Page 21 of Knot Our Mistake
"I- I believe we just did," I pointed out and closed my eyes, expecting his fury to snap in punishment.
Instead, his voice lowered, defeated in spirit, though his anger still simmered. He reached out, his fingers grabbing the root of my hair as he tilted my head back, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Am I not enough for you? Our family we created, is it not enough?"
"It's everything." And that wasn't a lie. I didn't exist without the two of them. I breathed them, lived them, loved them.
"But not enough," the disappointment he radiated shattered me, but I couldn't lie. Not now. Not when we already were so raw with the truth and troubles I've caused.
"Not enough."
For once, in all the time I've known James, he lowered his eyes, looking to the ground. His silence was weighted. It was torture without a single touch. It felt like my own personal demise.
When he raised his eyes again, his Adam's apple bobbed before he spoke again. "I'll give you what you want, Delta. I'll let her stay for now. But I may never forgive you for this betrayal."
And before I could question him more, ask what I could do to make it up to him, to the unit, he used his grip on my hair to pull me to my knees in front of him. His free hand worked his cock free, stroking it in front of me, and I knew I was about to be punished, knew whatever he had in mind wouldn't be filled with love and care that usually accompanies any of our couplings, but that didn't stop my mouth from watering and craving what the alpha could take from me.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
SOPHIA
I woke with Persimmon curled up to my side, her fluffy little tail draped over my body, and I just wanted to squeeze her. Bring her sweet little body up to my nose and inhale the comfort she seemed to bring me.
I'm staying, at least for a while. Which was both a relief and a terrifying conclusion to this situation that wasn't my mistake, but felt like it all the same. I practically forced them to keep me by running out of suppressants, and well, I didn't want to be a burden when the alpha had made it clear I wasn't who he wanted. But I was relieved I didn't have to go out into a scary world when I was most vulnerable. I trusted Leo, Bran, and James even when I knew they weren't planning to keep me.
And they still might not keep me. After my heat, once I get a new order of my suppressants, I could leave. It might be painful, sure. But I could do it if it's what they wanted.
"We've gotta get up," I mumbled to the cat, who instead kneaded against my side and repositioned herself for comfort.
It was the first day without suppressants to take. The first day where things might change, the dynamic between us might alter,and I was afraid to face it. But they swore things would be the same. That no matter what my state, we'd figure it out. I had to trust that, had to trust them.
Get the alpha. Lick the alpha. Claim the alpha.
Shit, my omega was already focusing on her needs and wants. Lick? I wasn't going to lick the alpha. Was she insane? James hardly wanted to talk with me most days. My attempt to win him over seemed to fail in most cases, and my omega thought I'd get away with licking him?
I will not.
You will and he'll like it.I rolled my eyes at her insistence before forcing myself to stand. I didn't feel any different. In fact, I felt exactly as I had any other day. Maybe my heat wouldn't come. Maybe I’d worried for no reason at all.
I left my kitten sleeping on my bed, got dressed, used the restroom, then made my way to the kitchen, except today...it was empty. No Bran with his fluffy eggs waiting for me, no Leo with his easy smile, and no James with his furrowed brows of annoyance. The house was completely silent, and I didn't like it.
I inhaled, taking what of their scents I could into my lungs, though it wasn't nearly enough. It was dulled without them near, barely a piece of them, and my omega whined, hating their absence as much as I did. I searched around a little more, finding a note in Bran's writing.
Honey,
Sorry we weren't able to see your beautiful face this morning, but duty calls. There was a break in the fence on the north of the property that needed immediate mending from James and me. Leo's supply shipment arrived earlier than expected so he had to head out of town. Breakfast is in the fridge. See you soon!
Bran
My heart fluttered as if the beta was here in person, even though the silence around me confirmed I was alone. I had spent so much time with Bran and Leo that I wasn't sure how to handle myself alone. They always let me tag along on their chores, tending to the garden, checking the fence line, collecting eggs, and without them here, I felt like I had no direction.
I ate the breakfast they left for me before cleaning up the kitchen. Not like they ever left it a mess, but I had an urge to straighten up every cabinet, wipe down all surfaces, and give the floor a good scrubbing. When I was done, hardly any time had passed, so I moved on to the living room, the dining area, the hall. The bathroom, spotless. And when I was out of things to clean, I looked toward the closed door of the men's room curiously.
I'd never been inside their space. Never had a desire to since the first day I arrived and they had asked me not to. But now, there was an itch under my skin so persistent, I couldn't keep myself away. I couldn't stop myself from reaching for the doorknob, and turning.
Leo hadn't been lying when he had given me a tour. Though they kept their home mostly pretty tidy for three men, the room was a disaster. Clothing was tossed all over the floor and there was no order to the dresser. Their bed looked like it might have never been made and the pile of laundry waiting to be done was nearly toppling over.
I took a deep breath, inhaling their scents and groaned at how delicious it truly smelled in here. A heady mix of the scents, each tracing back to the unique man who owned it, and it drove my omega wild.
