Page 58 of Knot for Me
We talk for a little bit longer until she has to leave for an appointment.
“A simple checkup, nothing to worry about,” she reassures me.
“Well, have fun. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Love you, baby.” She makes kissing noises and hangs up.
I stare at the screen, watching it switch from the call to the home page. My email has a few notifications, but I’m not ready to check and see if I received another strange email. I tap into the social media app instead, scrolling through my feed. Pictures of pets, food, and the beach. Typical life stuff that people feel the need to share. Sometimes it’s nice to see the images, but when I come across an old friend who posted a picture with her pack, I scowl. Ines is an omega too and she was assigned to a pack at the last Compatibility Ceremony.
Her swelling stomach makes me bristle, but it’s the caption that makes me feel sick.
Can’t wait to meet our bundle of joy. #livingmybestomegalife #proudalphas #goodomegasforthewin.
Throwing my phone onto the floor, I stand and head to the bathroom, preparing to take the world’s longest bubble bath. Before I strip, I remember the wine cellar full of bottles. Bubble baths call for wine. I race down and grab a red one. I don’t see anyone in the hallway or kitchen when I go to open the bottle and grab a glass. I make it to my room right as Lucas is coming out. We both stop and stare at each other for a minute. His gaze drops to the wine and glass, eyebrows jumping in surprise.
“Bath time,” I say quickly.
His blue eyes move back to mine, dangerous and tempting. I scurry inside and shut my door. My body may be desperate for a repeat, but I can’t let it happen.
I have to be smart, so I don’t end up #livingmybestomegalife.
ChapterFourteen
CORY
Lucas storms into the office. I glance up from my laptop and give him a pointed look. He’s been doing a lot of stomping lately. We all know why.
“What now?”
“Nothing,” he says with a heavy sigh. He walks to the screen mounted to the wall that shows the different security feeds. The one to Reagan’s room is blacked out. I turned it off after the first night she arrived. It didn’t feel right to spy on her.
“Did you see the protest today at city hall?” I switch to the tab which has the video recording of the speech some low pack alpha gave.
The angrier he gets, the more noise the crowd makes. I can almost feel the discontent through the laptop. Lucas stops next to my chair and listens. He starts to crack his knuckles, a bad habit of his.
“What are you planning?”
“You know what the plan is. I’m moving the timeline up. We can’t afford to wait another three years.”
I grimace. “Cornelius isn’t ready.” Glancing at him, I take in the hard line between his eyebrows.
“Soon enough, my father isn’t going to have a choice. It’s either change or risk civil war.” Lucas scrubs his hand over his face.
“The ball would be a great opportunity to network. Get people to understand our perspective.”
We’ve been planning to present the Royal Council with a transition strategy, something to let the low packs in on the lawmaking and to ease the royal versus low pack tensions. Things have shifted in the last hundred years, but the council hasn’t. They’re still acting as though royals are the majority. We’re not. It’s time to change. Lucas is passionate about it, and while I think pushing them now is too soon, I’ll help him do whatever he wants.
We’re pack. Alphas don’t let other alphas start a revolution without help.
“The ball is still too far away. I’ll have Amelie and Jefferson start setting up one on one meetings until then. We’ll need to hit the royal packs individually and as a group. Help them see why the change is worthwhile.”
I nod and glance back at my laptop. The low pack alpha’s face is bright red and his eyes are wild. He almost looks feral, but that’s because he’s mad. Rightfully so, too.
Change is coming. I only hope our world is ready for it.
* * *
REAGAN
