Page 28 of Knot Her Mountain Men

“I’m sorry. I’m not doing great with all the omega hormones.” She sniffled. “I think I blocked out that all my photography gear is gone, and that reminded me.”

“We can sort out new supplies for you,” I assured her.

Morgan growled and thunked her forehead against my chest. “Fucking Brandon. I know I wouldn’t have to worry about this if I had died, but Ididn’t,so now I’m extra pissed.”

I let out a surprised laugh. “I don’t blame you one bit. Fuck that guy.”

“I hate that you don’t have a scent.” Morgan rooted against my shirt and my whole body tensed, fingers twitching against her.

“Set him off a bunch,” suggested Kit, looking amused as hell. “Make the blockers wear off faster.”

I wasn’t going to complain that Kit said out loud what I’d been thinking about yesterday. Fuck if I knew how quickly we could wear them down, but it was probably worth a shot.

“How am I supposed to do that?” Morgan stared up at me, gray eyes leaving me frozen, desire pouring through me at having her so close.

Kit laughed. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Question.”

Bear turned to me after adding a couple of logs to the hearth.

“What was the satellite for?”

“Phone,” he signed. “Internet.”

Great. Love that for me.

“I’m going to get fired on my first day if I can’t tell them I can’t make it.”

Bear gave me an incredulous look before signing, “Their loss.”

“No,myloss. I need that job.”

He frowned but didn’t reply further as he replaced the metal grate in front of the fire. Bear tilted his head curiously. “Work here?”

“Bear, I’m not a stray you found in the woods. I can’tstayhere.”

He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence enveloping me, and I had to fight the urge to lean into his hand when he cupped my cheek. My eyes closed as he leaned forward to whisper, “Why not?”

A shudder rolled through me, instinct butting up against my better judgment. Maybe I wasn’t too far off from a stray if all it took was a gentle pat to have me rolling over. I had just met them. Staying wasn’t an option. I had a plan. “Because.”

I swayed toward him when he stepped away. This was unfair. These men were the first alphas I’d ever felt truly comfortable around besides my one brother and his pack. Every other one I’d met seemed to go out of their way to give alphas a bad name.

“Because why?” The gravelly tone of his voice did funny things to my body.

“Because people don’t abandon their entire lives for someone they just met. We don’t know each other. For all you know, I’m annoying as fuck and you’d be ready to feed me to an actual bear after a week of living with me. I know what alphas think I’m good for, and I know I’m a disappointment when I don’t provide that. I’m a broken omega.”

Bear frowned and all my little hairs stood on end when he dipped down again, his warm breath ghosting over my ear. “I don’t know who told you all that bullshit, but if I find them, I’ll kill them.”

The others coming inside saved me from having to respond, and had Bear backing up quickly enough I was able to suppress the whine he’d been well on his way to triggering.

Kit and Ryder stacked wood in a pair of holders near the fireplace, and Maverick set a small basket of potatoes in the kitchen, returning again a moment later with another full of jars.

“Should I be doing something specific to help?” I asked.

“You’re supposed to be resting,” Kit reminded me.

“Ididrest.”

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