Page 13 of Knot Their Reality

"Excellent. Hector, if you'll assist the cameramen getting set up here, we’ll do it now, then." Bree looks at the baby in her arms. "Assuming Emmy behaves. If not, then I guess Tessa will be doing the interview on her own."

"Of course, Bree." Hector nods, already heading for the stairs.

He pulls out his phone and starts talking hurriedly as he steps out of view.

Bree turns back to us with a smile. "So this will be pretty casual. The four of you sitting around chatting, though we'll probably throw out some leading questions to make sure you cover what we'd have asked in individual interviews. Does anyone have any questions?"

I glance around at the others, but we all shake our heads.

"I think I'm gonna grab a drink for this," I say as I rise. "Does anyone else want one?"

Bree raises her hand, but Tessa promptly knocks it down. "You're still breastfeeding. No alcohol for you."

"Damn it," she says with a laugh. "Jace, would you mind grabbing me and Tessa a water each?"

"Of course, it would be my pleasure. Guys?"

Ezra shakes his head. "No alcohol for me, thank you. But I wouldn't turn down a water."

Alejandro looks undecided before shaking his head. "I'll also take a water."

I laugh as I turn to Jackson. "Please tell me you're not going to ask for a water too? I don't want to be the only one drinking."

"I'll take one of those beers we had last night."

"Excellent. Four waters, a beer, and a whiskey for me." I head for the bar in the corner.

Ezra clears his throat. "A whiskey? It's not even time for dinner yet, and you're going to have a whiskey?"

Coming from anyone else, I'd probably be irritated by the question, but knowing this is just how Ezra is, I just laugh. "Yes, Ezra. Any time is a good time for a whiskey."

I shoot him a wink over my shoulder before leaning down to pull out the waters and beer from the fridge. I set them on the counter before plucking a glass from the rack and pouring myself a healthy glass of Maker's Mark, ignoring the McCallan that I know is too rich for my blood. I'll take Maker's Mark over that any day of the week.

Drink made, I hand everyone their drinks just as the cameramen appear. I drop onto the couch and take a swig, closing my eyes at the taste. Nothing beats a glass of whiskey when I want to relax.

It takes the crew about fifteen minutes to get all set up, and I've only made it halfway through my drink by then. I'm not looking to get drunk, after all.

Bree and Tessa have pulled up chairs beside the camera crew so they won't be in view of the cameras. Bree is holding a sleeping Emmy as she leans forward and nods at us. "And we're a go. Why don't you start off talking about how you think the last twenty-four hours have gone?"

When no one jumps in to be the first to speak, I shrug. "I didn't watch the first season of Heated, but I looked up the suitors from the season just to get an idea of what kind of suitors they brought on. I honestly don't even know who Bree chose beyond Emmett, and that's only because we met him.

"I wasn't sure what kind of omega they'd be putting on the show, except that it would be a woman over thirty who has a career. Sophia is... a surprise. Don't get me wrong—I can tell she can be a hardass—but that's not how she acts. She seems so genuine and really wants to find her pack. She's driven in her career, and I feel like she brings that same kind of drive to finding her pack.

"She definitely isn't the typical omega that we're told to look for when we reveal as an alpha, but that's kind of what I love about her. At my age, I've met my share of omegas—even with how rare they are—but I haven't clicked with any of them. They either looked down on me for what I do for a living, or how I like to spend my time off. I'm a biker—surprisingly, that's not something omegas want in their pack. I'd pretty much given up. For the last twenty years, I've only dated betas. I never thought I'd be chosen to come on Heated since I'm not the ideal alpha.

"But for the first time in my life, I've met someone I could see spending the rest of my life with. It's crazy and way too soon to say we could work out forever, but I can see it. I'm hopeful that as I get to know her better, she feels the same way." I smirk, done with sharing my emotions. "And that kiss? It was hot as hell. I've never had anyone lose themselves to my kiss like that before. I want to do it again."

Jackson snorts beside me. "That was definitely some kiss, wasn't it? She and I aren't there yet, but I do really like her. As you said, she's different, and I never knew I wanted different until I met her. I'm not sure I could go back to meeting omegas in their late teens, early twenties ever again. Though, it's been a few years since I've done that. I'm pushing forty, and the idea of mating with a girl who's young enough to be my daughter isn't really what I'm looking for."

I scoff. "There's nothing wrong with a younger lady. Technically, Sophia is young enough to be my daughter, too."

"You would've been in your teens though," Ezra supplies. "What are the chances that would've happened?"

"Nowadays? Slim to none, but back before the Event, it was almost common practice." I shrug. "But you're right. Things are different now."

"You get what I'm saying, though. Ezra, you're close to my age; I'm sure you understand what I'm saying." Jackson turns his attention to the other man, who shrugs.

"I may not understand exactly what you're saying... But I think you're saying that those who have just revealed feel too young? At least that's how I feel. The way Sophia just accepted it when I told her I was on the spectrum; most people don't do that. Let alone the omegas who have just revealed. They're not really looking for betas anyway. They're looking for alphas with knots—something the three of you don't have to worry about.

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