Page 77 of Knot for Me
I shove that down and meet his guarded stare. “Yes?”
“Would you…” He trails off, face contorting.
Don’t ask me. Don’t. I try to let the warning flash across my face so he knows how I feel. His blue irises darken, and his fingers curl into fists on the top of the table, knuckles whitening.
“Would you like breakfast?” Cory asks.
“I’m not hungry,” I say, shrugging. “I think I need some fresh air.”
“I’ll go with you.” Marco stands, but I hold a hand up to stop him.
“I don’t want company.”
He glances at Cory who shakes his head. “With the threats, I’m afraid you need someone with you.” Cory gives me an apologetic smile.
“Fine. He can follow me.” I glance at Marco. “I don’t want to talk.”
“Okay,” he says, nodding.
Spinning on my heel, I rush to the front door, take off my slippers, and put on my shoes, beating Marco outside by a few seconds. He can come with me, but he doesn’t need to walk next to me. My feet have already hit the lush grass when I hear him huff and shut the front door. He doesn’t jog to catch up. The farther I walk across their ridiculously huge yard, the more the tension between my shoulders fades. Bit by bit, they unbunch and my jaw relaxes.
They’re going to get an omega, and I loathe the thought. I have no right to hate the idea when I’m adamant about not wanting children. It would never work out. They’d resent me when they realize how serious I am about that. I can’t put them through that, and I don’t want to go through it either. This is better. Them finding someone they can protect and love, fuck and shower with gifts, cuddle and read with. My throat constricts.
If they find a mate, I won’t have any more reading nights with Cory.
Will I even live in the house?
Turning, I march to Marco. He stops walking and watches me approach with a tiny bit of fear creeping across his face.
Funny. The alpha is scared of the omega.
“Promise me you won’t send me to the auctions.”
“What?” he asks.
“When you find your mate, promise me you won’t let her send me to the auctions. I’ll do whatever she wants, but please don’t condemn me to the auctions.”
“No one is sending you anywhere,” he says, voice soothing. “Reagan, Cornelius has grand plans for our pack, but we’re serious when we say we don’t want another omega.”
Including me.
There’s that sting again. I glance away and nod, hating how stupid I’ve been. I can’t feel anything for these alphas. My instincts are screaming at me to beg them to be my mates, but I’m not going to do that. My instincts also want me to have a million children. They’ve never been rational and giving in to them would only embarrass me even more.
I’ve already done enough.
Marco clears his throat, and I look at him, studying the way his eyes flash with some emotion I don’t understand. Regret?
No. That’s my omega instinct trying to persuade me to mate them.
“Our pack will take care of you.”
“Thank you,” I say, voice soft. “I think I’ll walk a bit more.” Turning away from him, I let my turbulent thoughts keep my mind occupied and walk until my feet are sore and my legs are shaking.
Marco follows me without a single complaint.
* * *
A black van is parked in front of the house when we make it back, the wordsAscension Securitystamped on the side in bold letters. A man with short hair and a bit of scruff along his jaw climbs out of the vehicle. Marco excuses himself to go meet the driver. The guy glances at me, squinting and giving me a funny look. He can probably smell me. I bypass introducing myself, grab a bottle of water, and slip upstairs into my room. A soft knock sounds a few seconds later. I sigh heavily, scrubbing my face with my hands. I can’t hide from them. That’ll make them think I care.
