Page 31 of Her Knotty Alphas

A predator.

And I'm the prey.

But how is it that I've never felt safer?

"It's okay." His hands grip each of my arms, and he bends to look me in the eyes. His voice swims with sincerity as he speaks to me gently. "It is a beautiful nest, omega. What a good job you did, making such a pretty nest. I know that you're not trying to take me to bed."

My shoulders relax.

He understands.

He knows.

He doesn't think I'm a bad omega.

My omega practically sags in relief as my breathing slows. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. The way his touch surrounds and grounds me is a sensation that I've never experienced. "There's a good girl, take a deep breath for me."

The way my insides light up at the way he says "good girl" is a feeling I don't want to examine too closely at this point in time. Instead, I focus on the feeling of absolute safety in his arms.How? I haven't felt this since…no. I won't let myself think of Charlie while I'm being embraced by my alpha.

A shuddering breath leaves me, and he pulls back, nodding in satisfaction. "Good girl. Are you okay?"

Despite having mostly calmed down, my voice wobbles slightly. "I'm fine. I'm sorry. I just—"

"Reinita," his voice is gentle as he lifts a hand under my chin. "There is no need to apologize. I should have realized this was your nest as well." Then his eyes darken slightly. "The moment that you truly invite me into your nest will still be just as special as you intended."

I suppress a shiver at the unsaid words. When I truly invite him into my nest, it will likely be for actual sex. And while I'm no blushing virgin, I've never had sex outside of my heat, unless you count the few times Charlie and I explored each other as teens.

It's not like I hadn't considered inviting an alpha into my bed, but it's not exactly safe for an unbonded omega to be shopping for alpha dick by herself.

Suddenly glad that I never brought another alpha home, I smile at my scent-match. "Okay," my bottom lip tucks under my front teeth, and Enzo wastes no time tugging it out with his thumb. "Thank you. Should we…should we head to dinner?"

"You don't need to thank me either," he gives me a knowing look like he can tell this is a conversation we'll be having often. "I am your alpha, if you'll have me. It's my job to make sure you feel secure. Now. Let's get these flowers in some water and then we can head to dinner." He gently grabs the bouquet of flowers from me, heading into my small kitchenette like he's been here a million times.

A small smile quirks at my lips as I watch him go through the cupboards, finally finding a pitcher that I use for iced tea sometimes, and he fills it with water before placing the flowersinside. Watching Enzo…he was made for this. Made to have an omega to take care of.

But am I worthy of that role for him? Doesn't he deserve someone that hasn't been rejected so many times?

I try to force the thoughts from my mind as he comes over, holding his arm to me for me to take. "Reinita," he says, waiting for me to grab his arm.

Grasping his elbow, part of me doesn't care if I'm worthy to be his omega. I want to soak up every ounce of attention while I can. Before I inevitably do whatever caused the other twenty-three packs to leave me.

Dinner was amazing. Enzo took me to a high-end Mexican restaurant,Flores y Fuego, and we ordered the most delicious tamales and he didn't balk when I got a margarita.

What? I was still semi-stressed out over what had happened back at my apartment and needed some liquid-relaxer. It worked.

He told me more about his childhood, how he grew up with Titus, and how he'd always had a great relationship with Titus' mom. He shared how he was a federal agent for the Omega Crimes Bureau the last fifteen years, and now he's ready to settle into a routine with his job at the university. He didn't mention anything about his previous pack though, or his other scent match.

I trust Enzo, but…why wouldn't he tell me about any of it? He either figures I know already because of Cady, or…well, I guess that's not really something that you bring up on the first date, even though the scent match makes it feel like we're further along than that.

It's not like I divulged anything about the other twenty-three packs, so I can't really blame him. He never asked why I was an unbonded omega at twenty-nine when most omegas find their packs before they turn twenty-one, and I never asked why he was a forty-two year old packless alpha, despite his obvious tendency towards caretaking.

I had, however, shared about my childhood, what it was like suddenly gaining three step-siblings who weren't my biggest fans. The way Cady and I went to each other for everything. How when she moved here, it was like we had never been apart.

He didn't ask why I had moved to begin with, and I didn't volunteer the information.

Seemed kind of heavy for a first date.

Everything about talking with Enzo had just feltright, somehow. I was able to forget about everything else. His tobacco and leather scent felt like home.

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