Page 114 of Knot my Alphas

“I used to love brushing Mom’s hair,” he says, coming to sit next to me.

“He was the youngest and a complete momma’s boy,” Julian says, grinning at him. “He was so tiny and scrawny as a kid. I can’t believe he grew to be the tallest amongst us.”

Surprise flickers through me as I look up at Raiden.

A soft smile lights up his handsome face. Reaching out, he brushes his thumb over my cheek.

“I’d love to watch you paint sometime,” I say.

“My job keeps me too busy these days,” he says. Disappointment clouds his eyes. “I usually paint when I’m on holiday.”

“Which is rare,” Julian mutters. “They haven’t taken a proper vacation in the past three years.”

“You know how things have been since Damon was captured,” Raiden says in a grim tone. Anger swirls in his ice-blue eyes. “We haven’t been able to rest since that time. Thank fuck we’re finally going after the man who’s responsible for ripping our brother apart.”

The same rage is mirrored in Julian’s eyes.

“He won’t escape,” I tell them both. “We’re ready to face him this time.”

Raiden glances at me with an anxious look. “I feel like sending you away until all this blows over,” he says, wrapping his fingers over my hand. “It’s too dangerous to parade you in front of Callahan.”

Anger flares through me. I snatch my hand away and glare at him. “I’m not running away!”

“But—”

Shaking my head, I gesture toward Julian. “He has covered this entire place with cameras. Callahan will be caught no matter what he tries to do to me. There’s no way I’m letting go of this opportunity to gather some hard-to-refute evidence against him.”

“I’m still worried,” says Raiden.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Gerald expects her to be here during the ceremonies,” Julian says.

“It won’t be difficult to come up with an excuse,” Raiden argues back.

“Don’t you dare stop me,” I say in a low, warning tone. “Both Julian and I have been working very hard to prepare ourselves. Don’t let it all go to waste.”

A heavy sigh escapes him. “Don’t I have the right to be worried?” he asks. “I love you. My brothers love you. We’ll only have ourselves to blame if something were to happen to you.”

“It’smydecision,” I say in an assertive tone. “You need me to bait Callahan into coming here. Without me, it’ll be nearly impossible to catch him in the act.”

“We can still do it without you,” Raiden says stubbornly.

“I’m staying here,” I say with an equally fiery resolve.

“I’m your alpha, Iris,” he says with a growl. “You must obey me.”

“Shit!” Julian mutters as hot anger swiftly flows through me.

Pushing Raiden away, I climb off the bed and head toward the door. He’s made me so mad, I can’t even look at him right now. How dare he play the alpha card on me when I’ve spent weeks training my body to fight Callahan?

“Iris! Wait up!” Raiden calls out but I don’t stop.

I’m almost at the door when I feel his presence behind me. With a sudden move, he sweeps me off my feet and hauls me into his powerful arms.

“Put me down right now!” I shout as he takes me back to the bed.

“No.”

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