Page 106 of Her Knotty Alphas

A small sound of disbelief leaves her, like she can't help but doubt herself, even when I'm spelling the truth out for her. But then she looks at me, and something in my eyes must communicate just how serious I am.

"I…I had a little crush on you from the very first time you came to get your haircut," she admits as a small smile plays at her lips. "You take care of all of us, Enzo, and I…I feel safe with you," she says quietly. "Like the world could end and you would somehow shelter me from it. You're more dominant than any alpha in this house, but you don't ever abuse the power, not even for little things like the rights to more of Austin's cookies." Hannah chuckles. "You're…you're steady and sure, and you know how to bring me back to myself. I…I love you too."

So even though this is probably the least romantic time, and even though there's a lawyer in the other room waiting to speakwith all of us, it doesn't stop me from cupping my omega's cheek, lowering my face to hers, and letting her steal the very breath from my lungs.

Though I suppose it doesn't quite count as stealing, considering every breath I take, every beat of my heart, and each thought in my mind belongs to her already.

It has since the first day I walked into a salon for a haircut and spotted the stunning omega with eyes like emeralds and freckles like constellations. With a smile as brilliant as the sun and a heart as pure and selfless as a saint.

She chases my lips as I pull back, and I plant a quick peck on her nose. "Soon,preciosa. Let's go talk to your lawyer and figure out what's going on. And then tonight? You're all mine."

"Mmm, is that a promise?" She grins up at me, and I chuckle.

"Yes, my love. And you know, I always keep my promises."

Chapter 44

Hannah

"All rise for the honorable Judge Doyle." The bailiff calls out, and Enzo, Brody, and I stand at our counsel table.

My heart is pounding in my chest as I watch the man who will decide my future walk into the courtroom and take his place at the podium. Since I'm the one being sued and not my pack, I'm entitled to have one alpha with me at the table, and Enzo seemed like the best option since he has the most experience with these things. The rest of my alphas stand behind us in front of the benches in the gallery. Except for Noah, actually. He promised he'd be here, but something is holding him up. I can't even sense what's going on through the bond, I just get little hints of worry, and then satisfaction.

"You may be seated," Judge Doyle calls out, gathering papers in front of him. "We're here today to settle the matter of the estate of one…Sylvia Pearson. Prosecution, you may make your opening statement."

Five figures sit at the table across the aisle from us. All three of my step-sisters sit with Peter and Niles Herman, their alphassat in the benches behind them in the gallery. I watch as Niles stands and starts to address the judge. Since this is considered a pack civil matter, there is no jury, and the judge will decide the outcome of the case.

"Your honor," he starts in his nasally voice, "our clients have been wronged. Sylvia Pearson only had three biological grandchildren, and Ms. Hannah Beckham isnotone of them. What basis is there for her to receive all of an inheritance for a family she wasn't even a part of, leaving my clients with a measly three dollars between them? We have evidence to show that Ms. Beckham manipulated Ms. Pearson into changing the beneficiaries of her estate and as a result, motion to revert her will to its original state from ten years ago."

Ten years ago? That was just a few years after I moved in with her.

"Thank you, counsel." Judge Doyle says gruffly, nodding at the Herman brother. The smarmy lawyer walks back to his table and sits. "Defense?" Judge Doyle questions, his attention shifting and his eyes intent on Brody.

"Your Honor," Brody stands, walking in front of the counsel tables, "Ms. Beckham is the only one of Sylvia's fivelegalgrandchildren who actually spent any time with her. Does it not make sense that a woman would want to leave her possessions to the person who she had the closest personal connection with? Who cared about her enough to pick up life at sixteen years old to help her when she was sick? The Pearson sisters might be Sylvie's onlybiologicalgrandchildren, but I think we all know that blood ties can mean nothing if you don't foster a relationship. Our evidence will not only highlight the genuine affection between my client and the deceased Sylvie Pearson, but also the utter lack of love and respect from Catrina, Ruth, and Elizabeth Pearson. We will prove that Sylvie made the change inher will of her own volition and that Hannah should retain her legal right to the estate."

"Thank you, counsel." Judge Doyle nods at Brody, who lets out a breath before taking his seat next to me again. Enzo's hand lands on my knee and he squeezes, sending me a reassuring smile.

Okay. That wasn't so bad. I can do this, right?

"Prosecution, you will now present your evidence."

I'm then forced to sit for hours while my step-sisters spout piles and piles of horseshit. "She always talked about how she couldn't wait for her to die." An actual tear rolls down her cheek. I wonder if she's been practicing her fake crying. "She'd say that once she got her money, she'd open up her own hair salon and…" Cat's lies go on and on, painting me a villain who manipulated a poor old woman into thinking I loved her.

The hours tick by on the clock as Rue and then Birdie give their "testimonies", more lies and total bullshit. What's worse, the judge looks like he's actually taking all of this seriously. More than once, Enzo has had to send me a wave of calm through the bond because I was about to stand up in protest.

Austin and Charlie too have been pushing love and reassurance my way, and I don't know what I would have done without them.

"We do have one more witness to call up to the stand, your honor." Niles Herman says, glancing over at us. Shit. Brody warned me this could happen.

"Go on then," Judge Doyle says, waving his hand.

"We'd like to call Hannah Beckham to the stand."

My bonds are flooded with support and love, and I rise on steady feet to approach the stand. They can't get me. I didn'tdoanything.

The bailiff swears me in as I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and then I'm sat in the little witness box.

"Ms. Beckham," Niles says, standing in front of me. "Can you please tell us what you do for a living?"

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