Page 130 of Knot for Me
“I was told this room was dusty,” I drawl, giving him a sugary sweet smile. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
Guess I haven’t changed much.
A man with a big belly laughs, slapping the table. “I already like her. Is she mated?”
Lucas growls, and his father gives him a venomous look.
“Don’t tell me you’ve slept with the bitch.”
“Excuse you?” I say, putting my hand on my hip, managing not to wince when the movement sends a zing of pain through me. “When was the last time you got any?”
“God, this is great,” Marco says under his breath, a trouble-making grin plastered on his face.
“Don’t encourage her,” Cory mutters.
“Reagan is our omega.” Lucas plants his feet next to his chair. “If you insult her again, I’ll make you regret it.” Violence is a good look on my alpha.
Protective Lucas is my new favorite.
“I assume this is what you wanted to meet about.” Cornelius rolls his eyes. “Permission denied.”
I scoff. This motherfucker.
“We’re not asking permission.” Lucas gives me a pointed look, letting me know he’s not going to let anything stop what we’ve already set in motion. “This meeting is about change.”
“Oh?” A cocky, condescending smile stretches across Cornelius’ face, and he looks at his peers. “And what, pray tell, needs to change?”
“Well, for starters, you.” Lucas lowers his eyebrows. “Your time as head of the council is over.”
Cornelius chuckles, but it’s not an amused chuckle. It’s more deadly than funny. “You’ve suddenly decided to take your spot on the council? After five years of me asking? I don’t think so.”
“It’s not your choice,” Cory cuts in, glancing at everyone else at the table. “I’m sure you’ve heard by now what happened to Reagan yesterday. It was a failed attempt at murder, and if it weren’t for the extra security we installed, she’d be dead. Like Emily.”
A few of the men at the table look at each other and then at me. Our group is still standing. I take it upon myself to lift my shirt enough to show them the bruising.
The shock factor, as Lucas put it.
A few of them gasp and murmur amongst themselves.
Marco nods. “Who’s to say the next time it isn’t someone else’s omega? Someone who isn’t as protected?”
We decided not to mention that the attack was specifically to target Cornelius’ line because eventually they’ll move on to other royal lines.
“What are you proposing?” a man with a greying mustache asks, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table.
“We’ve been talking to you all about this over the last year or so,” Lucas says. “The time of the Royal Council is coming to an end. We can either choose to change and minimize the violence, or we can resist and risk everyone we know and love. We’re more than outnumbered.”
“Not this silly plan again,” his father interjects. “They will fall in line as they always have. We can organize the authorities and take to the streets if we need to, but no one is going to hurt our loved ones.”
“Are you willfully ignorant or truly that stubborn?” I ask, shaking my head. “They already hurt Emily. No, sorry, theykilledher. They tried to kill me.” I look at the other men, willing them to hear me. “I haven’t bonded with them yet, but you all have with your omegas. Are you willing to go through that pain when they die? Are you willing to live your life without her?” I raise an eyebrow, knowing damn well they won’t want to.
For all the patriarchal posturing, not even they can say they don’t love their omegas. The bond, if nothing else, makes sure the alphas feel that. They may not be kind, but the pain they’d feel if their omegas died would be terrible. A few alphas have chosen to die themselves rather than live without their mate.
“Reagan is right. You all know what losing Emily did to our pack. It took five years for us to recover and we hadn’t even completed the mating bites. Our pain is a pin drop compared to what you will feel.” Cory shakes his head. “Don’t let stubbornness destroy you.”
“Honestly, it’s like dealing with children. No one wants what you’re suggesting.” Cornelius makes a shooing gesture. “Run along and let the adults get back to work.”
“Mother—”
