Page 34 of Tying the Knot
Elijah suddenly bustles into the kitchen behind her with Nik. It’s not a massive room, so the five of us crammed into it is a bit awkward, especially as Nik is practically standing on top of her, panting like a dickhead. Guess his clear head is long gone like the rest of us. He is hooked, and now we are done for.
I hand her a big black mug, which she accepts with a smile and blows on it gently. She takes a sip, and then she looks up and smiles. “Thank you,” she says. “This is exactly what I needed.”
We all beam at her like fools. Something has changed in the room since we all assembled in the close quarters. We can all feel it. Well, the pack, anyway. We have been introduced to something new, something beautiful, mysterious and exciting. I am drawn to her in ways I’ve never experienced before. I know who she is to us. There is nothing we can do until she comes to the realisation herself, and time passes, so her bond breaks. But she is our mate. Ours.
We stand there in the kitchen, just staring at her. I don’t know what Dylan, or the others are thinking, but I know that I feel something so powerful that I can barely contain it. I want to stay in this moment forever.
Morgan smiles shyly at us, and then she looks down into her raised mug, lost in her own thoughts.
“Morgan, would you mind if I had a quick word with the pack?” Elijah asks her suddenly. His serious expression sets off an alarm bell in my head.
I frown and place my mug on the counter.
“Sure,” she murmurs. “I’ll go and check on the washing.”
Nik points her in the direction of the utility room, and then we trail after our prime alpha.
“They’ve found her. And us,” he states without any beating around the bush, as is his way.
“Who?” Dylan asks.
“The suppliers, possibly, or maybe someone her pack has sent. Either way, the SUV that just cruised past the house wasn’t looking for the laundrette. They knew she was in here.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Have you told Halstead?”
“Not yet. Haven’t had a chance. I don’t want to frighten Morgan. I’m not sure if she noticed. She didn’t say anything if she did see them.”
I can’t help but notice that she is nowMorgan. Not Ms Happs. He is coming around, but it is still a moot point until she is ready, physically and emotionally. We can’t mate with her until her previous bond dissipates.
I hope Dylan was right when he said it was unravelling. I look back over my shoulder to the kitchen, knowing there is no way I can move on with another omega after today. Fate has spoken and has chosen for us.
All there is left to do is protect her from whoever is after her, protect her at all costs from her pack and claim her when she is ready.
Not too much to ask a pack already so consumed with thoughts of her. Not too much at all.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Morgan
Walkinginto the utility room is like walking into heaven. The cool air of the tiled room at the back of the house, where the washer and drier are kept, hits my hot face like a kiss from the Ice Queen.
“Ah,” I mumble, closing my eyes and holding my sweaty hands out.
My eyes snap open, and with a loud groan, I put my hand to my head. “No, this isn’t possible.”
But it is. I’ve been through my heat enough times to know that I’ve just started. It isn’t due for another two months. I frown and make sure I have that right in my heat-fogged brain. I had one last month, and it comes every quarter, so yes. Two months. Why has it come on so early? Maybe it’s the stress of everything that’s happened?
Flustered, I know I have to leave this house. Looking over my shoulder, chewing my lip, I launch forward to the washer. It clicks to unlock, having just finished with epic timing that doesn’t usually befall me. I can’t stay here while I’m going through my heat. It’s inappropriate and awkward. I don’t know this pack, and they don’t owe me anything, let alone looking after me when I’m incapable of taking care of myself during the most intense times. I gulp when I wonder how this is going to go all by myself. As an omega, Ineedthe knot of an alpha to ease the worst moments. What am I going to do?
Panicking, I yank open the washer and drag the wet clothes out, searching for my own. I snatch them up, and I think possibly also one of Nik’s t-shirts that has tangled up in mine. I have to get back to the hotel and curl up in my nest to wait this out and hope I don’t suffer too badly, but that is wishful thinking. I pause, bordering on asking the alphas to help me, but how would that look? No, I can do this on my own. I mean, that's how it’s going to be now, so I might as well try to get used to it right off the bat.
Clutching my soggy clothes, I hobble over to grab my bag that Nik left near the drier and stuff them into it. Turning to the back door, I slide the bolt back. Unlocking it with the key in the lock, I slip out, closing the door quietly behind me. I look around, finding myself in a large courtyard with potted plants that have been covered up against the winter, a washing line and a patio set.
“Shit. Shit.” How do I get out?
Slowing down a fraction, I look again and see an arched gate in the high, red-bricked wall on the far side. I limp towards it, and slide the bolt back before lifting the gate latch to open it. Looking forward as I get my bearings. I think I’m on a side street from the front entrance, so if I turn left here, I should be back on the main road. It’s a straight road from here to the hotel, about a ten-minute hobble, probably.
Sweat is pooling on my forehead under my hat, but I don’t pull it off. I still need to be in disguise as much as I can, especially with that SUV lurking about.
