Page 72 of Knot Your Average Beta

“Holy shit!” Sadie breathes, scrambling around in my lap to better face Luca. I wrap my arms around her stomach and tug her back against my chest. “The Cormack Pack? The pack that has their fingers in every fucking pie in Hollywood?”

“The one and only,” Luca nods.

Sadie’s eyes get even bigger and her voice goes strangely high pitched. “Your brother is in a pack with Liam Cordova. The Liam Cordova.”

Luca grins. “That’s true too.”

“Oh fuck,” Sadie whimpers. “I think I’m going to pass out. Yep, I’m going to fucking pass out. I have to call Sylvie. I have to call Sorrel! They’re never going to believe this.” She tries to scramble off my lap and but I hold her in place. “Let-Ethan, let me up. Can we meet him? Can.. is that something you can arrange? It would be the best birthday present ever if I could get Sorrel to meet Liam.”

“Calm down, vixen,” Luca says. His smile is indulgent, but there’s a hint of pain in his eyes. One that I know runs deep. “I haven’t even met Liam.”

That makes Sadie stop wiggling against me. What a shame cause it felt so damn good. “Wait, what?”

Luca shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Grayson is very… above board. And very protective of his pack. He’s not about to let his omega around a pack of known criminals.” He glances away from Sadie. “Maybe once we’re totally legit and have gotten out of the crime side of things, we’ll be able to work it out. But as of right now? I haven’t seen my brother in… five years. Haven’t talked to him in three.”

Sadie’s gaze narrows. “Sounds like a real asshole.”

Luca laughs and reaches over to tug her off my lap and onto his. “He’s really not. If our roles were reversed and he was the member of the Falcone pack, I wouldn’t let him anywhere near you.”

Sadie melts against him, leaning in to kiss his mouth while she hums. “Don’t go getting sweet on me now, Luca.”

“I’m always sweet on you, Sadie,” he murmurs against her cheek. “Have been since the first moment I saw you.”

Sadie is packing. I don’t know why she’s packing, but that is undoubtedly what she’s doing.

It was probably a mistake to let her go down to Swift’s workroom a few days ago, to have her see what it is he does. Though from the sound of it, he was actually quite tame to what he normally does. Doesn’t change the fact that she seems exhausted every morning, dark circles hanging from her eyes.

She’s obviously not sleeping as much as she should be.

It’s been a few days since her mother’s visit. Since she found out about how we all came to be a pack and also found out that she was essentially a lab rat for years.

Her mother is alive and currently looking for a job and a new place to live, since we made it clear we have no problem dumping her on the street at the end of the month. Sadie hasn’t asked about her once, but I’ve been keeping tabs on Danielle, just in case my omega wants to know how she’s faring in this new, penniless world she’s found herself in.

I think she’s going to end up in a shitty apartment and working as a barista again. After all, it’s the only job she’s ever had.

Maddox also asked me to monitor her, just in case she tracked down Sadie’s old doctor. His location is information we would love to have. Swift is salivating at the idea of getting his hands on the man who medically abused our girl for years.

The rest of us are right there with him.

The depths of depravity we will sink to for our girl know no bounds. We will do anything for her.

Of course, that only works if she fucking lets us. If she stays with us. Which brings me back to her packing.

I lean my shoulder on the frame of her door and watch as she puts her few belongings in her bag. “What are you doing, heartbreaker?”

I watch as she jumps a little and then turns to give me a bashful look. “I thought I’d go home.”

I don’t know why I didn’t expect that, but I didn’t. I thought she was moving her things into the nest, finally claiming that space in our home for her own. A surprised laugh bursts from me, but it’s lacking any amusement. “You can’t actually think we’re going to let that happen, right?”

She scowls and looks back at the items left on the bed that she still needs to pack. I note that the things we bought her are still neatly stacked in their boxes, untouched. “I wasn’t supposed to stay this long, Ethan. We agreed on three days, until the end of the weekend. It’s Tuesday now. It’s been five fucking days and during that time I’ve nearly been kidnapped and found out I was never sick and watched Swift torture my mother and … I just need a fucking break.”

I push away from the door and move to turn her toward me, hands on her shoulders. Her cherry pie scent washes over me, makes my cock tighten, even though it’s tinged with stress. I know I don’t get hit as hard as the rest of my pack because of her scent, but it affects me all the same. I know I need Sadie like I need air in my lungs, which is why what’s happening here, her leaving, is not allowed.

“Fair enough, heartbreaker,” I slide my hand up to cup her jaw. “But you can have a break and not leave.”

She arches a brow as she looks up at me. “Really? How’s that?”

I smile and lean forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll plan everything.”

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