Page 77 of Knot Baked Out For This
"Are we?" Rowan asks. "A pack?"
The question hangs heavy. We've been dancing around this for weeks, three friends who happen to want the same woman, pretending it's casual, pretending we haven't each imagined claiming her, keeping her, making her ours.
"We're not a traditional pack," I say finally. "We don't have an Alpha hierarchy. No one's in charge."
"But we all want her." Rowan's statement, not a question.
"Yes."
"And she maybe wants us."
"Unclear, but data suggests possibility."
"Data," Levi snorts. "Just say she eye-fucks all of us and move on."
"Eloquent as always."
"I'm a poet of truth."
Through the phone, Rowan sighs. "We need to talk. In person. All three of us."
"Tonight," I agree. "After she closes the bakery."
"Why after?—"
"Because I'm going to see her. We all are, separately probably. And we need to know where we stand before some other pack sees this video and decides to make a move."
The thought of another pack, other Alphas circling her, touching her, claiming her?—
I crack my neck, trying to release the sudden tension.
"Agreed," Rowan says. "Midnight? Your place?"
"Bring beer."
"Bring good beer," Levi adds. "Not that IPA shit you pretend to like."
"All beer is shit," I mutter, but they're already hanging up and planning, respectively.
I stare at my abandoned spreadsheet, but the numbers have lost their comfort. All I can think about is the way Hazel looked in that video—happy, relaxed, glowing. The way she looked in my arms that first day when she almost fell through her broken door. The way she smells like Christmas morning and bad decisions.
Do something about it.
I close the laptop, decision made. If we're doing this—really doing this, courting her properly—then I need to step up. No more fixing doors in the dark and disappearing. No more watching from the sidelines while my brother feeds her cookies and Rowan saves her from falling.
Research first. I pull up my phone, typing quickly.
Omega wellness needs Scent-calming techniques for anxious omegas Post-traumatic omega care How to court an omega without being a possessive asshole
That last one might be too specific, but Google's seen worse.
The results are overwhelming. Articles about nesting materials, scent compatibility, proper courtship gifts that don't appear threatening. Forums full of omegas discussing what makes them feel safe versus claimed.
One thread catches my eye: "Small gestures that made me feel seen."
He brought me tea exactly how I like it without me telling him Fixed things around my house without making a big deal about it Scent-calming candles that didn't overwhelm my space Remembered my favorite author and brought me their new book Never assumed, always asked
Scent-calming candles. I can do that.
