Page 10 of Trick Knot Treat

“You did?”

She’s so excited, so happy, and I can’t find it in me to deny her, so I give in with as much grace as I can muster.

“I matched with Zaire, Clint, and Jace,” I say with a smile and flick a glance at the big alpha who is glowering at me.

I’m surprised when her smile falls, and her face turns white. She snatches her hand back and puts space between us.

“I hope you are taking this seriously. Zaire is the best alpha, and I won’t allow anyone to hurt him,” she snarls.

My head spins. She’s protecting him, defending him. This is not going how it should be going.

“Now, hold on a minute-” Clint growls.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, but Clint and I are stepbrothers, that’s just weird-”

I let out a vicious growl. It hits them hard and shuts them the hell up. Zaire is silent. staring at me while I watch her.

“If this is a joke, and you are going to be like Asher, you may as well quit now, Felix. And you two, not a match? Don’t be ridiculous, the way you look at each other is pornographic. If this is a game, why are you wasting Zaire’s time?” she snaps, her eyes spitting fire.

Jace holds up his hands. “I think you misunderstand, we are taking this seriously, it's just…we are the worst possible matches. Clint is my stepbrother, and Felix and we have never run in the same circles. It’s not Zaire who is the problem, it's us. Honest. Zaire, you seem quite nice. Very attractive.” Jace flushes bright red and turns away, his lips pressed together.

I think she’s going to cry. If I could reassure her, I would. But for one horrible second, I see her look at Clint, Jace, and then finally Zaire, and all I can see is naked longing.

All my plans. Every single intention in my head shuffles and reshuffles.

All that matters is making her happy.

Fine.

Okay then. I will make this pack the most perfect pack…for her.

“Yes, we are a match, but clearly, I’m going to need your help. I’m the only male omega I know, and courting these…heathens is going to be something of a task.” I grunt in distaste. “We might be Trick Knot Treat matches, but we’re going to need a miracle.”

“I’m not an omega,” she says quickly. “I can’t help, I mean, I wouldn’t know the first thing to do.”

I stare at her, long enough that she starts to squirm. “Okay, but you still understand how this grumpy bastard’s brain works, right? Because, so far, all I’ve managed to get out of him is a grunt.”

She nods, covering her mouth with a hand that is as delicate as a bird’s.

“And you can cook, I have seen your food in the markets, which means you know how to seduce Clint. He cares about food above all things. Seriously, it's embarrassing.”

“I take offense to that!” Clint says darkly. “I am not that easy to get pantless.”

“No, you are. I saw someone offer you one of those sticks of cheese that peel into strings, and you gave them a blowie.”

Clint stares at his brother. “It was you, moron, and we swore we’d never mention that.”

“Oh, right. It was, too. My bad.”

“Jace will love anything that can get Clint naked,” I mutter in disgust, glaring at the two of them.

They glare back, but they always had each other, they never saw me, and my pain turned to disgust long ago.

I stare into her eyes and let a whimper out. I might have overdone it a bit, but I lean into it. “Please help me. I don’t want to be alone and…look at them. Even the dog hates me.”

The dog in question growls at me, his hackles rising. Proving my point. I decide he’s going to be my wingman while I manipulate this pack into perfection.

“Spectre? No, Spectre loves everyone.” She frowns at the dog. “Spectre, be nice.”