Page 65 of Her Knotty Alphas

"Try to save my feelings by hiding that you're upset with me." I know he is. They all are. Enzo hadn't made it a secret that we'd be having a conversation about how I put my health at risk by not disclosing my scent sickness to them. Regardless of whether or not I had my reasons, I owe all of them an apology. They never should have been blindsided like that.

"I'm not…I'mupset, darlin'." He sighs, grabbing one of my hands out of my lap and holding it over the center console. "I was terrified. Do you know how scared I was when I got a text from Charlie, telling us to rush to the hospital because you lost consciousness? Not knowing what happened? Envisioning the worst?"

"I know," I say quietly, and he tightens his hand on mine.

"You don't," he sighs yet again, "because then we show up, and we find out I'm part of the reason you're in the state you're in. It was my fault, Hannah. If I hadn't taken so long to get my head outta my ass—pardon my language—maybe you woulda felt comfortable enough to tell us about it." I can't help but smile a little bit at him asking me to pardon him saying the word "ass". Such a Southern gentleman.

"That's not entirely true," I shake my head, "I don't think I would have been able to say anything until I got things sorted out with Charlie, and I'm the one who wouldn't talk about it with him. It's my fault, Austin, not yours."

"Regardless," he picks up my hand and presses a kiss to it, "seein' you like that…just don't be surprised if we're all a little overbearin' for a while." This time, his smile reaches his eyes, and it's amazing to me that we didn't really change anything, but just talking it out has made him feel better already.

"I don't think I'll be complaining," I tell him truthfully. The thought of my alphas lavishing me in attention, being worried about me? My omega's never been happier.

We pull into the parking lot of my apartment, and I lead Austin upstairs to my studio. Memories of the last time he was up here assault my mind, and I can't help but I shoot him a little glance. He's already looking at me, and we both flush a little as I pull out my keys and unlock my door.

"Didn't make it this far last time," he lets out a low whistle as he steps inside behind me, "you've made this space beautiful, darlin'."

My omega preens at his praise, and I feel a little flustered. "Thank you." I motion awkwardly to the bathroom. "I stink like hospital, and I want to get this de-scenter off. Do you mind if I grab a quick shower?"

"Of course not. Whatever you need to feel comfortable." He takes a seat on the couch while I bustle around my studio apartment, grabbing a towel and some clothes to change into. The entire time I'm rinsing off, I'm acutely aware of the fact that the only thing separating my naked body from my scent matched alpha is a flimsy bathroom door. Maybe I should have invited him to shower with me? I wonder as I rinse off the last of my body wash and turn off the water. No, that would have been weird. Too much, too soon.

I towel dry my hair after getting dressed and step out of the bathroom. "Okay," I announce my presence, and Austin looks up from his phone. "I just need to pack a few things, so you can just…keep hanging out while I do that?"

Austin just frowns at me. "I'm not gonna sit back while my lady does all the work."

His lady. Well, if that doesn't make my heart flutter.

"Aren't you just a proper Southern gentleman?" I raise a brow at him, smiling, and then shake my head. Grabbing a tote bagfrom under my kitchen sink, I snap it open and hand it to him. "Here. Why don't you grab all the hair and makeup products from the bathroom and put them in there."

The side of his lip quirks up and he tips an imaginary cowboy hat. "Yes ma'am." His drawl sends a shiver down my spine in the best way.

Holy shit. Can I get him arealcowboy hat?

Before I can ask, he disappears with the tote into the bathroom, and I shake my head as if that might help rattle the horny thoughts from my brain. Damn, my omega is a straight-uphussy. Grabbing my suitcase from next to my bed, I start packing, throwing everyday clothes in, as well as some cute dresses and clothes for work. By the time Austin comes out of the bathroom with a full tote, I'm stood in front of my nest, my hands on my hips as I consider dismantling it. I mean, Ineedall my pillows and blankets to build a nest at the packhouse.

I really don't want to. I worked hard on this nest, and never even got to invite my alphas in.

Actually…I don't even know if the new packhousehasa designated nest. Did they even think about that?

"You okay, darlin'?" Austin's voice is thick as he comes up behind me, setting the tote on the ground and tentatively wrapping his arms around my waist. When I lean into the contact, he tightens his hold on me.

Gods, this is what I've been missing. Casual touches. Just beingheld.

"It's just a shame." I sigh, placing my hands on his that are interlaced over my midsection. "To tear apart my nest. Not when I didn't even get to have any of my alphas…christen it." He almost freezes at my words, the air thickening with the scent of our pheromones.

My hips shift involuntarily when I feel his hardness press against my back. "Oh? Is there any way we can fix that?" Hishead dips down to nuzzle my neck, sending a shiver through me. "Damn, I'm so glad I can smell you again."

"Hmmm," I hum, closing my eyes and relishing the feeling of being the center of someone's attention. "I can think of a few ways."

A purr of approval rumbles in his chest. "And what might those be? I need you tosayit, darlin'." He punctuates his sentences with a little nip to my ear.

"Alpha…" the whine leaves me, and he's spinning me around in his hold, looking at me with blown pupils. "Will you come into my nest?"

One moment, he's holding onto my arms, the next, I'm being lifted by my waist and lowered into the nest, his body hovering over mine. "Like this?" He asks on a breath, and I nod frantically.

Lemon, mint, and black tea swirl around us, combining with my peach and brown sugar, and all I know is I need him.

His mouth meets mine in a hungry kiss, and the pressure of his body settles over mine like a weighted blanket. Not so heavy as to crush me, but enough to keep me grounded. His tongue sweeps across my lips, and I accept him eagerly, moaning into his mouth as his erection grinds into my leg. We explore each other, frantic, desperate kisses, a reunion three months in the making. When his mouth trails from my mine down to my neck, a small gasp leaves me. "Ah, shit! Austin!"

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