Page 79 of Knot for Me
“Okay,” I say, pushing away from the desk. “Promise me you won’t turn on the new system in my room?”
“I can’t do that. With the threat, I need to be able to see the bedroom.”
“I’m on the second floor.”
“You’d be surprised how creative criminals can get.” He stands and tucks his hands into his pockets. “You’ll have the bathroom and closet for privacy. I’m sorry I can’t give you more, but we’re all taking the threats seriously.”
“Why didn’t you tell Lucas’ father?”
He frowns and glances at the monitors. “Lucas and his dad have a strained relationship. He has plans for our pack, but we don’t agree with those plans. Emily’s death was hard on Lucas, but the way his father reacted was worse.”
“Did he blame him?” An instant flare of protectiveness for Lucas floods through me.
“He was hard on all of us,” is all Cory says, but it doesn’t take a genius to know Cornelius faulted them for it. “I’d like to keep the knowledge of the threats in our pack for now. If there comes a time where we need to let the Royal Council know, we will.”
I bite my cheek and nod. “I don’t like the idea of being recorded.”
“I know.” He gives me a sad smile. “As soon as we neutralize the threat, I’ll personally destroy those cameras.”
Laughing at that, I stand and head to the door, pausing before I leave him with the security system. “Thank you for showing me.” I cast my gaze over my shoulder. “Thank you for respecting my space.”
“You’re welcome.” He turns to the monitors again, face grim but determined. He’s adamant he’ll find the asshole who’s been harassing me, and I can’t think of a better person for the job.
ChapterNineteen
MARCO
I find Reagan in the gym Saturday night. Our training sessions are only supposed to be during the week, but I don’t say as much to her. She’s on the treadmill and has music blaring loud enough it would drown out anything I’d try to say anyway. We didn’t work today since the security company was coming, and none of us felt comfortable leaving Reagan alone so soon after the phone calls.
Taking the cardio machine a few down from hers, I settle into a steady pace. I glance over at Reagan, barely missing her eyes on me before she flicks them to the side to look out of the windows. Things have been a little awkward since Cornelius’ visit. I’m sure his proposition made her feel weird. Lucas’ father has never been subtle, and him threatening to find us an omega makes me want to punch a hole through the drywall. I haven’t though; that’s what all these punching bags are for. Once I get my run in, I’ll beat the shit out of a bag and picture Cornelius’ face while I do it.
Lucas hadn’t said much to fight with his dad, but I know he hates the idea of being forced into mating someone. The only person who would even register on our radar as a potential mate literally hates the concept of being physically bound to alphas. If there’s no chance of a bond with Reagan, I don’t want anyone else. Smashing my finger on the button to increase the speed, I sprint out some of my frustration. I should have told Lucas no. I should have stood up to him when he said we were going to the auctions. I should have stopped him from bidding on her.
The whole situation was so out of character. That was the first sign things would be complicated. Lucas has never wanted someone. Emily was matched with our pack, but he didn’twanther. Reagan is different. There was no match. Only this magnetic pull to the wild woman who challenges every omega stereotype there is. Aside from snacking. That’s the thing though, she’s so different it’s hard not to like her. She’s not a puppet. She’s full of resistance, and I want to be the reason she gives in.
I don’t want to force her though. No.
I want to be the reason she changes her mind. Not about the children part. I couldn’t give fuck all about kids. Only the mating part. I want her to choose us.
* * *
REAGAN
The silence should be awkward. It’s not. Marco is in his own head as much as I’m in mine, pounding out the miles with a quick pace I decide to match. He’s fast and I can only keep up for so long before I have to slow the treadmill to a more manageable pace. My breaths come in short huffs, my lungs working overtime to keep the oxygen pumping. I stop before he does, but my total mile count is around five.
I move to the weights, moving through some of the sequences he’s been showing me. The music pumping into the room is angsty and fuels my workout. I avoid Marco’s gaze the best I can in the mirrors, but every so often my attention strays in his direction, and we both jerk our eyes away from one another. Magnets set on a collision course. Pretty soon, we’ll collide.
Things were fine until Cornelius came. We were all living in a safe denial of what I am and how things would work between us. That bastard destroyed that, and I hate him for it.
Marco’s treadmill slows, and I shoot my gaze to the side of the mirror, watching him catch his breath and hop off. He heads to the weight area, warily stopping near me. “Care if I work out?”
“Go ahead,” I say, focusing on my hammer curls. I don’t have pretty, toned muscles yet, but with time, I know they’ll get more defined.
“Thanks.” He grabs some dumbbells and begins his own training.
We don’t talk anymore, but there isn’t much to be said. The silence doesn’t bother me which is all the more frustrating. I’m comfortable with him. I’m not worried about filling the space between us with mindless chatter. Grinding my teeth, I mentally chastise myself all over for how silly I’ve been.
“Drop your shoulders.”
