Page 4 of Knot Their Boo
She's a crotchety old thing, withered and aged like cheap leather. Back hunched with eyes that are narrow slits of hate. How does someone turn into that kind of person?
I tilt my head up to the sky, enjoying the way the clouds block out the sun, and take a deep breath.
I did not miss that vicious old hag or her small-town minions. I have no doubt that they will haunt every aspect of my life this holiday season.
Rhian
“She’s back,” my brother grumbles, not bothering to look at me over his shoulder as he washes the dishes. My lip quirks in a smirk. I knew it wouldn’t take him long to bring Sable up.
Nick’s an alpha and built like a brick house. At just fifteen, he was already bigger than the rest of the family, and at thirty-three, not much has changed. He’s massive, and it’s kind ofentertaining watching him crouch over the sink like it was made for a hobbit. He hisses something about the way the soap feels on his hands, and I snort.
That’s just Nick. Grumbly and grumpy.
He’s a good brother, but the only person I’ve ever seen him soft for, other than our baby sister, is our friend Plum. A simple fact that they will both vehemently deny, given the chance.
I’m six-two, and my brother towers over me at six-seven. It’s even more ridiculous how tiny my childhood friend, Plum, looks compared to him, and she’s tall for an omega, at five foot five inches.
I’ve been trying to get him to admit he’s in love with Plum for years, but every time I bring her up, he growls at me.
‘She’s too young, Rhian. Let the woman live her life before you try marrying her off. Besides, I got more than enough on my plate. I don’t need an omega to care for too.’
That particular conversation was two years ago. I think most of the hesitation comes from the fact that she’s only three years older than our little sister, Stella. But she’s nearly twenty-four now.
I just want my big brother to be happy. He sacrificed so much for my siblings and me over the years. Of all of us, he deserves happiness in his life.
Nick is ten years older than me, and much more to me than just a big brother. He’s my first hero, hell, he’s still my fucking hero even though that's not how he sees himself. He’s the best man I’ve ever known.
I know what my brother thinks of himself.Worthless, useless, stupid…Words our father used to spew at him endlessly. Especially since Nick refused to let our dad treat me, or our younger siblings, Benson and Stella, the same way. He took the worst of it to spare us, and I’ve always known who he really is. I only wish he saw himself the way we see him.
He’s more to me than our father ever was. He’s my big brother. My real-life superhero.
“Who, Sable?” I ask after letting the silence drag on too long, watching him as I stir my sugar cube into my black coffee and take a sip.
“No, Mary Poppins,” he deadpans, finally glancing at me over his shoulder. “Fucking obviously Sable.” Nick shakes his head like I’m dense as he finishes washing the dishes from breakfast. His rich brown hair, so much like Mom’s, is in need of a cut. He also has her green eyes. But he’s built like Dad was. Burly and sturdy. Brick fucking house.
“I know. She got back this morning. Plum called me yesterday. We had a good chat. They’re coming by tonight for the pumpkin patch,” I say, since he wants to bring up the past. He freezes, like saying her name conjures a ghost before his eyes.
“Fucking omegas,” he grunts, making me snort a chuckle. If anyone else ever said something like that in front of my big brother, they’d lose their tongue. Or at least a few teeth. I presented when I was just seventeen, eight months earlier than most do. It derailed my fucking life. But Nick was there, ready to break the neck of anyone who tried to say a bad word about my designation. Especially Dad.
Nick is not a very forgiving man. Still holding grudges in my name, even when I’ve already forgotten the hurt. Half the time, he’s still pissed about shit I literally can’t remember. He’s the most loyal person I’ve ever known. If he picks you, he’s on your side, period. Even if you’re wrong, he’ll find a way to justify your actions.
‘That kid shouldn’t have called you dumb, then you wouldn’t have punched him…’
That sort of thing. So when he says, ‘Fucking omegas,’ I know he’s teasing me, but also cursing the women from our pasts.
More so Plum, since I’m the one who ruined things with Sable out of fear, which he knows all too well. She and I were close once. Best friends, really. But even before she presented, we all knew she’d be an omega, so when I perfumed… Well, I was just a stupid kid. I thought she’d reject me because I wasn’t an alpha. I didn’t even give her the chance to prove me wrong.
But I’m not a dumb ass teenager now.
“Her Grams wanted Sable’s candles sold in the shop, and I said I’d give her a spot,” I tell him, watching as he finally returns to his task.
“I’m aware. Who do you think told her to call you?” Nick harrumphs dramatically, and I can’t resist a chuckle. Everyone says omegas are dramatic and emotional, which we are, but have you ever met an alpha? Absolute. Drama. Queens.
“So I should be thanking you?” I ask, smirking as he turns to glare at me.
“You should be outside doing your chores, not in here harassing me, you little shit,” Nick huffs, tossing the damp dishcloth at me.
“Alright, alright, I’m going!” I chuckle as Benson walks in. He’s only one year younger than me, but is a good four inches taller. They’re both alphas, Mom, Stella, and I are omegas.
