Page 41 of Trick Knot Treat

“Did we pass protective?” I ask sweetly.

Sofia blinks at me and glances uncertainty at Fox.

“Well…yes. You did.”

“Excellent. Now, what trials are next? I’m excited to find out.” I flick my hair and give them all the look that gets me in trouble with Dad.

“Khione, you are an omega, we have to talk about this,” Clint whines.

“What’s to talk about? I can’t change it. Baby, I was born this way,” I purr and flutter my lashes.

He groans at my teasing.

“You hid it.”

“Ah, but now you have your favourite flavour cakes and you get to eat both, why talk when you can try to get a bite?”

There is a heavy silence, and then I think the collective of Sunshine loses their tiny little minds.

“Are you suggesting I bite you?” Clint purrs in the most evil whisper.

“I said, try.”

I laugh as I turn and walk back to Zaire.

“Hey, Zaire Bear. Looks like I’m joining you in the fun and games after all.”

His fiery gaze finds mine. “You’re an omega.”

Yes, but not just any omega. I’m yours, but I can’t be. And I hate it.

Chapter 11

Khione

Fox hesitantly walks towards us, looking like he might run at any moment. He holds out a package wrapped in a blanket. Clint lunges for it.

“Food?”

He unwraps it and blinks, then tries to hand it back.

“Nah, mate, I’m not having one of these.”

Fox gets the giggles. That alone makes me curious. I edge closer and look in the blanket. A creepy ass, ugly baby doll stares back. As we watch, it lifts its arms with a mechanical whir and lets out a laugh that makes the hairs stand on the back of my neck.

“It was all we could get at short notice.”

Zaire takes it by the ankle and hands it to Spectre. He snatches it and runs off with it, shaking it. The whole time, this doll is laughing, and the dog is having a blast, tossing it around so violently that I’ll be surprised if we don’t get calls about it from welfare professionals.

He then races off to the river, shakes his head, and lets go. The doll hits the water with a loud splash, floats for five seconds, laughing and moving those arms, and then it sinks like a stone, leaving only silence.

Fox’s face is bright red, and he looks perilously close to tears. I almost feel sorry for him. But his alpha will come and make him feel better.

“Well, I guess we fail nurture,” Felix drawls. “Well done, pack, great nurturing instincts. Make a note that we should not spawn in the future.”

I shrug. “So, you are not meant to be breeders or raise anything that requires supervision. There are plenty of things you can do instead.”

They all look at me. I shrug my shoulders and grin.