Page 45 of Knot Their Arrangement

The threat in his words is clear, but something in me snaps.

Years of being proper, of being the perfect submissive Omega my family wanted.

It all falls away.

"I'm not married," I state firmly, causing him to pause mid-turn.

"What did you say?" His voice carries dangerous quiet.

I lift my chin, meeting his gaze directly.

"I said, I'm not married to Maharaja Adhiraj Vikram Singh or associated with his pack." The name of my almost-husband tastes bitter on my tongue. "I left them at the altar because I refuse to be some weakly tamed bitch of an Omega, following a set of cowards who would rather use me as collateral than marry me for the value an Omega can bring to the table."

Prince Rajveer's frown deepens at my defiance, but before he can respond, Damon slides his arm around my shoulders. The weight of his coat settles more firmly around me as he leans in to press a kiss to my temple.

"Such boldness," he murmurs against my skin, making me shiver. "I only want women who won't bow to anyone.” He pauses on purpose, earning my lifted gaze that locks into his darkened eyes that are focused only on me.As if I could be his world. “Not even me."

Our eyes lock, and something electric passes between us.

Without overthinking, I follow my instincts, rising slightly on my toes to press a tender kiss to Damon's jaw. His skin is warm against my lips, and I catch the subtle intake of his breath at my boldness.

"Mere Raja," I whisper against his skin, knowing Prince Rajveer will understand the Hindi term for 'my king.' The words carry weight beyond their meaning; a declaration of allegiance, a subtle shift in power dynamics that everyone in the lobby can feel.

Damon's eyes darken as he looks down at me, the amber in them seeming to glow with inner fire. For a moment, the rest of the world fades away — the nervous manager, the seething Victoria, even Prince Rajveer with his thinly veiled threats.

In this suspended moment, there's only us, only this strange connection that feels both new and ancient.

Like finding something I didn't know I was missing.

"As entertaining as this lobby drama has been," Kieran's smooth voice breaks through our shared trance, "perhaps we should stop standing here like commoners?" His mismatched eyes hold amusement as he glances at his watch. "It's already fifteen minutes past midnight, and we've wasted enough time on... unnecessary distractions."

The manager practically leaps from his position on the floor, his expensive suit now wrinkled beyond saving.

"Yes, yes, of course!" He straightens his askew tie with trembling fingers. "Please, allow me to escort you to our finest VIP section!"

Damon's hand finds mine again, his fingers intertwining with deliberate possession. The gesture feels natural now, as if we've done this a hundred times before. He leads me forward with the kind of confidence that parts crowds – not that anyone would dare stand in his way.

Kieran moves ahead of us, his voice carrying back as he details their preferences to the manager.

"We'll start with the '82 Macallan, three glasses. For appetizers, the wagyu tataki and..." He glances back at me with a knowing smile. "The paneer tikka, prepared traditionally. No fusion nonsense."

How does he know all of this? Does he go to India often? Studied there? He and Damon both seem rather comfortable and knowledgeable about the terms and language. Maybe someone in their pack is of my culture? No…that’s too rare.

Interracial packs are so hard to find these days, I’d actually be deemed lucky if that was the case.

And I’m never lucky.

The casual way he orders Indian cuisine, pronounced perfectly and with a clear understanding of authenticity, adds another layer to the mystery of his cultural knowledge. But before I can ponder it further, an instinct makes me look back one last time.

My eyes meet Prince Rajveer's across the lobby.

His expression has shifted from earlier anger to something more calculating, more dangerous. I know with bone-deep certainty that this won't be our last encounter — that his threats about collecting debts weren't idle words.

When will Adhiraj and his pack try to match their move?

My almost-husband and his family aren't known for accepting defeat gracefully. Their reputation for vengeance is as well-known as their wealth. And now, seeing me with not just another Alpha but Damon Castellano himself...

The diamond sandals catch the light as I walk, each step a reminder of how quickly my world has changed.

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