Page 22 of Knot Forever

I don’t have anything to wear, but when I pull open the walnut-colored wardrobe, there’s a small set of shelves with various items of clothing. My hands hover over a t-shirt that’s giving off Seth’s spicy nutmeg scent, and I grab it, pulling it over my head as I move back to the door.

“Ready,” I say breathlessly when I pull it open. Marcus is leaning against the opposite wall, and his eyes travel over my bare legs before moving up.

“I like that shirt. It looks nice on you.”

Heat flares in my cheeks. “Um. Thank you?”

It seems to be the right response as he nods, leading me down the hallway. My bare feet pad on the cool marble as we head down the stairs and towards the kitchen where I had coffee with Seth and Asher last night.

Both of them are already at the table, Seth reading a newspaper and Asher typing something on a slate-gray tablet. As they look up, I become even more aware of my disheveled state.

On their own, each of these alphas are devastatingly handsome, but together. Jesus.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Seth says easily. He pats a seat next to him. “Come and sit down. I see Marcus came to get you for breakfast.”

Asher rumbles. “Despite us telling him to let you sleep.”

Marcus slides into a chair opposite me, unrepentant. “We all eat breakfast together.”

A smile touches my lips as Seth pours me a coffee from the silver cafetiere. “I don’t mind. It’s nice that you eat together.”

“We’re normally out and about during the day,” Seth tells me, sliding a jug of milk my way. “But this is our usual breakfast routine.”

I nod. The table is filled with enough pastries, fruit and yogurts to feed an invading army.

There’s a plate already set out for me, and I smile at Marcus when I catch him watching me across the table. “This is nice. Thanks for coming to get me, Marcus.”

He looks down. “Are you hungry?”

Despite my protestations, my plate is soon overflowing as all three of them add bits and pieces to my breakfast.

“This is too much.” I bite my lip as I look down. “I really don’t need three croissants, you know.”

Asher puts his tablet down. “You don’t have to finish them. But they’re yours if you want them.”

His eyes look warmer, more amber this morning, but he’s as sharp as he was last night in a perfectly tailored black suit with a matching shirt. Asher holds my eyes as he points at the plate. “Eat, Nova Chevnik.”

I’m not sure why they keep saying my full name, but I like it. Asher in particular has a way of saying it that makes me shiver – a combination of a growl and a throaty purr that I’m blaming for how quickly I pick up my fork. His face softens in approval as I wave it at him.

“So,” I begin as I pick my way through my food. “What do you want me to do while I’m here?”

“Do?” Seth asks casually, and I nod, swallowing a piece of apple.

“I can cook, clean, mend things…” All three of them are shaking their heads before I can finish my sentence. “You just got here,” Seth says firmly. “Take some time to get familiar with us before thinking about any of that.”

“Um.” I fiddle with a piece of hair. “Okay.”

I stifle the small kernel of disappointment. I mean, I’m an omega. This shit is in my blood. And it’s always been the one part of my designation that I’ve truly enjoyed – the caretaking part. Looking after people.

The Williams pack reeled me in with that shit, telling me everything I thought I wanted to hear. It didn’t take long after I moved in before I realized that they didn’t really wantme. They wanted an omega – in and out of the bedroom. Someone to nod, to dress how they wanted me, and do everything I was told.

Someone to bend over and take a knot.

My plate swims in front of me as phantom fingers close around my throat, cutting off my air.

Take that knot, Nova girl. Filthy little slut.

Look at you, panting for us.

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