Page 68 of Knot For Keeps

“Yep. Let’s go.” He strode out of the room, his body tense, and ready to pounce. Stashing the gun in my waistband, I followed. Hopefully Archer had enough time to get Lavender squared away, if this was Detective Rouche, the last thing I wanted was for him to smell Lavender, her scent coated every surface of the house and he was like a demented hyena with a bone.

We glanced at each other with a nod as I reached out for the door handle. We needed to look natural, just two regular alphas opening their front door. I didn’t want to give that fucker any reason to arrest us, because he would. I was honestly surprised when he didn’t try to arrest me for kicking him off our grounds.

Sure enough, the fucker was there—Detective Rouch, a smug look on his face.

“Hello, Mr Rowe.” He grinned.

“What the hell are you doing on my property,” I growled.

A condescending smirk overtook his features. “Now, Gage. Don’t take that tone with me, I’m here on official business. There’s been reports of noises of a concerning nature coming from this property, and I was sent to come check it out.”

“I can assure you, nothing untoward is happening here,” I said, doing my best to keep my voice even. I doubted there was actually a call. Rouche was looking to find his way in and was faking something more legitimate—it was obvious.

“Either way, can I come in and take a look?”

If I denied him entrance it would likely only anger him further, but every surface was coated in Lavender’s scent.

“I’m sorry, we have a lot of confidential client information out in the open,” I shrugged apologetically. “I can’t let you in without a warrant, I’m so sorry.” I did my best to look sincere.

“Are you sure? I can always get the warrant and come back, but I doubt you want something like that on your record, Kane, come on, be reasonable. I just need to make sure nothing criminal is going on, then I can go on my way.”

“Sorry,” Kane shrugged. “Client information, as Gage said. We would be in shit if you saw something without a warrant—surely you understand, being a man of the law.”

Rouche’s condescending smirk faltered. “You’re not going to cooperate at all?”

“I’m sorry, our hands are tied.”

Rouche stilled, clearly running through the options in his head. The fucking nerve of this beta. He was acting like he hadn’t just broken onto our property only a few days prior. And using the excuse that someone else had heard noises? It was such an obvious fabrication—he had used the same excuse a few days ago.

Taking a deep breath, Rouche opened his mouth to speak, but stopped, taking a deep breath. “Your place smells amazing by the way, I wonder what cleaning products you use?” He scratched his chin thoughtfully.

“Kane sometimes works with omegas, for security jobs. He comes home smelling like a sweet shop,” I said casually, despite the fact my heart was starting to beat a million miles a minute. My scent was giving some of my stress away, but I hoped the beta wouldn’t be able to pick it up. Was Lavender’s smell that obvious?

“Oh well, in any case. I’m sure there won’t be any need for a warrant, but I’ll be popping in and checking on you guys again soon. You're so isolated out here, maybe the noise complaint was a wild animal, in that case you could be in danger—so it’s best I keep an eye out.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. The asshole was telling us he was watching like it was a comforting gesture, but I knew it for exactly what it was—a threat.

Rouche turned to leave, before sticking his finger in the air like he had just thought of something. “Lavender!” he exclaimed, turning in the entryway, and smiling at me. My body froze, heart rate so fast I was shocked I didn’t go into cardiac arrest. “That’s what I can smell—delicious. Anyway, I’ll stop by and see you guys soon!”

Rouche sauntered down the path, looking around as he went, taking in our property. I looked at Kane, too stunned to speak.

“He fuckingsmelledher,” Kane snarled as soon as the door was closed.

“He had no way to know it was an omega,” I soothed, though my nerves were fucking rattled.

“He’s like a dog with a bone. We need to put him down.”

“He’s harmless usually, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned,” I admitted, running my hand through my hair. “He was so convinced that we hurt Juniper,”

Rouche had a crush on Juniper, many, many years ago, but given he was only a beta, she had zero interest in him.

“I don’t know. I don’t trust him,” Kane growled. “I’m going to go check on Lavender,” he said, storming out of the room. I followed, my inner alpha hounding me, telling me I needed to keep my omega safe.

She and Theo were in her room, curled up in the nest watching TV quietly, she was fast asleep.

“She conked right out,” Theo laughed, noticing my confused look at her. “She was all stressed out, then the moment we laid down, out like a light.”

“It’s the preheat,” I said.

---