Page 16 of Knot All Is Lost: Part 1

“Rafael, please know I would have handled that all differently…I wouldn’t have come on so strong.” Marius said, his voice so close he had to be standing in front of us. The odd part was that his tone was tinged with pain. “I didn’t know… God, how did I not pick up her scent until now?”

“Spencer thought it was best to muddy hers with his as we passed through the gate,” Nixon answered.

“Is someone making cookies? It smells like fucking snickerdoodles in here for some reason,” a cocky voice called from somewhere in the house.

Even though every sense of mine was on high alert, I didn’t like that I couldn’t see. Yet part of me believed that child’s lie if I couldn’t see them, they couldn’t see me. More footsteps sounded on the wood floor telling me that more of them had arrived. I felt him lower us so we were sitting against something soft. The need to evaluate my surroundings finally won out over the fear.

Lifting my head I discovered we were in a room with a wall of built-in bookshelves made out of a rich dark wood filled to the brim with old looking books. There was also a large couch where I found five people watching me, some with curiosity and others with concern or boredom. Marius looked like he was in pain, his face was pinched, and his hands kept opening and closing like he wanted to do something but couldn’t.

Two new faces were among those I’d been introduced to. A man who seemed closer to my age, with tousled brown hair with random vibrant red streaks. His hazel eyes washed over me with indifference and slight curiosity. From his pine and fresh rain scent I could tell he was a Beta. He must be the one they said also came from the shelter. Looking him over intently I couldn’t see any signs of him being mistreated, or even a hint of fear wafting off him sitting so close to Marius.

That left who should be the fourth Alpha of the pack. He had sleek blond hair that came to his shoulders, making his bright blue eyes stand out against his tanned skin. He gave off a warm energy, his scent was that of caramel and cinnamon making me want to smile. It pulled me back to the days when Mom took me to the fall festival and we made caramel apples and stuffed ourselves full of cinnamon doughnuts. It was the last happy memory I had before she died.

Shifting me off his lap so I sat next to him instead of curled up in a ball Rafael introduced me to the room. “Everyone this is Cambrie, she’s an Omega who will be staying with us for a little bit.”

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