Page 105 of Knot my Alphas

Surprise flashes through her bright blues but she covers it up quickly and pretends to look grim. “She’ll be going through her first heat soon,” Mom says. “I want to make sure she’s got everything in her nest to make her comfortable. Is it so horrible of me to care for your mate?”

“Oh...” It’s my turn to be surprised now.

“So, where is she sleeping?” she asks, walking toward the staircase that leads to the upper floors of the house.

“Errr...” How do I utter the word “attic” to her?

Mom steadily ascends the stairs and comes to a stop on the third floor. Glancing back at me, she says, “So, which room is she staying in?”

“She’s staying in the attic.”

Her head cocks to the side like she didn’t hear me clearly. “What did you say?”

“The attic, Mom,” I say, cringing.

She swells like a bullfrog, her soft features sharpening into an enraged look. “You mean to tell me that poor girl has been made to stay in the attic all this time?” she shouts.

I take a step back. “She sleeps with Julian on most nights. When we’re here, she sleeps in one of our rooms. It’s rare for her to sleep alone in the attic these days.”

“That’s a pathetic excuse!” she snaps. “An omega needs her own space, her own nest! She can’t share Julian’s or anyone else’s room.” She puts a hand to her forehead and looks away from me. “I cannot believe how cruelly you’ve been treating her. The poor child slaves after the lot of you every day and you can’t even offer her a proper room. She’s your mate! Even our servants have their own rooms!”

I stay quiet as Mom tears into me.

In all honesty, I deserve her rage.

No one has treated Iris as horribly as me. If Mom knew I’d sent her away to work in the trainee dorms, she’d kick my ass right here.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “I didn’t mean for her to keep staying in the attic. She never said anything and I sort of forgot about it—”

“You forgot?” she hisses. “You forgot about your own mate?”

“I didn’t. I just—”

She raises a hand, putting a stop to my bleating. “Your father and I raised you to be better,” she says, poking a finger in my chest. “He always took care of me no matter what emergency he was facing. Look at you! What’re you going to do when you have children?”

“I’m sorry, Mom!”

“You should be ashamed! I never thought you’d grow up to be so irresponsible.”

Her admonishments make me bristle but I stay quiet and hang my head in shame and surrender.

Mom isn’t wrong. I should’ve paid more attention to Iris’s needs.

“I’ll set up a room for her,” I say in a sincere tone.

Mom nods. “You must take note of the things she likes. The color of the walls, curtains, and furniture makes a lot of difference. They should make her feel soothed and comforted. The place should feel like home to her.”

“I understand, Mom.”

“Do you?”

“Mom,” I whine.

Shaking her head, she stomps down the corridor. “I still have to manageeverything!” I hear her huff as she goes down the stairs. “That poor kid...”

Despite the verbal lashing, I feel a smile coming onto my lips.

Mom has fallen in love with Iris’s sweet innocence. She’s treating her like a part of this pack.

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