Page 25 of Knotting Hill
“It’s the same omega that I have decided I want in my life long-term. Same as Russell.”
I see Josh flick his gaze at Russ before he returns it to me. “And you weren’t going to tell me this because?”
“I know you’re pissed,” I start, because man, he is about to lose it big time and cause a scene as Elle wanders over, looking concerned. “But we were trying to figure shit out first. You came to us with the mating thing, and we didn’t want to get your hopes up, or whatever.”
“Get my hopes up? I wasn’t suggesting we mate…okay, well, I am now. Storm is special. I can feel it in my gut. You do too?”
“Yeah,” I say with a nod. “Go back to how you were kissing her.”
“That’s my meddling,” Elle says, as we are now joined by Cassidy. “Storm came into the shop yesterday. Joshy got all ga-ga over her, so I set up a cheeky meet.”
“That’s what I was doing too,” Cassidy says, blabbing our little secret.
I messaged her this morning, and she totally called me on my bullshit. I figured I might as well come clean with my intentions.
She and Elle share an amused gaze.
“Guess Josh is way smoother than you two,” Cassidy comments, folding her arms over her chest.
“Ha. He wishes,” Russell pipes up before I can. “We didn’t get a chance. She bolted. Josh made her bolt. Obviously, he kisses like a douche.”
“Ouch,” Josh grumbles.
“Stop! Everyone just stop!” I exclaim, running my hand through my hair. “This is adisaster. The idea was to get to know her, not kiss her and make her run away. You,” I turn on Josh, practically fuming, “You jumped the gun.”
“How was I to know…you didn’t keep me in the loop. I was working my own agenda, and kissing her was part of that.”
“Humph,” I growl rudely, and turn back to Cassidy. “What do we do now?”
“Nothing. I said I would help you, and I will, but she has bolted, and none of you are going after her. I will check on her.”
“Why did she run?” Josh asks quietly.
We all turn to Cassidy, who purses her lips. “She isn’t looking for a mate just yet. My best guess is that she got overwhelmed a bit. Plus, she is very vocal about you three and your womanising ways.”
Elle snorts, apparently in agreement.
“Look,” I say, going deadly serious. “I know we have a rep, which is unfortunate in this case, but nothing we can do anything about. I am serious about courting Storm. This has to be done right.”
“Then the first thing you have to do is keep your dick in your pants. All of you,” Cassidy says.
“Not a problem,” Russell says. “I honestly can’t think of being with anyone but her.”
“Aww,” Elle murmurs. “The St. Luc’s going all soft on us.”
I shoot her a filthy glare at her innuendo.
“I said I would help you get to know her a bit, but I’m extremely defensive, so if one of you steps out of line, I will string you up by your short and curlies. She is not another notch on your bedposts. Got it? Storm deserves to be happy, and I want her to be more than anything. That’s why I’m doing this. I saw how serious you were about it this morning, but I won’t help you get her into bed. I guarantee that you need to work for that honour, and she will make you. I’m almost looking forward to it,” Cassidy states.
She smiles gleefully, and that’s when I seeherintentions. This is less about helping us and more about seeing us on our knees.
Well, not a fucking problem.
If that’s what I have to do to get to Storm, then it’s the very least I can do. I will go to great lengths to ensure that my pack has a fair run at her. If she rejects us, or it turns out it’s not in the cards for us, then at least I will know I did my damndest and didn’t walk away because it got hard. I don’t even know where this feeling has come from. It’s just consumed me. She has consumed me. It’s not just about her scent, which is definitely alluring and inviting and calling to me. There’s something about the chase and the fact that I know she won’t fall into bed with any of us. It makes meneedto know her.
“If I have to beg on my hands and knees to get her to talk to me, to get to know me, I don’t have an issue with that,” I state to the utter shock of Josh and probably Russell. I can’t see his face, but Josh’s jaw is on the floor. “You?” I ask of him.
“Definitely,” he says. “We are on the same page, undoubtedly.”
