Page 35 of Knot Broken

Nadia was drunk and had never looked so beautiful. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes lit with a hectic light, and as I looked down, I could see why the young fellas were buzzing around our queen. That plunging neckline revealed a whole lot of cleavage that had my wolf stiffening.

What the fuck?

I heard his growl, probably because I was making a similar sound, only for the crowd to fall back.

“You came.” Nadia wrapped an arm around Tex’s neck and then gestured wildly at the crowd. “Guys, this is Tex. He’s an alpha.”

“Anyone can see that,” muttered one of the young guys.

“And that’s Grey. He’s always kinda grumpy, but he’s actually really nice.”

Yeah, they were not seeing that right now. Lips peeled back in a silent snarl, the space around us was getting bigger by the second.

“And Ethan…” Her eyes met mine, and I found I was bracing myself for her summary. “He’s hot, like so, so hot.” So, I might’ve smirked at that. “And he’s really good with his⁠—”

“Time to go.” Grey surveyed the group. “Thank you for… looking after our omega, but it’s time to get her home.”

“And have her drink a whole bottle of water,” I said, watching her wave to everyone. “Along with a few painkillers, because I think Nadia will be hurting tomorrow.”

“Not if I can help it.”

Bloody Tex. He carried his mate out of the bar, then climbed into the backseat with her still in his arms.

“Ahh, big fella?” I said. “You’re gonna need to let Nadia go now. Seatbelt? Remember, safety first.”

Yet somehow I understood his reluctance. I knew I was included in things because Tex didn’t have a pack to help satisfy his mate, but as he placed her in the middle seat and went to pull the seat belt around her, I had to wonder what it would be like to be a part of a proper pack.

“Here we are.”

The drive home was… interesting. Nadia wanted to stop for kebabs, the perfect meal after a night of drinking, but the mystery meat in those things often meant you vomited from food poisoning rather than a hangover. We’d gotten her address and were now at the door of a very nice looking duplex.

“I got it,” she said, retrieving her keys and tapping, tapping, tapping the thing against her door before I stepped in.

“Maybe I can help you with that.”

Plucking the ring from her grip, I unlocked the door and then pushed it open.

“Water,” Grey said, opening cupboards in her bathroom. “I’ll find the painkillers.”

Walking down the hall, I saw that Nadia and Tex had beaten me to it. She had been placed on her kitchen counters as Tex stepped in between her legs.

“Thank you for coming to get me,” she said, smiling sloppily up at him. “There were like no cabs at all. Wouldn’t have needed one if I hadn’t drunk too much wine listening to the hottie.”

“The hottie?”

Tex said that in a low growl.

“Eh.” She flapped a hand vaguely. “He’s just some lawyer guy from work.” And a dead man walking, apparently. “Talked on and on and on and it was so boring I drank lots of wine, but then I remembered.” She beamed up at him. “You would never stand there and lecture me about going to the gym, so I left and texted you guys.”

“So you’re alright?” His big hand caressed her cheek, and she pressed her face into it. “Omega, I thought we’d hurt you.”

“Not yet.” She slumped forward, pressing her face into his chest as his arms went around her. “Not until you find her.”

Her little growl would’ve been comical if not for what she was saying. Who the hell was ‘her?’

“There’s no her.” He stroked her hair over and over. “There’s no one else in the world for me.” Shit, shit, shit, I moved closer. Confessing his feelings when she was drunk was not smart at all. “Just⁠—”

Zzz…