Page 42 of Their Knotty Pack
It's at that moment the phone on the wall rings, and Miles' shoulders tense. "I should go get that." His grip reluctantly loosens as he goes to pick up the phone. I don'twantto focus on his end of the conversation, but my ears automatically try to listen in.
Mr. All-American steps over though, standing right next to Kieran. "I think we all got off on the wrong foot here." He raises his arms in surrender, his pants now on. "I'm Brody, and this is Damien," he motions to the beta across from him. "He and Miles work at the same school."
Shit. Miles knows the beta? Did he know he was a part of the pack?
No, there's no way. But thisdoescomplicate things.
I catch Damien's eyes, my cheeks reddening as I notice the way they were traveling up my body.
I'm stillverynaked.
Scrambling to the corner with our overnight bag, I step over a discarded silicon knot, three knotted dildos, and a plethora of empty protein shake bottles. By the time I've thrown on the first shirt I can find, which is one of Miles' favorite t-shirts with anime characters on it, I still don't know what to say to them.
How am I supposed to say "I'm doing my best to convince myself that I don't care that you're my true scent match, so please make it easier by not putting up a fight"?
It's not exactly a conversation I want to have wearingonlya shirt, but at least it covers my ass, so it'll have to do for now.
"Bethany," Brody's tone is pleading, and I almost soften. Almost. If it weren't for his enticing leather and cedar wood scent, reminding me of why we're in this mess to begin with, I might have been inclined to listen to him. "I'm so sorry things happened this way, but would you at leastgive us a chance—"
"Listen," I turn, shaking my head, "I know that this bond complicates things—"
"Complicates things?" Kieran barks out a laugh, his large arms crossing over his chest, "Sunshine, this isn't complicated at all. We're bonded now. If we separate…" he shakes his head, "are you really that selfish?"
My head rears back as if he's slapped me. Words from Pack Hansen fill my mind, telling me I'm selfish in bed. That I pit them against each other. That I can't be greedy with their affections. "Excuse me? How can you call me selfish? You don't even know me."
"You're right, I don't," Kieran lobs back, tilting his head. "And it'll stay that way as long as you have anything to say about it, right? But even someone who knows nothing else about you aside from this situation would call you selfish. You wanna know why?"
I swallow, wanting to answer, but I'm not able to find the words I'm looking for since each word he says has my stomach dropping further and further.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the droop of Damien's shoulders as he goes to sit on the bed. At the same time, a visual invades my mind of the beta's head between my thighs while Brody fucked me…shit.
Kieran doesn't need a response, because he continues, taking another step towards me.
"Becauseyoubitmefirst. Which means you took the decision out of my hands. And not once have you expressed remorse for anyone but yourself, nor have you uttered a single word of apology. You're selfish because you broke it, but you don't want to buy it. You don't plan on sticking around, but what other omega is going to take me now that you've made me used goods?"
An instinctual growl rips out of my chest at the mention of him with another omega before I can tamp it down, and Kieran's eyes look at me knowingly. "See? You don't want me, but you don'twant anyone else to have me either.That'swhy you're selfish, sunshine."
Kieran's words, as true as they may be, have anger thrumming in me, and my hands tighten to fists.
"Well excuse me for not apologizing for something you seemed all too smug about a moment ago!"
"That was before I knew you were planning on dining and dashing, sunshine."
I know I fucked up.
Well, first my omega fucked up by biting him, and thenIfucked up by not considering how this whole thing would affect him. But between his well-being and Miles? I have to choose Miles, every time.
"That was the moderator," Miles says as he comes over, interrupting mine and Kieran's staring contest. "They are kindly reminding us that we have an hour after your heat breaks to get the hell out. Honestly, I think she's anxious to get us out of here before any more unsanctioned bonding takes place."
Right. We're still in the heat suite, and there's someone watching our every move from the camera in the corner of the room.
"How about," Damien drawls, coming up on the other side of Kieran, his rainforest signature making my breath hitch, "we stop bickering like a pack of hyenas, pack our shit, and talk once we're checked out of here."
Sounds good to me. Wordlessly, I turn back to the overnight bag, hike it over my shoulder, and drag Miles with me into the bathroom.
The door shuts forcefully behind me, and it's not until Miles wraps me in his arms that I let myself cry.
"I'm so sorry," my voice chokes out, tears getting his bare chest wet. "I've ruined everything."
