Page 36 of Knot Now Knot Ever

I nodded, squeezed his arm, and braced myself as the doors opened. Flashes of light from the cameras and shouting hit us the moment we stepped into the lobby. A podium had been set up, and security was holding the press back from rushing us, but it was still overwhelming. Mr. Noble smiled warmly and waved, greeting the frenzied mass.

Without any sign of hesitation, Mr. Noble approached the podium. “I am so pleased to share this day with all of you. I’m sure you’re wondering why I called the press here today, and I’d like to start by saying it had nothing to do with one of our Scent Matchers being served with a lawsuit. I trust our legal system, and I don’t plan to stand in the way of getting to the bottom of this situation. If Mira Chambers is found guilty, then I will be the first person to thank Mr. Eli Thatcher for bringing light to this matter. However, that is not the reason for you being here.”

Mr. Noble turned and waved for us to come closer, a radiant smile plastered on his face. Eli positioned us so we were next to Mr. Noble, but Tanner and Fawn were behind us, keeping them out of reach. I’m sure the average person wouldn’t notice the distance we were keeping, but Mr. Noble did. A slight twitch appeared near Mr. Noble’s left eye, but his expression never faltered.

“Allow me to introduce you to the first pack in known history, which has two Omegas who are matched not only to each other but every member in their pack,” Mr. Noble announced and started to clap, which then had the reporters clapping excitedly. “My father always told me it was important to take the time to celebrate the magic found in the world around us. Regardless of what is happening in our lives or the views we might have, one thing we can all agree on is the joy of a happily matched pack. It’s through the hard work of good people and our organization that we can each experience this just as this pack has.”

The roar of people cheering and clapping at Mr. Noble’s words was deafening. I wanted to cover my ears and run, but I didn’t. Eli placed his hand over mine, stroking his thumb against my skin, giving me his full support. My mind tuned out what was being said as I tried to picture myself anywhere but here. I hadn’t realized Mr. Noble had called Eli forward until I was kissed on the temple, and Eli handed me off to Tanner.

Instead of keeping me by his side, Tanner pulled me to his chest, loosely clasping his hands in front of me. This allowed him to support and catch me if needed, but it looked like a loving, tender moment between Alpha and Omega to the audience. Fawn took my hand and kissed the back of it, giving me a wink as he wiped the gloss off he’d left behind. Having the two of them acting completely normal helped to bring my anxiety down to a more manageable level. I didn’t want to be here any longer than was necessary, but I wasn’t going to have a panic attack like I feared.

“Mr. Thatcher, is it true you’re filing this lawsuit on behalf of your sister?” a reporter asked.

“I am not permitted to speak about the lawsuit or those involved. However, that information will become public record if this matter is taken to trial. We will just have to see how Mrs. Chambers responds to the matter,” Eli answered, easily navigating the question. “Thank you, Mr. Noble, for taking the time to invite us here to celebrate this happy moment, but I’m sure you’ll all understand how eager our pack is for our courting leave.”

Taking the cue, Mr. Noble thanked us for sharing our blessing with the world and ended the conversation. The reporters erupted, desperate for someone to answer their questions about the lawsuit. None of them gave a shit about our pack having two Omegas. They wanted all the dirty details to twist into something more exciting for readers. With the help of security, we were escorted out the back, where our car was waiting. Never had I been more thankful to get into a vehicle than now.

I was utterly exhausted. Slumping in my seat, I groaned at the thought of returning to work and trying to get anything done. All I wanted was to curl up in bed and take a long-ass nap. I wouldn’t even argue if any of the guys wanted to join me for said nap—they probably needed it as well. Now I knew I was exhausted if I was dreaming about having an Alpha curled around me, their purring lulling me to sleep. Granted, it was a fantastic daydream, but I had a feeling they wouldn’t just assume they could be that forward, which meant I had to ask.

Why on earth did asking for something so simple feel equal to asking your boss for a raise? My therapist would tell me it was because I feared rejection. Well, doesn’t everyone?

“Starlight, are you okay?” Tanner asked, combing his finger through my hair.

I opened my eyes I hadn’t realized I’d closed to find Tanner squatting in front of me. “Yeah, just worn out. Today’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’m drained.”

“I get that,” Tanner said with a smile. “Are you hungry? I know Fawn and I haven’t had any lunch. Do you think eating would help?”

A yawn hit me before I could answer, and it was one of those giant yawns that could make your jaw pop. Tanner chuckled. “So adorable,” he murmured, sliding his arms under my legs and back, scooping me up.

Tanner then took my seat, settled me in his lap, and tucked my head under his chin. I was going to argue and tell him he didn’t need to treat me like a child, but the second he started to purr, all protests were forgotten.

“Just rest, starlight. You’ll always be safe in my arms,” Tanner assured me as he rested his cheek on my head and held me as he purred.

With his warm, smoky, vanilla apple pie scent and the rumble deep in his chest, I didn’t stand a fighting chance. My eyes closed as my hand gripped his shirt as if I were afraid he’d leave me while I slept. It made me realize how badly I craved to trust this feeling I had around these men I was matched with. Even though I didn’t know them all that well, there was a sense of safety I’d never gotten from the men in my previous pack. Was it possible I’d never truly be happy if I hadn’t stumbled into their lives? Could an Omega feel their needs were met if it wasn’t from their pack? Had I forced myself to believe a lie that would leave me half alive and always searching?

Did any of that matter now that I’d found my pack?

No, my heart whispered like a gentle sigh of contentment.

I was right where I belonged.

When I woke, I knew I wasn’t in my home but in someone’s bed. The overwhelming sweetness of sugar-coated strawberries caused me to guess it was Fawn’s. I shifted, not willing to open my eyes just yet, but when I felt an arm nestled between my breasts tighten, my eyes snapped open.

Fawn was sleeping next to me with his hands holding mine against his cheek, looking so pure and sweet. Eli was wrapped around Fawn in such a protective manner it made my heart ache to see. The need to shield those he cared about was so strong he couldn’t even fight the urge as he slept. It was nice to see Eli with a relaxed expression as he lay there, his nose buried in Fawn’s pink curls. I reached out and brushed a lock of hair that had fallen forward from his normally perfect-looking hair.

Instantly, Eli’s gaze was locked on me, but the second he realized it was me, he relaxed and sighed as he lifted his head. “How are you feeling?” he asked in a low voice.

“Better. I really needed to recharge after everything,” I answered. “How did we end up here?”

The person behind me nuzzled past my hair to kiss my neck, letting his nose trail up the side of my neck to my ear. “You refused to let me go, starlight,” Tanner informed me. “We got back to Infinery, and I was going to pass you off to Eli, but you didn’t like that plan. So it was decided we would bring you back to our house so you could rest as long as you needed. Fawn was pretty wiped out as well, and one thing that always helps an Omega is to be close to their pack.”

“Lyra,” Eli said, his voice turning serious as he pushed up to see me better over Fawn. “I need you to be honest with me. Have you been dealing with withdrawal and not saying anything about it?”

Unable to hold Eli’s gaze, I focused on Fawn, reaching out to gently trace his features. “Yes,” I admitted.

I was abruptly pulled away from Fawn, flipped on my back, and Tanner loomed over me, his expression a mix of concern and anger. “Why?” he demanded. “Why would you risk your health by staying silent about something like that? Lyra, are you aware of what can happen if an Omega goes too long without being around their Alphas once the bonding process has started?”

Stunned at his reaction, I couldn’t speak right away. Tanner just waited, his chestnut gaze searing into mine as if he could read my mind if he tried hard enough.