Page 156 of Knot Their Omega

“Fucking perfect,” he praises and looks to Kenji. “Guess I’m gonna have to ride home and share the news.”

“It’s legit,” Kenji questions more to himself. “Heck, I didn’t realize. I mean… I was worried about it when it wasn’t fading away, but it looked pretty nice. I was gonna get it tattooed.”

“Don’t need to do that,” Kai teases and pushes him lightly in a playful manner. “It’s fucking permanent. It never fades.”

“So, it’s a done deal,” Kenji whispers. “We’re marked by Astraea.”

“Holy shit,” she curses in horror and looks around. “B-B-But… aren’t you guys mad?! Why are you happy?”

“Who wouldn’t be head over heels for being claimed by an Omega they actually like?” Rex surprisingly mutters, drawing our eyes to him as he shrugs and looks directly at Astraea. “Could see from day one that you liked them. The commitment was like burning flames in your eyes. Guess you just needed your body to do the deed and lay down your claim before your mind caught up.” He almost seems proud of her as he smiles while his face softens a bit.

“An Omega knows when they’re in a pack that will protect and cherish them even before it catches up to their mind. Youlaid your mark instinctively without realizing you were marking territory. It’s something that rarely happens, so you should be proud. You’re stuck with these three fuckers.” He nudges his head over to Nathaníel. “I’m sure he’s next. Make sure you choose the right twin, though. That one,”—he moves his head nudge to Nate…“is the biggest douche on the block.”

“Isn’t that right,” James huffs. “And he’s no longer in your guys’ pack, anyway. He said he can thrive on his own, right? You guys don’t need him. All this talk is because he’s jealous he wasn’t intuitively marked like Icarus, Kai, and Kenji.”

James is stating facts because it riles Nate Jr. up.

“I don’t need to be marked by no Omega to be worth immense value,” Nate declares with pride. “I don’t need any of you. My career is secured. I got money. I can go solo. You’re the fuckers who are over. Blooming Salvation is through!” He points to James.

“He’s leaving your group.” His pointed finger moves over to Rex. “Just like him. You guys aren’t going to find a lead singer and guitarist in time for the tour. Your entire album catalog is sold, and you can’t go creating a new song list in time. So, you’re fucked!” He summarizes and dares to laugh. “You want to buy the catalog back, go ahead and try. S. Music Clef Corp won’t do it.”

“Why not?” Astraea questions.

“I told you,” he snaps back at her. “All sales are final.”

“Bet on it,” Astraea suggests and walks over to us. I can see the tension shift in the room, but I support whatever our little Omega is plotting by stepping back enough so her small frame can fit right between me and Nate Jr.

She may be taking a stance, but it doesn’t stop my nagging need to keep a hold on her, my arm snaking around her waist lightly. She doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest while her attention is focused on Nate Jr.

“Bet on it?” he repeats his words. “Fine. If you’re able to get your album back, I’ll not only leave the pack and band, but I’ll never interfere in your fucking existence again. I don’t need any of these fuckers as friends, anyway. Not with you tainting their minds and dicks.”

It’s sad to acknowledge the way his admission hurts. The pain is just a pinch, but it proves how sacrificial I was for a friendship that wasn’t strong enough to weather through a storm.

“Fine,” she agrees. “If I lose, I leave the pack, and they can find another Omega.”

“Rebel.” Nathaníel’s low, rumbling voice only makes her smile blossom while Nate Jr smirks defiantly.

“Deal!” he proudly declares and puts his hands in the air. “What magic trick are you going to do, huh?”

She doesn’t respond to his provoking methods. All she does is pull out her phone and dial a number. Putting it on speaker, we listen to it ring before it’s picked up on the third ding.

“S. Music Clef Corp. Emma speaking.”

“Hello, Emma. I’d like to make a quick request,” Astraea speaks confidently, her tone affirmative and strong. It’s so different from her usual harmonic and whimsical voice. “An album was sold to the Corp by Blooming Salvation. I’d like to request its return.”

Nate Jr. is snickering and shaking his head while the rest of us are completely confused as to how she can just “request” that.

“Ah. Yes, Ms. Soleil! I see here that the album and the catalog were sold to our Corp for five million. You’d want us to reverse the transaction?”

Our Corp? Us?

I’m not the only one whose eyes are wide with confusion, but it’s Nate Jr.’s baffled expression that’s winning this apparent contest in the shock department.

“Not necessarily,” Astraea comments. “I’d like the seller to keep the change. It was a lowball deal with such an exquisite list of creative masterpieces. I’m sure Blair Vesper will be interested in expanding their catalog, seeing as they got the chance to review the potential list of songs on the album. Guaranteed that at least five will hit the global number-one seller list if not take the entire top ten with the right promotion. We’ve been getting calls all afternoon with interest, but Blooming Salvation has informed me of their rebrand and evolution.”

“That’s amazing news, Miss Soleil. I can process the reverse of rights, so Blooming Salvation will own its catalog. That should also give them the approval to continue their tour despite previous agreements. I’ll write and confirm the new contract for them to sign. Would you like to contact them yourself with the news?” she wonders. “I’m sure speaking with the CEO of Soleil Music Clef Corp. would be an honor to them.”

Soleil… Music Clef Corp…

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