently took my offered hand in his larger one, bowing slightly to brush his lips gently against my knuckles. “I’m Micha,” he murmured, his deep voice warm and quietly pleased. “And I’m pleased to finally meet you, sweet omega.”
My pulse fluttered at the tenderness of his touch, and I felt the faintest blush warming my cheeks. I’d forgotten how good it could feel just to be seen, not as something broken, but as something cherished.
Next was the towering alpha with the black hair and obsidian eyes. He stepped forward with a slight hesitation, his expression attempting something I suspected was supposed to be comforting, but instead came out adorably awkward. “Ravik,” he said simply, inclining his head in an odd little bow that made me desperately want to laugh.
My lips twitched, struggling to hold back giggles as my shoulders shook. He looked at me quizzically, a faint confusion on his normally stern features, which only made it harder not to lose myself entirely.
The quieter, more reserved alpha came next, offering a gentle smile that immediately eased something in my chest.His gray eyes were warm, kind, and somehow comforting as he introduced himself softly, “I’m Salem. It’s wonderful to meet you, Odette.”
“Thank you,” I said softly, genuinely meaning it, my smile growing warmer with each passing second.
Then came the final alpha, the one radiating an energy that could only be described as chaos wrapped in charm. He stood before me, hands on his hips and a dazzling, playful grin on his handsome face. “And I’m Haze,” he announced dramatically, as though expecting applause or at least laughter.
Which he got—because as soon as my eyes fell again on his ridiculous shirt, I couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. It spilled out of me freely, pure and bright, leaving me gasping slightly for air as I gestured weakly at the lettering on his chest.
Everyone turned to stare, confusion on their faces, until Haze glanced down, finally registering his own clothing. Realization dawned quickly across the room, followed by a chorus of quiet laughter and amused groans.
Haze grinned shamelessly, not even a little embarrassed. “Glad you approve. I have plenty more where this came from.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, earning a gentle but firm smack to the back of his head from Salem.
“I’d apologize for him,” Salem said dryly, rolling his eyes, “but this is just who he is.”
“I like who he is,” I admitted quietly, still giggling softly as the laughter finally faded, leaving a pleasant warmth spreading through my chest.
