Page 62 of Her Knotty Alphas

Her words echo in the room, the sounds of them turning over in my mind. I can't imagine the pain and loneliness she's had to endure the last twelve years.

"Fuck that." Noah's words have us all turning towards him. "Seriously, princess. Fuck. That." He walks over, dropping onto her other side. "I told you last night I almost bonded you, and I just met you. If that's not a sign that my alpha and I fucking want you, I don't know what is."

"You would have regretted it—" Her half hearted words are cut off by him.

"Bullshit. I would have bonded you, and I would have beenhappyabout it. Then you would be stuck with me. That's because I'm a fucking selfish bastard, and I'm not afraid to admit it."

Her mouth opens and shuts twice, before she shakes her head. "But…"

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Noah,reinita," Enzo rumbles. "Fuck that. We want you. I don't think I'm overstepping when I say that we'reallfalling for you. Fast and hard."

"Move in with us," Austin blurts out, coming next to Enzo. "Permanently. That will take care of this scent sickness. It's our fault you have it to begin with, we never should have given you space. There was never a moment where all of us weren't all in. Hell, Charlie traded his team on the off chance you lived in Starbrook City 'cause he saw a picture of you online."

I glare at Austin, annoyed he just blurted that out, but he ignores me as Noah and Enzo nod in agreement. When Hannah's eyes meet mine I realize that I'm the only one who hasn't said anything yet. Hannah regards me, her hesitancy clear, a look of disbelief on her face. I guess we have a conversation to finish.

"Is that true?" she asks, her voice a broken whisper.

"Guys, can…can Hannah and I have a minute?" My voice comes out shakier than I'd like, and my three packmates look for Hannah's confirmation before shuffling out the door. Enzoshoots me a look over his shoulder that's clearly telling me not to fuck this up.

The door shuts behind them, and I take a seat at the stool I was on before. "Mags…please don't hate me for this, but I need you to tell me exactly what you think happened."

Chapter 27

Hannah

"What do you mean, what Ithinkhappened?" I ask incredulously. "Charlie, Iknowwhat happened, I was there."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Please, just walk me through it." His voice is desperate enough that it makes me wonder…does he genuinely not know what happened? How would that even be possible?

But…I'm tired of not knowing. Of people telling me I don't have the whole story.

"Fine." I sigh, adjusting myself against my pillows. "Let's figure this out, once and for all."

Everything in the room fades as I recount the worst twenty-four hours of my life.

My heart is still racing with adrenaline after I safely make it through my bedroom window, leaning out and waving to Charlie as he drives away. Gods, how did I get so lucky? I reach over and turn on my bedside light, nearly screaming when I see Cat sitting at my desk.

"Out late, were we?" She gives me a knowing smirk, looking at her nails. "You're lucky I'm the one who wandered in here and not Rue. She would have ratted on you for sneaking out."

"What do you want, Cat?" I snap, my good mood quickly evaporating.

"I want you to stay away from Charlie. I'll make you regret it if you don't." Her words are so out of left field I'm momentarily stunned. Number one, she shouldn't even know about us. Number two, we've been together for a year—is she really going to act like she has some sort of claim on him?

Since I don't know what she knows, I play it safe. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Normally, I'd believe that particular statement, but in regards to this subject, I think you're full of shit."

My hands tighten on my bedspread, pulling the blanket back. "Get out of my room, Cat."

"Not until I make my point," she sneers, shoving her phone under my nose. My heart drops into my stomach. These are all messages from…Charlie? The most recent one came in one minute ago:

Charlie

Finally got rid of her. See you tomorrow ??

My throat burns as I scroll up, reading conversations that span back to the last week.

Detailing how if I don't present as an omega, he's going to take Cat for his pack. I can't believe it. I refuse to believe it. This isn't Charlie. This has to be some kind of trick—

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