Page 66 of Believe It or Knot: Part Two

“He’s my next call.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

The line disconnected, and I held the cell in my hand, praying to whatever gods were listening that I made the right decision. I’d never shied away from the responsibility of safeguarding my pack, but holding Demi’s life in my hands was a weighty thing.

She was relying on me. They all were. And if I was wrong?

I couldn’t go down that road. I had to trust myself and my instincts. The moment I started to doubt, everything would fall apart.

Dialing Lawson, I set our plan into motion.

* * *

Demi padded into my office looking every bit the picture of sin. Wavy brown hair spilled over her shoulders, slightly mused from the nap she’d taken with the rest of the pack. Lips, swollen and rosy, told the tale of sweet kisses shared with my pack mates.

Fuck, I wish I’d been there to watch.

Instead, I’d packed an overnight bag while I waited for Knox to arrive home, then went over the details of our upcoming meeting with the FBI. As soon as he finished packing his own necessities, we’d be heading out.

“I heard about your plans,” Demi chastised, those very same lips I’d been admiring moments ago jutting out in a pout she didn’t even recognize she made. “I thought you were going to include me in your decisions.”

Scooting my chair away from my desk, I patted my lap, over the fucking moon when she responded without hesitation. Her hips swayed as she rounded the desk and sat sideways on my lap. My hand came down on the bare skin of her thigh, my thumb massaging circles over the skin visible below the sleep shorts she’d put on.

“I am, and I always plan to. You’re a part of this pack, Sweetness. In fact, you’re the most important member.”

Looping her arms around my neck, she leveled me with a sardonic look. “Now you’re just trying to flatter me.”

I smirked. “Maybe. But I’m also being truthful. You’re the center of this pack, Demi. You complete a part of us we always knew was missing but could never fill. The idea of you in danger is as maddening as it is time-sensitive. None of us were about to wake you up to make you vote on an issue that had already been decided by the majority. Though I will admit, your vote holds more weight and counts for more than any of ours individually.”

“Again with the smooth talk,” she sassed, and I swatted the side of her ass lightly.

She jumped, but the blush that blossomed across her cheeks told me she liked it.

“Be careful, Little Omega, or do I have to remind you who’s in charge around here?”

Tipping her head and smiling saccharinely, she said, “According to you, that would be me.”

With a low, quiet chuckle, I redirected the conversation. “Are you telling me you’d have voted differently?”

Hesitating, she bit her lip, chewing on the delicate skin.

Lifting my hand, I dragged my thumb down the center of her bottom lip to free it from her abuse. Chest heaving, her breath hitched. Surprising the ever-loving fuck out of me, she nipped at the pad of my thumb before soothing the bite with the lave of her tongue.

Godsdamn.My cock twitched to life, growing hard underneath her.

“Answer me, Demi.” I used her actual name for effect, and her eyes darkened from the dominance I infused in my tone.

“No. I would have voted the same way, but that doesn’t mean I like the plan.”

“You’re worried.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out where her reluctance stemmed from. Her scent gave her away, soured with apprehension and fear.

“I can’t lose any of you. Going up against Anton feels overwhelming and scary,” she acknowledged.

“We will not let him get to you, Sweetness. Trust us?”

“I do. Irrevocably.”

“Then trust us to not only know what’s best for our pack, but to keep ourselves safe as well. We’ll be back before you know it.”

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