Page 149 of Knot So Social

A shadowed passage opens in the pantry, and I throw myself through the gap in case it closes again. Willow sits in a beanbag, surrounded by strange scents. Her chest rises and falls gently with her regular breaths, and the panic’s gone from her body scent. A brown dog I’ve never seen before jumps up, bouncing on his toes as he sidewinds toward me, quivering with excitement.

I blow past the dog and reach for Willow.

“You’re here,” I rasp out, throwing myself to my knees and winding my arms around her waist. “And you’re okay!”

Willow squeaks and flinches as my wet clothes touch her skin. “You’re soaked. What happened?”

I cling tighter and bury my head in her stomach. “Nothing. Nothing happened. You’re safe so nothing happened. I saw the broken window and the blood and thought the worst.”

Willow squeezes my head. “Yeah. It’s been a bit crazy, but I’m okay.”

A deep male voice follows hers. “So, this is what he sounds like conscious.”

I flinch and swivel without releasing my omega. A stranger leans against the wall by the open doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. The backlighting from the pantry beyond shades his facial features. His baked-earth scent swirling through the room reminds me a little of home, but right now, with my omega in my arms, it’s not a pleasant reminder.

“Who’s he?” I ask, vibrating with a growl.

Willow chuckles. “He’s—"

“Her alpha,” the stranger supplies.

The omega’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t deny the claim.

Who is this bastard?

My spirit riles up, but before I do something stupid, he moves closer and the dimmed glow in the room illuminates his face. Tall, blocky build, familiar eyes, short cut brown hair. And bold enough to claim Willow to my face. Ah.

But I thought Jeremy said they hadn’t figured out their relationship yet? Clearly something developed between them today.

I partially release Willow, switching my grip to her hand, and rock back on my heels. “You must be Joel.”

“And you must be Alessandro.”

A sudden flash of panic runs through me, and I wish Jeremy were here. This brother seems far less easy going. I glance at Willow. She’s relaxed in his presence.

Sucking in a breath I rise and extend my hand. “Nice to meet you properly. I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other going forward.”

His narrowed gaze drops to my hand. “Will we?”

Chapter forty-seven

Willow

I could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Doesn’t help that the panic room is barely bigger than a walk-in closet. They don’t know what I know; that both men were frightened for my life, hardening their protective alpha instincts. I hold my breath as I wait for Alessandro’s answer, wondering if I need to intervene.

My golden alpha drops his hand and squares his shoulders. “I know I’ll be seeing plenty of Willow, since we’re courting. What about yourself?”

Joel stands rigidly by the door, a head taller than Alessandro. His sharp gaze flicks from the alpha to me, calculating. His jaw works, but no words come out. For a moment, I sense his hesitation, the alpha-protective mode fading now the threat’s been assessed.

Will he disappear again, like when we first met?

My heart quivers in my chest.

“Are you planning to court me, Joel?” I ask in a raspy voice.

“I—” His gaze slides from me to the alpha holding me. “Is that what you want, Willow?”

He’s deflecting? I thought I was all cried out from the storm, but fresh tears threaten to fall.