Page 61 of Believe it or Knot

I shift uncomfortably, eyes flicking to Joey’s tense shoulders. The last thing I want to do is admit that they brought me here to have a sex fest, but that’s what this is, isn’t it? A week long—five day long—sexual festival where they essentially bang me out of their system. That’s why they’re making plans to go back to work next week. They’ll be done with me by then. No matter what Gray says.

They might be choosing me for now, but they can’t know how they’ll feel next week.

“I mean, I guess so, but you don’t have to just announce it like that,” I say, trying to hide the hurt in my heart.

“I don’t see the point in being shy about it, sweet thing. We want you, you want us. And none of us want Joey around while we fuck, right?”

I look at the other beta again, but nod slowly. “Right. Yeah.” I don’t really want to have somebody creeping around while I’m having sex. I don’t want him listening to us. The idea of that is shudder-inducing. So I nod again. “Yep, you’re right. We don’t want him around while we… do this.” I can’t bring myself to say fuck each other out of our systems, but the feeling is there, I think.

Gray frowns, opens his mouth to say something else, but Joey takes that time to break in. “I’ve confirmed a meeting with Miss Blake at 1:30 pm on Tuesday. I booked your pilot for Tuesday morning. Take off is at 8 am. It should give us plenty of time to land and get to the IndulgScents offices. I also made a reservation for tomorrow at The Oak at 7:30. I let them know you require a private booth. Is there anything else I can do for you before I head home for my vacation?”

If anyone notice the way he spits that last word, they don’t comment on it. I’m not sure what exactly his problem is with me specifically, but I can’t possibly be the first person they’ve brought home like this. I’m sure they’ve had weeks like this before. Bring a girl home, fuck her brains out as many times as they can, send her on her way.

Do you think they bought houses in all those girls’ hometowns? A quiet voice says, making my heart rate pick up. I push the thought away. It’s too dangerous. Too hopeful. They bought the lake house because the area is beautiful, and they didn’t want to rent a place. I’m sure in a year, the house will be on the market again.

“No, thank you, Joey,” Liam says, nuzzling into my neck again, slumping most of his weight onto my shoulder, like my scent alone calms him, relaxes him. “We’ll let you know if anything changes.”

Gray leans forward slightly to clap him on the shoulder. “Take a break, man. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Rafe turns a corner and then swears. “Fuck.”

I don’t know what the problem is at first, but then I see it, a crowd of people—ages ranging from young to old, alpha, beta and omega, civilians and paparazzi—has formed around the underground parking garage entrance of what I can only assume is the building the Cordova pack live in. Some of them are holding signs and looking around anxiously, trying to catch a glimpse of the omega sitting next to me.

The sight of all those people makes me slightly nauseous and my shoulders curl inward. My head ducks toward my chest as if they’re there to get a picture of me. I know they’re not, but it doesn’t help my anxiety.

Liam cuddles me closer. “How the hell did they know we were coming back today?” He murmurs as Rafe slows, honking his horn once to get them to move.

This only incites a frenzy when they recognize him. Bodies press against the car, particularly on the side where Liam’s sitting. Camera’s flash, trying to get a picture of him. Questions are shouted through the glass. I duck down further, turning toward Gray, who has decidedly less activity on his side of the car, but still more than I’m comfortable with. My heart thunders behind my ribs, too fast for something this small.

Gray curls an arm around my back, pulling me into his chest, letting me hide my face in his thousand dollar shirt. One big hand cups the back of my head, holding me tight as the car slowly inches forward. “It’s okay, sweet thing,” he murmurs into the top of my head, rubbing his cheek back and forth, making the scent of citrus and cloves bloom around me. “It’s okay. We’ve got you. They can’t get in the building, okay? Once we get through them, we’ll be golden.”

I nod against him, but don’t lift my head. Liam’s hand presses between my shoulder blades, rubbing a circular motion.

By the time the car has pulled to a stop and the engine shuts off, I’m feeling… Silly. That was such an overreaction to the situation. Unnecessary. I sniff and pull back, not meeting any of their eyes as Rafe hops out of the front seat and hurries to open Liam’s door.

“I’m sorry,” I say softly, gaze focused on the fingers twisted in my lap. Trying to get myself under control, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I just wasn’t… prepared, I guess.”

Rafe leans into the car over Liam and nudges my chin up with his knuckle. “Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for, conejita. It can be a lot. The attention. But it gets easier.”

I force a smile to my lips and nod my head. “Yeah, I know. I’ll do better next time. I promise.”

Joey makes a scoffing sound from the front seat before he pushes open his door. I watch as Gray’s gaze narrows and then he climbs out, slamming the door behind him. He curls a hand around the beta’s upper arm and says something to him I can’t make out, but his expression is enough to make me hope he never looks at me like that.

“Hey,” Liam says, gently drawing my attention back to him and Rafe. “You don’t need to make that promise. It’s okay if you never get used to it.”

Right. Because this is temporary. I’m not going to be a permanent fixture in this pack. I don’t need to get used to being in the spotlight, because after this week, I won’t be. I’ll be back in Lake Kilrose, and they’ll be jetting off to a meeting with the gorgeous omega CEO, Cecily Blake.

Track 15: Heartlines

I’m not sure this is going to work.

Sorrel being a part of our pack. I never would have thought she would react like that, terrified of people outside of the car, not wanting to have her picture taken. The overwhelming urge I had to protect her, to make her feel safe and comfortable, was all alpha. Part of me is already viewing her as pack, and the thought of her being scared was—is—intolerable.

But the reality is this is part of our life. The crowds, the people, the paparazzi, the inappropriate questions. All of that comes with the territory of being a Cordova pack member. If she can’t handle a few dozen fans and photographers, how is she going to handle walking the red carpet with Liam or being backstage at one of his concerts? How will she handle just going out with us as a pack?

The last thing I want is for her to be uncomfortable, even if that means she’s ours.

“Maybe she’ll get used to it,” Rafe says, eyes focused on Sorrel and Liam as he guides her up the stairs to the room that will be hers while she stays with us. She’d hardly even looked at the penthouse, taking it in with wide eyes and a silent mouth, before asking if there was somewhere she could freshen up.

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