Page 67 of Knot Mine

“I don’t know,” I whisper back. I’d heard that sometimes after an intense heat, an omega could find it difficult to be around others, and that’s the only explanation I can think of for why I want Bell to stay on the other side of the room. Far away from me.

Finally noticing us, they slide off his headphones with a grin. “Everything okay?”

I don’t know what I’m supposed to say or do. We hadn’t actually discussed anything beyond looking to see who was at the door. I certainly wasn’t banking on my nosy roommate being home. “Yeah, um…Zale was just helping me with some homework. You know, the class project.”

“Ohhh, I see.” Bell nods, and I glance at Zale and we both begin nodding too. We’re like a bizarre trio of nodding dogs. “So, does being impaled on his knot earn you extra credits?”

Zale snorts, while I try to keep a straight face, but I’m mortified. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Tilting their head, Bell’s mouth lifts into a charming smile. “I’m not deaf and I also have to have a very keen sense of smell.”

Shame floods me, and I know I’m turning red because I can feel it. Picking up a cushion from the couch, I toss it at them. “Weren’t you supposed to be with your parents for the holidays?”

“A little birdie told me you were heading home, so I came back.”

“You tracked my phone again, didn’t you?”

The knocking continues, the noise echoing around the apartment, distracting us both.

“Huh,” Bell says, sounding surprised. “How long has someone been banging on our door?”

“You didn't hear them earlier?” Zale asks, crossing his arms. I can tell he’s not impressed with Bell tracking my phone, but that’s a conversation for another time.

“Not over the sounds of you two fucking.” Bell shrugs, slurping up another mouthful of noodles loudly. I watch my best friend carefully, wondering if they knew I was an omega. Not that they would care. Eventually, they give me a nod of approval. “You’re very vocal, Shiloh. I’m all here for it.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Zale growls, moving to stand in front of me. It wasn’t just my instincts that were heightened after the Claiming.

Bell tilts their head as they chew before getting to their feet and wandering over to the kitchen to put their bowl in the sink. “Well, it’s either going to be Shiloh's parents, your parents or Zion.

“What?” We both say, looking at one another, anxiety pulsing through our bond.

“Who’s Zion?” Zale asks, but I need a moment to think. Just what the fuck were we going to be dealing with on the other side of that door?

“I mean, they’ve all been calling you, so I just told them you were indisposed.”

“So, why are they here now?”

“That might have been like three days ago.” We all stand there, staring at the door that continues to rattle under the pressure of someone’s fist. “So, do you want me to get it?”

Taking Zale’s hand in mine, I nod. We might as well get this over with.

Two minutes later my normally beautiful, carefully put together twin storms into my apartment, looking distraught.

“Are you serious right now?” Romilly yells, standing in my lounge, anger radiating off her in waves as she glares at me like I’ve murdered someone. Her curls are wild, her eyes rimmed red and it looks like she’s been chewing on her bottom lip. The guilt knots in my stomach like an anchor, and I feel sick.

I did this to her.

I hurt her.

Her eyes land on my mark and widen, almost comically before her mouth twists into an angry sneer. “You Claimed him?”

“He’s my Fated Mate.” Zale replies simply and I can feel through our bond that he’s trying, but this whole situation isn’t easy. He doesn’t want to justify what we did, but we also can’t fight our nature. It’s almost impossible to resist the pull of the bond.

She grabs a mug from the kitchen counter and throws it at us, the ceramic shattering on the wall, showering us with shards. I flinch as I feel something cut my cheek and arm.

Grabbing her head, her fingers dig into her scalp as she cries out, “You were supposed to be mine!”

“What on earth is going on here?” A stern voice cuts into the awful atmosphere. My mother stands in the doorway withher arms crossed. “Romilly Vos. Sit your ass down and stop destroying your brother's mugs.”

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