Page 116 of In Knots

The rumble grows louder.

I’m not imagining it.

My eyes flick towards the church door.

“Alexa,” the vicar says, “shall we try that again? I, Alexa, take these, Simon—”

The rumble is a roar now, so loud the stone beneath my feet vibrates.

“Say the words, Omega,” Simon hisses so quietly only I hear. But my gaze is locked towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

No, they can’t. They can’t be here. They can’t do this.

My father jumps to his feet and so do his men in the rows behind him, their bodies twisted towards the doorway too.

The roar of motors is so loud now it’s deafening, coming from outside the church. Suddenly the noise cuts, replaced by deep voices and boots on the path. Then Ryan, Buzz, Bear and Cam pace into the doorway, framed by the light, their bodies in shadow. They are not alone. Behind them are members of the motorcycle club, men I recognise.

“Alexa!” Ryan calls, lifting his arms as he marches inside. “Stop! You don’t need to do this!”

My father steps into the aisle flanked by his men, blocking my alpha’s path as he tries to reach me.

“You’re not welcome here,” my father growls. “Leave now before I call the police!”

“Go right ahead!” Buzz says walking right up to my father, glaring into his eyes. “I’m sure they’d be very interested in what you’re trying to do here – forcing an omega to marry an alpha against her will.”

My mother is on her feet too. “She’s not being forced. This is what she wants. Do the right thing please, turn around, walk away and leave her to live her life.”

Buzz’s gaze finds me over my father’s shoulder. “No, she belongs with us. We are her pack. We are her alphas. We are not leaving without her.” He pushes against my father’s chest.

“I’ll have you locked up for this,” my father snarls.

“You’re not the only one with connections in the police,” a man says, stepping out from behind the pack. Jonathan! “Let her go. She has a right to choose her own path in life.”

My father shakes his head. “You’re not welcome here, Jonathan. Keep your nose out of my business, of my family’s business.”

“It is my business. You put Alexa under my care and I won’t let you do this to her. If you want to call the police, go ahead. I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear what this old officer has to say.” He narrows his eyes. “There’s a lot I could tell them.”

“Are you threatening me?” my father hisses.

“Yes,” Cam tells him. “This club, this pack, isn’t intimidated by you. We aren’t living in the 18th century anymore. An omega gets to choose her destiny and no one else. Not even her father!”

I step towards my men. “And I choose you,” I call out. “I choose you!” The congregation gasps and Simon yanks on my hand, pulling me back to his side.

Then before I know it, his hands grip my hair and he twists my head to one side, exposing the back of my neck.

“This bitch is mine and no one else’s. She doesn’t get to choose. I do. And I’m making her mine here and now!” I squirm in his grasp, trying to break free, but he’s too strong for me. Around me hands cover mouths, eyes flitting between the pack, Simon, my father, me.

Simon bares his teeth and they hover near the skin on my neck. I can feel his warm breath against my flesh.

“No!” I plead. “No, Simon please, don’t do this! I don’t love you and you don’t love me!”

“Love’s got nothing to do with it. I want you as my wife and I’m used to getting what I want. No little bitch and her posse of lowlifes are going to stop me!”

He bends forward, the edges of his teeth scrape against my gland.

I close my eyes. I hold my breath. I brace my shoulders.

A heavy body slams against ours. Simon grunts by my ear. My eyelids spring open. The coloured light spins. I topple. The cold, hard ground hits my hip.

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