Page 32 of Knot My Omega

“Don’t even think it. She seems to be settling in with us, but we aren’t fully there yet.”

“Be patient,” he said. “It takes time with someone who’s been through so much. We were surprised when she moved in with you”—he held up a hand—“even if she isn’t admitting it’s forever. Lily is a really good person with a good heart who deserves a happy life.”

Our mate was currently filling the basket we’d given her with jars of honey. She set each in so carefully, as if it mattered. It was the way she did everything. From making breakfast, a task she’d taken over after we burned the bacon a second time, to telling a joke. She was not good at telling jokes, but she tried so hard, we laughed anyway.

And sleeping with her—we had to believe one day we’d do more than sleep, but for now? Being close to her was incredible. But she was going toward heat, and she didn’t seem to realize it. Harlan and Benji and I were fully aware of it, however, and we didn’t know what to do.

“Vargas, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“You can ask, but I don’t know if I can help.” Rumor bent to pick up a box of jars, and Vargas went over to help. “Be right back.” That was how we wanted to be for our mate too. When he returned, he said, “What was your question?”

“We’re starting to see hints of heat in our mate. But she’s not acting as if she knows. And we don’t know what to do.”

“I see.” Vargas kept his gaze fixed on his mate and what she was up to. “That’s a tough one. If she’s just beginning, then you need to talk with her now while you can. I’m not sure how much you know about what a female in heat is like.”

“Honestly? I’ve never been close to one. You know how omegas are usually kept hidden away at such times. And Lily is so special. We don’t want to do anything to hurt her. She has trust issues.”

“Come with me.” Vargas led the way to a table under a tree, where we still had a view of the stand but our omegas with their shifter hearing were unlikely to be able to hear us. “When heat kicks in, your omega will not be thinking clearly, and she won’t be able to make good decisions, so you need to talk with her now. Find out what she wants to happen during her heat. Otherwise, it’s possible something will happen which she will initiate but will not really be doing with informed consent.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the advice, and we’re going to have that talk.”

When the market shut down, I brought Lily home, but I’d been talking to the other guys via text, so they were ready for our conversation over dinner.

We’d brought home some meatball subs from a local place and as we all sat around, the scent of her heat was stronger. We’d almost waited too long to have this talk. Lily still seemed completely unaware of what was going on, enjoying her sandwich and chatting about her day at the market, but when there was a natural break in the conversation, I said, “We need to talk.”

She paled, and I cursed myself for my choice of words. “What did I do?” she asked.

“I’m so sorry.” I took her hand and held it between mine. “Nothing. We just have noticed something and we think we need to talk about it a little. I think…you’re in heat.”

She tugged on her hand, reeling back. “I’m not. I can’t be. Everyone says when you’re in heat you can’t think straight, you’re crazy for sex, and chasing your mates around the house demanding it.” She held her head up. “I don’t see me chasing anyone.”

Benji choked at her words. “That’s not exactly…no, you wouldn’t…”

He didn’t have a lot more experience than me, I didn’t think, but after spending the afternoon with Vargas, I’d begun to realize how many myths there were around heat. It was a seriously intense state, but not the caricature my mate had been presented with.

“Omega,” I began, “maybe tomorrow you should talk to Rumor. Get the female side, but it’s not quite like that, I believe. But what’s important for now is that we know how you want us to handle your heat.”

In the end, she told us she wanted us to help her ride it out. She didn’t want to do this if she wasn’t marked.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Benji

I wasn’t one of those people who was glued to their phones. I hated that I had to carry it around with me and kept it perpetually on silent with the exception of one number.

As grateful as I was to be out of my old life and here with my pack and our mate, I’d never been able to go completely no-contact with my former pack. I tried. Goddess knew I tried. But despite my best attempts, I held onto this stupid phone.

I didn’t know why I couldn’t push through and walk away for good, but something always felt uneasy whenever I tried. But every time I was about to make the leap and toss it out the window while driving on the highway or running it over or using it in the fire pit, I physically could not bring myself to do so.

I talked to Roan about it once when we first settled in here. This place was supposed to be our new start, and clinging to the past was the opposite of that. At least, that was how it seemed to me.

Roan was smarter than me and said exactly what I needed to hear, that holding onto my phone was the equivalent of a child’s favorite stuffie that they could never get rid of. When it was time, I’d know. Until then, I shouldn’t stress about it. For the most part, I didn’t until today.

Lily’s heat was coming. All the signs were there, giving us time to discuss it before her heat took away rational thought from all of us.

So, of course, that’s when the phone rang the one ringtone that cut through no matter what. Tyrone.

Tyrone was the closest thing I had to a friend growing up. His family worked for mine, and we were more like cousins or brothers than friends. He hadn’t called me since everything wentdown. He knew the boundary that was raised and the danger contacting me would be for all involved. If his number was ringing, I had to answer.

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