Page 25 of Ready or Knot

Logan talks over him, taking my hand in his and squeezing tightly. “Let them be worried, Faedra. They’re trying to make sure you’re safe. Nothing wrong with that. We’ll all get used to each other.”

I give a tentative smile, and he kisses my knuckles. Carter and Jude get out of the car, and Jude opens my door, helping me get out and holding my elbow while I put on the small heels. Logan drapes the gown over his arm and holds the cap with a careful grip.

“So family aside, what are you hoping to achieve this year?” Carter asks, taking my hand while Jude sets his palm against the small of my back.

I frown, and Logan runs his knuckles along my cheek before turning around and leading us across the courtyard and into the pavilion.

“I’m not entirely sure,” I admit after a few minutes of quiet. “I hadn’t really let myself think past being matched. Some packs are…very strict in what they allow their Omega to do, and I didn’t want to get my hopes set up to be crushed.”

Carter squeezes my hand. “Well, we aren’t like that. There’s more to you than just being an Omega.”

Logan nods, turning around and grinning while he walks backwards. I smile as a piece of hair drops onto his forehead, the soft breeze messing up his carefree styling.

“And don’t pick something based on income,” Jude adds. “The Council has robust requirements for what packs have to bring in so they can qualify for matching. We’ve got it covered.”

“Pursue whatever you love to do for a career. Or don’t pick a career at all and stay home with me.” Logan grins and winks. My cheeks flame, and he laughs, grabbing my other hand and kissing my palm before turning back around.

“I’ll think about it,” I tell the men. “You’re serious about anything?”

Jude nods, but Carter says, “It would be pretty difficult to move from Denver permanently. Not just with our jobs, though mine can be picked up and taken anywhere with some planning. It’s the Council that makes it challenging.”

I squeeze his hand, smiling as we come to stand with the rest of the people trying to get in the building for the ceremony. Someone calls down from the other end, but I ignore it, the crowd starting to make me nervous.

Jude steps closer to me, encouraging with his soft touch for me to stand right behind Logan, the three of them making a makeshift wall between me and the swarm of people.

“Faedra Rose! There you are!” My mom’s voice carries over the din of the crowd, and I turn towards it, finding my family walking towards me, Violet and Jasper with them. Violet shakes her head in warning but keeps smiling as she waves.

The look on my mom’s face has me swallowing as I step around Jude to greet them.

Ten

CARTER

Faedra’s entire demeanor changes as she steps around Jude and drops my hand, waving once at her family. It’s subtle. Certainly not anything her mother seems to notice. But where she had been relaxed against us, leaning into our touches and moving close enough to scent us, she’s now more closed off, her posture rigid and her hands fidgeting with the ends of her hair where they cascade over her shoulders.

Jude glances at me, and I lift one eyebrow.

“Betas, remember? And she’s been suppressed for the last four years. They probably have no idea,” Logan says under his breath, keeping Faedra’s cap and gown in his hold. “Especially since I don’t think she even does.”

I blow out a breath. “And she mentioned they were leery of the gap.”

Jude takes a minute to recalibrate, closing his eyes and adjusting the sleeves of his suit jacket. When he turns around, he gives us each a subtle nod.

“Alright, alright, enough with the greeting. Introduce us,” her mother says, her eyebrow cocked as she looks me over.

Faedra blushes but comes to stand between us again. She points to Logan, who steps forward and offers his hand to her mother.

“This is Logan,” she says, then points to me. “This is Carter. And this is Jude.” She finishes by holding her hand out to him, and he nods once.

“Guys, this is my mom, Elizabeth.”

A man in his late forties steps forward, his red hair fading into white, his freckles nearly as dark as Faedra’s. The man beside him is a mirror image despite the dark red hair the younger man sports.

“This is my dad, Jay, and my brother, Aiden.”

We all do the customary exchanges, and her father relaxes as we offer small bits of information about ourselves over the next few minutes. The short woman beside Aiden clears her throat. She’s unfamiliar to me, but Logan waves with a small smile.

“Shit, sorry, Vi,” Faedra says, stepping around her parents and grabbing the woman’s hand. “Everyone, this is Violet. She’s my best friend and has been my roommate for the last four years.” She smiles, her gaze sizing up Jude. Faedra clears her throat and continues. “And this is Jasper. He’s part of Pack Montegue, which Violet matched with at the same gala as we did.”

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