Page 19 of Knot So Perfect Omega

“Yeah, well, things aren’t exactly going to plan.” I slid off the barstool and went to the coffee maker that had a carafe half full to pour myself a cup.

“And what plan is that?” Kane finished mixing up the egg and cream mixture and turned on the stove. “Do you want cream for your coffee?”

“Yes.” I grabbed the pint from him and poured it in. “I opted out of Omega Match but instead got a nice surprise.”

“Why would you opt out when your biology pushes you toward having a pack?” He put butter on the griddle, and it sizzled. “Even with the heat suppressants you guys are on, it has to be uncomfortable.”

“It’s manageable.” I didn’t want to get into specifics with him about my dildo collection that satisfied my needs just fine. Was it ideal? No, but the alternative of having a pack and being expected to go through a full-on heat made me sick to my stomach.

When omegas first emerge, there is no suppressing the first heat because it would inhibit our bodies from adjusting to being an omega. It’s beyond painful, and it made me feel so vulnerable and needy that even with reassurances from my mom that it was great when there were alphas involved, I didn’t want to experience it again.

Plus, it could be several weeks long, and with me wanting to run a business, dealing with raging horniness and out-of-control slick and perfume was out of the question. I couldn’t be scent marking other omegas’ nesting quilts.

“You didn’t answer my question.” I’d hoped with Kane focused on putting the egg-covered slices of bread on the griddle, he’d forgotten he’d asked me why I didn’t want a pack.

“There are things I want to accomplish for myself before being tied down to a pack where I might not be able to explore those things. Being expected to be at a pack’s beck and call, spread my legs multiple times a day for whoever wants their turn, and dealing with a heat that might last weeks at a time every few months isn’t my cup of tea.” I’d never expressed myself so clearly before, and it made me sit up a little taller. Something about Kane made me want to spill my soul to him. “I want to start my own business.”

He put the last piece of toast on and went to the sink to wash his hands. I’d expected an immediate response telling me all the reasons why omegas and alphas were meant to be together, but instead, he was silent as he lathered his hands and rinsed them.

“Is that the type of environment you grew up in? A pack that didn’t support their omega?” He grabbed a spatula out of a drawer and turned to look at me. “I know a lot of packs are like that, but this one isn’t.”

“You say that now... And no, I grew up in a pack that was supportive, but there was no time for my mom to explore her interests beyond being an omega. She got pregnant with me and Kara pretty early on, and we have six dads.” I sighed and rested my cheek on my fist. “I don’t even know if I want children. It doesn’t seem fair to match into a pack that definitely wants offspring when all I want is to make quilts and freely eat chocolate.”

“I think it’s hard to imagine children running around when you’re so goal-focused. There’s no law saying packs have to have offspring, and ultimately, it’s the woman’s choice.” He turned back to the stove to flip the toast, and I tried to calm the beating of my heart.

If the pack felt that way, maybe they weren’t so bad after all.

“But what are you doing quilting? Isn’t that for... you know...” He turned back to me, his plump bottom lip between his teeth as if he were biting back what he wanted to say. I knew a lot of younger people didn’t talk about quilting, but that didn’t mean we didn’t do it.

“Say it, Kane.” A smile broke free as he shifted from one foot to another. “Just know that I know where you lay your head at night.”

“Are you threatening me, sweet cheeks?” He grinned, his entire face lighting up.

“Me? Threaten you? Never.” I nodded to the griddle. “Don’t burn my breakfast.”

“Shit.” He turned back to the stove and turned it off. “They didn’t burn, thankfully.”

“Good morning.” I stiffened at the greeting coming from Beckett as he walked into the kitchen. “Kara-”

“I’m not Kara,” I blurted, deciding to rip the Band-Aid off in one fell swoop. “I’m Kayla.”

It was like my body could sense his sudden shift in mood as he stopped abruptly and did a pivot to stare at me from across the island. “What do you mean you’re not Kara?” His tone was a partial growl, and my heart nearly stopped.

I’d been on the receiving end of many angry alpha growls in my younger years, and I hated it. I preferred Beck’sI’m going to fuck you senseless on this countergrowl.

“I told you, I’m Kayla. By some horrible twist of fate, we matched.” I was starting to feel the same sass I had at the Alphaball meet and greet coming out. “I knew calling you a shrimp dick would turn you on.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed as he put his palms on the counter to lean toward me aggressively. I sat taller because he didn’t scare me. I’d braced myself for his wrath to be the strongest given our first interaction.

I just hadn’t expected to shove my tongue down his throat the night before.

“You will not speak to me that way when you so clearly are involved in some kind of deception with your sister. I almost fucked you last night thinking you were her!” His voice was starting to rise, and I bit inside my cheek to stop from whimpering. “Pack your bags. You’re going right back to where you came from.”

I didn’t move or take my eyes off him. He couldn’t just boss me around like he owned me. “Is your poor alpha ego bruised? I’m so sorry, but I barely passed Submission 101.”

His hands fisted on the counter. “That’s an actual fucking class?”

Kane made a disgruntled noise in his throat and slid a plate of delicious French toast across the counter, along with some syrup.

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