Page 12 of Knot My Boss

Nodding my head, I head back to my room, closing myself inside. This situation is driving me crazy. I just want to move on with my new life, instead of being frozen in fear, afraid to leave my sister’s house.

Arek

Pacing my office, my bear threatens to break loose and find our mate. Of course, I know where she is, but he wants to claim her.

Nothing has been said about the gifts I have been sending her. I hope she likes them.

“Hey,” Raelee says, interrupting my thoughts as she barges into my office without knocking.

“What do you need?” I ask, slightly more harsh than necessary.

Her eyes narrow in annoyance at me. “Never mind,” she says before leaving, slamming the door behind her.

Throwing myself into the chair behind my desk, I try to focus on the mound of paperwork that has accumulated. Darby has occupied every thought. Bills need to be paid and payroll needs to be processed before my family comes after me.

Needing a break, I stand, twisting my body this way and that. Several joints pop and snap as my muscles protest sitting in one spot for so long. Checking the clock, I am surprised to see that we are already in the midst of the dinner rush. Straightening my tie, I head for the dining room.

It’s three days before Christmas, and we are packed. On route to the hostess stand, I weave between tables, picking up empty plates and greeting patrons along the way.

Aunt Domella, Aunt Marlee, and my mom, Natalia, are all at the hostess stand. My cousins and brothers are all where they are supposed to be, either waiting tables, bussing tables, or in the kitchen cooking. I’m sure my father and uncles are undoubtedly in the kitchen as well.

“Good evening, Ladies,” I say in greeting to my family, kissing Domella, Marlee, and Mom on the cheek.

“Hey, Arek,” they say in unison.

“Do you need anything?”

“No, honey,” Mom answers. “We have things covered here.”

“Okay, I am going to make the rounds. Come get me if you need me,” I tell them before heading to the kitchen to make sure they are set for dinner.

Stepping into the kitchen, it’s controlled chaos. The sizzling and popping of meat on the grill create a symphony, accompanied by the clanging of dishes, which adds a corresponding beat of its own. Rolling up my sleeves, I step in to help the dishwashers get caught up.

Getting lost in the mundane, I float between stations, assisting where and how I can. Once the kitchen is caught up, and I am confident they aren’t in the weeds, I head back into the dining room.

Stepping through the swinging doors, my feet freeze in place as the delectable scent of my mate fills my nose. My bear becomes frantic, needing to see her. He threatens to take over, and it requires a great deal of strength to keep him under control.

Scanning the dining room, I follow her scent. Coming upon the table, the conversation halts when my presence is detected.

“Hey, Arek. How are you?” Kyle Morris, tiger alpha, asks.

Focusing my gaze on him, I step closer to my mate.

“Good,” I answer on a growl, causing his face to pucker in confusion. Clearing my throat, I try speaking again, hoping to sound less intimidating. “How are you this evening?”

“We are okay,” Kyle answers wearily. “Let me introduce you to everyone.” His words cause my chest to flutter.

Flutter? Damn, I sound like one of the triplets.

“You, of course, know Dayton,” Kyle says, indicating his very pregnant mate. “This is Kali, Dayton’s best friend.” He points atthe woman across from him. “This is Darby, Dayton’s sister.” He points to the woman across the table from Dayton.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” I say sincerely. Both women give cordial nods, muttering “nice to meet you” in return.

My brow furrows when I take a good look at Darby. Her features are similar to Dayton’s—honey-blonde hair, bright green eyes, and slender build. It’s difficult to tell how tall Darby is, given that she is sitting down. There are several undeniable differences between the sisters. Dayton is normal looking. No, that’s not the correct description. Ordinary? Plain?

Darby has bright streaks of pink through her hair, piercings in her nose, lip, and eyebrow, as well as numerous tattoos decorating her flesh. Taking a closer look at Darby, my spine stiffens. She looks run down, possibly stressed. The unknown cause has my bear on edge.

“Are you all right?” I ask Darby.

---