Page 118 of Knot Baked Out For This
Reverie's voice carries through the door, and when I open it, she's standing there with enough shopping bags to stock a small boutique.
She takes in the scene—security team drilling, cats in various states of territorial dispute, Ember now trying to play with Muffin, who's having none of it—and whistles.
"Should've brought my husky. Really complete the chaos. Though she's pure madness, she would've turned this into a full zoo."
"Why do you have—" I gesture at the bags.
"BRAND DEAL!" She spins, bags flying dangerously. "Starting November, I'm doing a holiday vlog series! 'Total Holidays in the Small Town' featuring yours truly as a badass Omega navigating seasonal romance!"
"That's amazing?—"
"There's a catch." She sets the bags down, finally. "The contract mentions needing a pack for some segments. You know,with the new laws about Omega protection in the media. But whatever! My Knotty Christmas Wish is to find some Alphas and force them to do Vlogmas with me!"
She spins again, nearly taking out a security camera with her enthusiasm.
"Which is why I got all these clothes! Samples, gifts, more than any human needs. And hoarding makes me a hot mess, so you're trying them on!"
"Reverie, I can't?—"
"You can and will!" She spins toward the door. "Let me grab the second batch?—"
The crash is spectacular.
Reverie, mid-spin, collides with what can only be described as a wall of Alpha. He's massive—taller even than Rowan, covered in tattoos that peek from under his leather jacket, with the kind of dangerous beauty that usually requires a warning label.
They freeze, her looking up at him with wide eyes, him looking down with an expression caught between amusement and interest.
"You look," Reverie says slowly, "like a bad boy who jumped out of a steamy omegaverse novel trying to win the good girl."
His smirk is pure sin. "I'll take that as a compliment. Though I'm actually here to deliver furniture. Covering for my older brother—caught a seasonal cold."
"You're a delivery driver?"
"Part-time. Full-time, I restore motorcycles."
"Motorcycles?!" Reverie looks personally offended. "It's almost winter! You can't be driving those!"
"That's what snowmobiles are for, princess."
"Snowmobiles. Of course. You're like a page of sins with a vehicle collection."
I laugh, but it dies when I notice my three Alphas have gone still, watching this interaction with the kind of focus usually reserved for threats. The air gets thick with territorial pheromones—cedar and honey and gingerbread creating a wall ofours.
"Nash," the new Alpha says, extending a hand to me while very carefully not looking at Reverie again. "Just need someone to sign for the delivery."
"What delivery?" I start forward, but Rowan steps in front of me, practically vibrating with jealousy.
"I'll sign."
"Actually," Nash says, checking his tablet, "it's the premium bedroom set and the... Cloud Couch 3000?"
"That was fast," Levi says innocently.
"Surprisingly fast," Luca agrees.
"Almost like someone paid for express delivery," Rowan adds.
They all look at me with expressions of pure innocence that fool exactly no one.
