Page 6 of Knot Their Arrangement

As I leave her to her thoughts, I catch her whispered words.

"Knot Worthy of Anyone..."

And I know, deep in my heart, that she's about to create something magical from all this pain.

If only I could manifest the same…

2

ECHOES OF DESTINY

~KAMARI~

"It didn't matter how much money they offered, how many properties they promised to sign over, or what political advantages the marriage would bring. In the end, I was still being sold like cattle at an auction, expected to smile and nod as men twice my age discussed my worth in terms of dowry and business mergers."

The words on my Kindle's screen blur as tears threaten to fall.

I've read this passage at least five times now, each time hitting closer to home. The protagonist's situation mirrors my own so perfectly that it's almost cruel – another Omega forced into an arranged marriage for the sake of family alliances and business deals.

At least she found a way out.

Rolling onto my back, I stare at the ceiling of my modest bedroom in this Omega Safe Haven. The contrast between my current surroundings and my family's mansion is stark, but I'd take this tiny space with its freedom over gilded bars any day.

"The worst part wasn't the arrangement itself." I continued reading aloud, my voice barely whispering."It was how they all acted like I should be grateful. Grateful to be handed over to a pack of Alphas who saw me as nothing more than a strategic move on their corporate chessboard. A pretty piece to be positioned for maximum advantage."

A shiver runs down my spine as I remember my own almost-wedding. The way my father had proudly announced the merger – because that's what it was,a merger, not a marriage – to everyone who would listen.

How the Alphas had looked at me during our first meeting, assessing me like a prized mare at a show.

How long until they find me?

The thought sends another wave of anxiety through me as I dare think of the plentiful consequences of my actions. I know it's only a matter of time before my father sends his men. He has too much pride, too much at stake, to let me ruin his carefully laid plans.

A familiar warmth begins to pool in my lower abdomen, making me press my thighs together as I bite my lip.

These moments are coming more frequently now – waves of desire that leave me aching and frustrated. My body's natural response to stress and the approaching milestone I've been dreading.

My first Heat.

"Not now," I whimper, trying to will away the sensation.

My skin feels too tight, and far too sensitive, and I know these are just the early warning signs. Soon, I'll be completely at the mercy of my biology, and the thought terrifies me.

The book's heroine at least had a plan – a fake marriage to a sympathetic Alpha who helped her escape.But me?I'm still trying to figure out how to survive day by day, let alone find a pack that would want me for more than my family's connections.

Rolling onto my side, I curl into a ball and try to focus on breathing through the wave of arousal. The silk sheets –one of the few luxuries I allowed myself to keep– only make it worse, the smooth fabric like phantom touches against my heated skin.

Where am I going to find Alphas who see me as more than a transaction?

The romance novels I escape into make it seem so easy.

The heroines always stumble across their perfect matches – strong, caring Alphas who protect and cherish them. But reality is crueler. I've seen it firsthand with my mother, watched how her spirit dimmed year after year under my father's thumb.

My phone's sudden ring makes me jolt, nearly dropping my Kindle. The custom ringtone –a soft classical piece– tells me exactly who it is before I even look at the screen.

Mother.

I stare at her picture, remembering how Astraea had helped set up our phones with military-grade encryption. Even if my father's tech team tried to trace the call, they'd hit nothing but dead ends.

---