Page 39 of Knot Theirs

“I was fine, but Kat was hurt. It could have ended much worse. I still have nightmares about it.”

Michael brought her face to his shoulder, and she clutched onto his shirt while she sobbed. Every wracking breath that shuddered through her made me want to howl in agony.

“You’re moving in with us.” It came out as a bark. I couldn’t help it. She had to live with us. It was the only way to keep her safe.

Tracy went rigid, still holding on to Michael. Anger flooded the bond. Ben and Michael looked like they were going to charge me. They thought I’d gone too far.

It didn’t feel far enough.

“Sorry. I’m a little on edge.” I gentled my tone,releasing the command of the bark. But the alpha in me wouldn’t back down. I wasn’t asking. And my next words couldn’t be contained anymore. “You’re our omega. You need to move in with us.”

Her posture relaxed without the bark holding her still, and she slowly turned. My heart stopped beating when she faced me. Her hazel eyes blazed with anger and hurt. Because of me.

I wanted her to shout, to tell me off. But she did something much worse. She got up, walked over, and put on her coat. Then she opened the door and went outside. All without saying a word.

Michael dropped his head into his hands and growled. “I can’t believe you just said that.” He looked up, and I didn’t need the bond to know he was close to hitting me. “You just fucked this up for all of us.”

I stood at the same time Ben did. He started to speak, but I cut him off.

“I’ll go after her. I’ll fix it.”

I wasn’t sure how, but I had to.

They both started shouting at me, but it was background noise. I didn’t try to answer. What could I say? Panic slithered along the bond while I put on my coat, making my gut ache. As soon as I had my boots on, I went outside to find our omega.

She hadn’t gotten far. The weather had warmed overnight, and the snow was melting fast. In places where the ground was exposed, it was muddy andwaterlogged. Combined with the slush, it made walking hazardous.

From a few paces away, I saw her stumble, and I broke out in a run.

Before she could fall, I wrapped my arms around her. But instead of catching her, my momentum took us both down, onto a pile of snow. She landed on top of me, chest to chest, panting. Then she started struggling to get away.

I held on tighter.

“Please, Tracy. I’m begging you right now. Listen to me.” My voice sounded desperate. I never begged.

She slowed her movements, then stilled, lying face down on my chest. I realized I was trembling, but not from the cold. Icy fear flooded my veins.

We couldn’t lose her.

She spoke against my chest without looking up.

“Maybe I’m a bitch.”

Her words startled me so much, my mind blanked. It took me a minute, but then I thought I understood.

I loosened my grip, and Tracy rose up on her elbows, frowning down at me while I looked at her with a cautious smile.

“Are you?”

“Sometimes.” Her brow furrowed.

“I have my moments too. Obviously.”

“People expect that from you. You’re an alpha. People expect me to be sweet and perfect.”

“We don’t expect you to be perfect. And I know you’re not sweet.”

That earned me a small smile. Then her face went stern again.

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