Page 33 of Knot Alone

I open the door and find all the food I requested laid out in neat rows. I’m usually a snacker during my heat, so grapes, carrots, and string cheese supplement the standard water bottles and protein drinks. Beside the mini-fridge is a short shelf that wasn’t there during my initial walkthrough. It’s stuffed with popcorn, chocolate chips, dried fruit, Tupperware boxes of different cookies, and what looks like granola bars.

“Mr. Baxter made some requests. We tested them for any substances, as I believe they are homemade.” I ignore Iris’ tone and stop myself from tracing a hand over the shelf full of Graham’s Alpha care.

“And, of course, the bathroom.” Iris steps into a beautiful, all-white room. There are no windows, but the lighting is enough to seem natural. There’s a massive jacuzzi tub, big enough for all three of us, and a glass shower with multiple heads and more than enough room. Iris opens the cupboards under the double sink and points out the baskets full of personal hygiene products, all to my specifications. There’s another basket I assume is Graham and Linus’. Then she points to the cleaning supplies on the other side.

“Do you believe the room meets your requirements?” I nod. “Is there anything further you can think of that you would like to request?”

“No. It’s better than I hoped.”

“That’s something. Now, we have one last matter to discuss.”

“Okay?” What else is there?

“Everything we have discussed are things I would usually review just before someone’s heat, as we have done here. Our one remaining matter is usually something I would’ve covered in a conversation before you approved of your Alpha partners. I apologize that we’re doing things out of order.”

“I think my heat is to blame.”

“Still, I wish to apologize because I want every Omega in my care to feel like they can refuse an Alpha, and these are strange circumstances.”

“Refuse?” My stomach curdles at the thought.

“Yes.” Iris gestures me to the end of the bed and doesn’t sit in an armless chair, probably trying not to leave behind any scent. “So, for a moment, you and I are going to pretend like you’ve approved Linus and Graham, but like your heat isn’t about to hit like a freight train.”

“Okay.” I don’t laugh.

“First, I would go over your test results for biological compatibility. But based upon your physical reaction to Mr. Lockridge, it’s clear you have a high degree of compatibility.” I blush and choose not to think about what we did in her office with that ‘high degree of compatibility.’ Or how much I’d like Iris to stop talking so my Alphas can come to me.

“Despite that, we ran your biological samples to make sure.” Iris twists the tablet around. There is a bar chart too far away for me to see specifics, but our bars are virtually neck and neck. Neck and neck to what, I don’t know, but still. “Mr. Baxter is an excellent match. However, I assume you didn’t have the same reaction you did to Mr. Graham.”

“No, but also, yes.” But Iris isn’t really asking a question.

“As we do with all potential matches, we ran the data for you and Mr. Baxter, and you’re also an excellent match.” She flicks the screen and brings up another indistinguishable bar chart. This graph isn’t as tight as the first, but still close. “So, you have nothing to worry about on the biological front.”

“Great.” I go to stand.

“One more thing.” I don’t want to tell Iris to leave me with a hot pack because my body is getting impatient, but I’m struggling not to complain.

“I promise, this is the last thing and if we can get through it, neither of us has to have a review when you’re done with your heat.”

“Quickly would be appreciated.”

Iris agrees. “When you signed up, you filled out information regarding your sexual likes and dislikes. We used that as one of our parameters for matching.” I remember. “Here is the summary of Mr. Lockridge and Mr. Baxter.” Iris hands over the tablet. Thank goodness it’s brief, because I don’t think I can leaf through all those pages again.

There isn’t much highlighted for the three of us: nipple play, light bondage, and overstimulation. I’m getting worked up at the mere words. My belly cramps in my body’s displeasure and I almost drop the tablet.

“I’m sorry,” Iris says. “I know this is terrible, but I have to do this.”

“Why?”

“Because—” Iris flips to the second screen. “Graham and Linus are both marked as being in a committed relationship. They’re marked as only accepting a one-time heat arrangement.” This stab of pain is entirely different from my heat.

But before I can angst, Iris continues. “I know, and you know, what’s really going on. But we both must respect the paperwork. Before you have your heat I’m legally required to tell you about the limits and verify that you’re fine with them. I don’t want to have Linus change his paperwork and declare his marriage open to a third. He’s a very eligible Alpha and other Omegas will try to capitalize on that, even while he’s in here with you.”

I snarl at the thought, only to realize that I’m snarling out loud. I smack my hand over my face and gulp the sound back down.

“Right.” Iris bites back a laugh. “Are you clear that they’re in a committed relationship and ‘not looking for a third.’” She puts air quotes around the last.

“Yes.”

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