Page 15 of Knot Their Arrangement

I have my books, my best friend, and our little family of four.

4

WHEN FICTION MIRRORS REALITY

~KAMARI~

"And in that moment, standing beneath the stars with his arms around me, I realized that running from the altar wasn't an act of cowardice – it was the bravest thing I'd ever done. Because sometimes you have to lose everything to find what you're truly worth."

The words blur through my tears as I finish the final chapter of "The Runaway Omega's Guide to Finding Love."

My chest aches with a mixture of hope and longing that feels almost painful. The protagonist's journey mirrors my own so perfectly that it's almost cruel – another Omega who chose freedom over family expectations, who dared to believe she deserved more than being a business transaction.

If only real life worked out so perfectly.

Wiping my eyes, I trace the words on my Kindle's screen, not ready to let go of the story just yet.

The way the author described the female main character's escape from her arranged marriage felt so real, so visceral – the panic, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of both liberation and loss.

Just like me, she'd fled to a small town, hoping to disappear into anonymity.

But unlike me, she found him.

The Alpha who changed everything.

"He didn't try to fix me,"I read aloud, my voice barely a whisper in the quiet room."He simply created a space where I felt safe enough to fix myself. Every flaw, every quirk, every cultural difference that my family had taught me to hide – he celebrated them all. In his eyes, I wasn't a prize to be won or a deal to be closed. I was simply me, and somehow, that was enough."

My finger traces the passage again.

How different would it be, to meet an Alpha like that? Someone who didn't see my Indian heritage as an exotic novelty or a cultural barrier to be overcome.

Someone who would appreciate the stories behind my mother's recipes, the meaning woven into every thread of my traditional attire, and the depth of history in every celebration and ritual.

The book's hero seemed too good to be true – a successful businessman who took the time to learn about her culture, who encouraged her dreams of opening a traditional bakery, who stood up to his own family when they questioned his choice.

The way their relationship unfolded felt like watching a flower bloom –natural, beautiful, inevitable.

"Every step forward I took in my career, every small victory in building my new life, he celebrated like it was his own triumph,"I continue reading, my heart squeezing."And in return, the love I poured into him seemed to ignite something profound. As if by believing in each other, we both became stronger versions of ourselves."

A glance at my phone shows it's 11:43 PM.

Has it really been hours?

I've been so lost in the story that time slipped away like water through my fingers. Astraea must still be at her event – I hope she's having better luck with real Alphas than I did with my arranged ones.

With a reluctant sigh, I switch off my Kindle and reach for the stack of mail I've been avoiding.

Might as well be productive since sleep feels impossible right now, my mind too full of fictional romance and real-world longing.

Bills, advertisements, more bills…and then I see it.

My heart stops as I recognize the official government seal.

"No, no, no..." I rip open the envelope, though I already know what it contains. The paper feels heavy, expensive – the kind used for summons and official declarations.

My eyes scan the contents, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

Mandatory Attendance Required:

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