Page 65 of The Knotty Omega

She lets out an exaggerated huff. “Fine. But I expect to have that examination later.”

By the time we’re both cleaned up and downstairs, Mattie has just finished making his own plate, and Cady doesn't have a chance to sit down before he's grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her into his lap.

“Good morning everyone—Mattie what are you doing?” she asks, her cheeks flushing at the attention as Titus brings over a plate piled high with french toast, bacon, and scrambled eggs and presses a kiss to her lips before sitting down at his own seat.It's been a week since they finally got their act together, but it's still weirdly wonderful to see Titus so open.

“Feeding you,tesoro mio, the fact that you don’t realize that tells me we have not been doing a proper job of being your alphas,” he purrs, lifting a piece of bacon to her lips while he runs his nose up her neck. “ You are smelling absolutely delectable this morning,amore mio.”

“Simon just helped me with a heat spike,” she supplies, grinning at me as she takes a bite of her bacon, and I pretend that my ears aren’t currently turning red.

“Lucky bastard,” Ollie comes waltzing into the room, plucking a piece of french toast off a plate and taking a bite of it like he’s eating a regular piece of toast. “I gotta run, thanks for breakfast Mattie,” he says with a mouth full of food before pressing a powdered-sugar kiss to Cady’s cheek. “See you all later.”

“Bye Ollie,” she calls after him before Mattie tries to feed her a piece of french toast.

“You ready for our date tonight, blossom?” Archie asks her, grinning. “I hope you don’t mind that Mattie and I are combining our dates since we don’t know when you’ll go into heat.”

She shakes her head. “Of course not, why would I give up the chance to be between the two of you?” She winks and he chuckles, shaking his head.

“Speaking of dates,” Titus stands up and scoops Cady off Mattie’s lap, making him protest, “are you up to having ours tomorrow during the day? It’ll be Saturday.”

“On one condition,” she says, using her pointer finger to boop his nose.

His eyes roll. “And what would that be, Angel?”

“I want my fucking car back.”

I snort and Mattie barks a laugh from his seat at the head of the table. Titus glares at both of us. Mattie only shrugs. “You heard the beautiful girl. She wants her car back.”

“Gorgeous, that car is a death trap,” he says carefully, setting her on her feet. “I’d feel much better just buying you a new one.”

She rolls her eyes. “You can’t just buy me a new car.”

“Of course we can,” he grumbles, taking her hand and leading her outside. Mattie, Archie, and I follow close behind, eager to see her reaction to his surprise.

“Titus…” she sounds wary and slightly excited at the same time, “What did you do?”

He opens the front door and ushers her outside. Her gasp has me smiling and Titus is quick to explain as he goes to stand between the two cars in the driveway. “It’s your choice, angel. I have your car here fixed and safe to drive, but it probably won’t last much longer.” He pats the older sedan on his left affectionately before bringing attention to the brand new, mid-size SUV in a shimmery plum color. “This baby, however, is equipped with bluetooth, a built in satellite navigator, a direct line to Lone Star Security, and bullet proof glass, along with reinforced doors. Oh, and of course, eight cupholders.”

Cady’s jaw drops as she slowly approaches the vehicle before turning her head towards us. “Did you know about this?” she hisses, and I shrug while Archie and Mattie chuckle next to me.

“I may have kept you busy last night while he got everything sorted.” I say, giving her a wink. I don’t know what it is about this girl, but she brings out a more playful side of me.

She shoots me a glare with no heat before she turns back to the usually grumpy alpha. “Holy shit, Titus, how much did this cost? Do you really think I need all of this?”

“It’s from all of us,” He says, nodding at the three of us hanging out by the front door. “I’d rather be safe than sorry though,” Titus says, stepping closer to her. “You’re the most precious thing in the world, angel. We can’t have you driving around in anything less than the best.”

“I thought it was my choice,” she says, crossing her arms and lifting her chin.

Titus shoots me a look that screamshelp me out here,but I just shrug. He’s the one who was so insistent on this whole thing. Of course, Titus could have supplied the car himself, but we all chipped in to make it a pack courting gift.

If she accepts it, that is.

“Of course it is, angel. I just need you to know that if you insist on driving this ancient tin can, I’ll have to have two escort vehicles follow us everywhere.”

She huffs an unamused laugh, running her hand over the roof of her old car. “I don’t know. Betty was the first car I bought with my meager savings when I left my parents house. She’s been good to me the last ten years.”

Titus walks over and wraps his arms around her back. “And we are all very grateful to her for that. But I think Betty has played her part and could be of even greater use to someone else. Maybe some other eighteen year old kid looking for a fresh start?”

Mattie, Archie and I have all unconsciously stepped closer, and she looks at all of us, unshed tears in her eyes.

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