Page 88 of In Knots

“Yes, thank you,” I lie. My skin burns so hot, I want to be out in the cold rain again, anything to try and cool it, to stop the irritation racing up and down my flesh.

“Hmmm,” she says in a way that tells me she isn’t convinced. “Let’s get some ice on that ankle next. I don’t think you’ve broken it. Ryan broke his a few years back. Came off that bike, probably riding too damn fast. Broke his ankle and his arm. Couldn’t stand on the thing for love nor money.”

“I don’t think it’s broken. I walked from Greendale.”

“Greendale?!” Her eyes widen again, and her jaw drops open. “What on earth is a girl from Greendale doing here?” I nibble on my lip, and she rests her knuckles on her hips. “Have my boys got you mixed up in some kind of trouble, because I’ll have their guts for–”

“No, no, they haven’t, but I needed to see them.” Her gaze sweeps over me again and her nose twitches.

“Hmmm,” she says. “Now, I don’t want to be rude, my love, and heaven knows I’ll be in trouble for sticking my nose in, but I’m a mum and so,” she shrugs, “I’m not really sure you are in a fit state to be here, my love. I don’t know which of my boys you’ve got something going on with … but they’re a pack and a pack, well, it operates differently and an omega–”

The door swings open behind her and the huge figure of Bear comes bounding in. He halts when he sees us both staring up at him.

“I … what … Alexa?” A series of emotions wrestle out across his face.

“This young lady showed up in an awful state,” Ryan’s mum says, strolling towards Bear as if she’s going to attempt to hustle the alpha out of his own flat. “I think I’d better arrange to get her home.”

Bear ignores her, his eyes locked on me, his nostrils flared. The battle across his features continues and the intensity in his eyes makes me wilt on the sofa.

“She’s exactly where she needs to be.”

“Bear, she’s–”

“I know that, Anne.” Ryan’s mum stands right in front of Bear, dwarfed by his towering size, her head tilted right back to look at him.

“Then you’ll understand why–”

“She’s our girl, Anne.”

The older woman’s mouth does that thing again, falling right open as she swings her head around to gape at me. “She is? You are?”

“Yes,” I say, my cheeks already so hot I don’t even know if I’m blushing or not. Anne glares back at Bear, her eyes narrowing. “And no one thought to mention this to me.”

Bear places two large hands on her shoulders and angles her towards the door.

“Thanks for your help, Anne.”

“Oh no, you don’t, Bear, I have questions.”

“Not now,” he says gently, pushing her towards the exit.

“But she’s hurt her ankle.”

He hesitates for a micro fraction.

“We’ll take good care of her,” he says, the words making me shiver.

“Then let me fetch you more blankets and pillows, you can’t expect an omega–”

He walks her through the door. “Goodbye, Anne.” The door clicks shut and we can both hear Ryan’s mum huffing on the other side and then her footsteps racing away.

“She’s off to tell all her sisters and half the neighbourhood.” Bear grins at me. “This is big news.”

“It is?” My eyes are locked on him.

“We’ve never had a girl before.”

“Ryan told me.”

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