Page 8 of Tying the Knot
I draw in a deep breath and then regret it instantly. He smells like an ocean breeze with undertones of a Mai Tai cocktail. It hits my senses and floods them, swirling my already messed up head with thoughts of lazy days on beaches, reading, sleeping and having sex.
“Uhm…” I mutter, having forgotten what he asked, trying to focus on his blue eyes but failing miserably.
“Water?” he asks again, pinching his nose as if to not breathe in the air around him. I guess he doesn’t want to inhale the scent of an idiot omega who can’t string two sentences together in case he catches a case of the dum-dums.
I nod and then glance at the door as it opens. “Uncle Jeremy!” I stand up, almost knocking the chair over. “What is going on? You need to help them. They didn’t do anything.”
“Morgan,” he says and comes over to give me a kiss on top of my head. He grips my shoulders gently and pushes me back into my seat.
“Kaleb, please give us a minute.”
He nods and rushes out as if he can’t wait to escape me.
“I’m so sorry, Morgan. I know this has come as a shock to you, but your pack is in deep trouble. They’ve been selling drugs on the black market…”
“So I’ve heard, but you’re wrong,” I interrupt. “They wouldn’t. And if they’re so bad, and you knew about it, why did you leave me with them?”
His eyes go sad, and he slumps into the chair opposite mine on the other side of the table. “I had to,” he says. “I knew they wouldn’t hurt you or involve you. I had someone watching you. They reported back every day. If things had taken a turn, I would’ve pulled you out, but as it was, I needed things to remain the same so that we could catch them. If you’d disappeared, they would’ve gone underground, and we’d have lost them.”
“What?” I shake my head. “You were spying on me?” All of the blood drains from my head, making me go dizzy.
“No, it wasn’t like that. Your housekeeper, Sharon, she’s one of mine.”
“Sharon?” I mutter in disbelief. I can’t get over this. It’s insanity.
“Love, you’re better off without them. Trust me on that. I can’t say anymore. Commander St Clair will fill you in but know that you’re not under suspicion.”
I nod slowly. “Do my parents know about any of this?”
He shakes his head. “It’s not my place. You tell them if you want, but I know things are strained…”
“Strained?” I blurt out with a hollow laugh. “They disowned me for choosing the pack over them, but they made it impossible to have both. Adam was right about them, saying they were out to split us apart. I didn’t want to believe it, but he knew…” I choke on the sob that comes up.
Jeremy’s pained expression does nothing to comfort me.
“So you’re not going to help?”
“I can’t, love, except…” He looks over his shoulder as he pulls something out of his inner jacket pocket. He slides it over the table to me.
I stare down at the pre-paid debit card. “What is this?”
“Ten grand. You’ll need it.”
“What?” I shake my head as he picks up the card and my hand and slaps it against my palm. I close my hand over it and see the warning on his face. I gulp and quickly shove it down the front of my dress, not having anywhere else to put it. I’ll figure out his words to me later, but right now, the door is opening, and the arsehole, whom I assume is this hotshot Commander dick, strolls in with a file.
“Eli,” Jeremy murmurs, standing up.
He nods and slaps the file down on the table, his expression grim and unyielding.
I want to beg my uncle not to leave me with him, but he exits the room quietly, closing the door behind him.
“Morgan Happs. I’m Commander Elijah St Clair.”
I gulp and sit up straighter, pushing my chair back a fraction. His scent is almost mouth-watering. It’s like a Christmas candle, all spiced cinnamon and cloves. I don’t know why the scents of these alphas are hitting my lungs in an overwhelming way, but they need to stop smelling so damn delicious. Why couldn’t they stink of sour milk or exhaust fumes?
“Do you know why you’re here?”
“Because you arrested my mates.”
