Page 78 of Her Knotty Alphas

Before Charlie can say anything, Austin's voice calls out from the doorway. "Um…Hannah? Is this costume supposed to be this tight?"

He walks into the nest, and I burst out laughing. "Oh my gods! What is that?"

Austin flushes red, his little green shorts showing off his toned legs. "It's the costume you handed me thirty minutes ago!"

"I gave you a Nightwing…oh! You'reRobin!" I cover my mouth, more laughter spilling out of me. "Holy…Austin, this is…"

"I can't go like this," he shakes his head, the movement making his already thinly-stretched leotard pull tighter.. "No, I need something else. I'll trade with Noah—"

"Noah didn't need a costume, babe," I shake my head. "Fighters don't have to wear one."

"Are you guys ready to go?" Enzo calls, striding into the room, and Austin's jaw drops.

"Why does he get to be Batman?!"

"Well, obviously, because Batman is the leader of the Justice League, and Enzo is our head alpha…"

"What, and I'm Enzo's bitch?" Austin nearly whines, and I have to stifle another laugh. It's not funny.

Okay, itisfunny.

But my alpha is distressed, and it's my job to calm him down. "Of course not, alpha," I purr, walking over to him and trying to pump out soothing pheromones. "Ilovehow you look in this." And I'm not even lying. All this tight spandex, showing off every dip and curve of his muscles? I might have to shank a bitch if they look at him for too long.

Well, maybe not shank. But give them a very,verydirty look.

My hands run over the smooth expanse of his chest. "And, if you don't wear a costume, you can't get in, and I really need allmy alphas tonight. Can you please wear it for me?" He melts under my touch, his frustration deflating a bit.

"Of course, darlin'." Austin sighs. "But if Noah says one word, I'm gonna—"

A snort comes from the doorway. "Oh my gods. Austin what are you—"

My eyes widen and I give him my best,shut-up-right-now-or-I'm-never-ever-touching-your-dick-like-everlook, and really I must have done a pretty good job because his mouth snaps shut and he shrugs. "Oh. Yeah. Halloween costume. Got it."

While the rest of my alphas stare at me like I have some kind of voodoo, I pat Austin on the shoulder and walk up to Noah. "How are you feeling about tonight?"

He grins at me, "I'm feeling great, princess. I'm gonna fix this for you. I promise." Then he glances at Charlie, brows raised. "Nice suit, asshole."

My hackles rise, ready to rip into Noah for being a jerk for no reason, but then Charlie barks a laugh. "Thanks, douchebag." They give each other weird grins that make me think I don't understand how male friendships work.

Shaking my head, I turn to my pack. "Alright then. Shall we go?" Like I said, one way or the other, after tonight, we'll be done with this whole mess.

The line to get into the gym is surprisingly long, and after Enzo pays our cover charge, we follow the crowd. There's a giant boxing ring in the middle of the gym, with bleachers on either side. Noah went in through the back to get changed into his gear, and I'm half tempted to go give him a little "pep talk" in the locker room.

When I mention it to Enzo, he looks at me like I'm crazy and tells me he's not letting me give Noah a "pep talk" in front of all the other fighters, which, honestly? That's fair. I didn't think of that. Maybe my heat is coming soon if I keep on making lust-fueled decisions like that.

"Do you see your step-sister anywhere?" Austin shouts over the sound of the crowd. His words draw the attention of a group of girls next to us, who immediately eye him and his tight outfit with interest. It takes everything in me not to rip their eyeballs out.

Myalpha.

"No," I shake my head, "not yet."

"I better not see her," Charlie says lowly, next to my ear. "I have some choice words."

Eventually, we manage to snag some seats in the second row, and before we know it, the fights start. And shit, these guys are scary. And these are thelegalfights?

"Next up, the one, the only, Neil Johnson! He's going up against the intimidating, the outstanding Brennan the Barbarian!" The announcer's voice rings over the room as my brows shoot up. Brennan? That's one of Wren's alphas.

"Hannah!" Speak of the omega. I turn my head to see Wren standing with another alpha, a tall blonde one with a nose ring. She's in a panda onesie. "What are you doing here?"