Knot Her Reality (Heated Book 3)

Chapter Ten

Ipull my hair into a high ponytail, grinning at my reflection.

When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t sure if I’d be heading out on a date today or not. I assumed the worst when I arrived at breakfast, only to find no one from Pack Reyes. I’d resigned myself to staying in for the day and having fewer suitors than planned when Paisley knocked on my door. She’d come alone and told me she wanted us to go on the date today. She wants to see if this is something she can do or not. She wants to, but she needs more time—which I respect.

They should be knocking on my door any minute now so we can head out. I’m curious to see what their dynamic will be now that we’re going out, and Paisley genuinely seems to be on board with it.

Since today’s date will be another adventure outdoors, I’m dressed in leggings and a tank top—casual but still fashionable. I have a cardigan to wear over the top of it if I get cold, but I’m not too awfully worried about it just yet.

The knock I’ve been waiting for sounds out, so I grab said cardigan and hurry over to the door with a smile on my face. Throwing it open, I find Ana and Paisley standing at the door with Malachi and Nash standing further back.

“Hello again, Paisley. Good morning, Ana.”

“Good morning, Evangeline,” Ana purrs, her hand linking with Paisley’s.

A smile warms Paisley’s face. “Thank you again for looking out for me. I know I was a downright brat yesterday. While I can’t guarantee I won’t act the same way today, I promise I’m going to attempt not to.”

“That’s all I ask of you.” I glance between the two women to the other two members of their pack. “Good morning, Malachi. Nash. Are the four of you ready for some fun?”

Nash shrugs, causing Malachi to roll his eyes. “Good morning, Evangeline. We’re all very excited to see what you have planned for us.”

“But any clue you’d like to provide us on what we’re doing would be greatly appreciated,” Ana says with a cocked eyebrow.

I have to fight back a smile because something tells me that this alpha doesn’t like going into anything unprepared. We’ll just have to see if I can break her out of that shell or not.

“Nope,” I reply, popping my p as I step out of the room.

Ana sighs as I meet Paisley’s eyes, only to find she’s fighting back her laughter as well. I force myself to look away in the hopes that we’ll both be able to keep it in. I don’t think Ana would appreciate us laughing at her expense.

“Let’s head out. The sooner we get there, the sooner you’ll find out what we’re doing.” I walk toward the front door, not bothering to check if they’re following me. If they’re not, then I guess I’ll be going on this date alone. Either way, I’m doing it.

“Wait up, Evangeline,” Malachi calls, and I slow my pace until he catches up. He throws an arm over my shoulders, tugging me closer to him. “Sit beside me?”

A low growl reaches my ears, and when I glance back, I find Paisley baring her teeth as she glares at where Malachi is touching me.

“I think that’s going to depend on your omega,” I tell him, shrugging off his arm and stepping away.

“Paisley?” Ana’s voice seems to cut through to Paisley, who winces.

“I did it again, didn’t I?” She shakes her head. “I don’t even realize I’m doing it.”

I give her a soft smile. “It’s okay, Paisley. We’ll try things and see how you react to them. That’s what today is all about, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes, but I still feel bad.”

Malachi gives her a tight smile. “I was just asking Evangeline if she would sit beside me in the SUV. Do you think you’d be okay with that?”

I can already see her bristling, but before I can voice that it’s a bad idea, she sighs. “I think if I sit on your other side, it should be fine.”

“That sounds perfect, Paisley. Thank you.” I shoot her another grin before we all start moving toward the SUV again. Finding Lucas standing beside it, I wave. “No Finnegan today?”

Lucas laughs, shaking his head. “No, my guys are here now, so Finn can go back to doing his job. Mike is with us today, and he’ll be driving. I hear you have a fun adventure planned for us today.”

“I absolutely do.” Winking, I climb into the SUV after he swings the door open. Since I need to sit somewhere where Malachi, Paisley, and I can fit, I head straight for the third row. I slide in, Malachi and Paisley following suit. Ana sits in the second row, but for some reason, Nash chooses to sit alone in the first row. “How’s this feel, Paisley?”

“Good, I think. Who knew I was such a possessive omega?” She laughs.

I laugh along with her, though no one else does. “How long has your pack been together?”

It’s at this point that we hit the front gate, the sounds of the protestors reaching my ears. I wince, already tired of hearing their cruel words, but the others act as if they can’t hear them as the conversation continues.

“Nash’s cousin was my best friend growing up,” Ana tells me. “He moved in with them when he was young, and they lived next door. We’ve known each other for most of our lives. It wasn’t until he joined me in college that we got together. We met Malachi about a year and a half after I became a lawyer. He came with an offer of a job by his dad. That was a little over four years ago. Paisley’s parents introduced her to Malachi’s family when she was just sixteen, so he already knew her when we met. But it wasn’t until she revealed as an omega at eighteen that we realized she was the omega for us.”

“Wow.” She’d been so young, and they might have been the first pack she met. I don’t bring this up because it’s none of my business, but it kind of rubs me the wrong way. It reminds me too much of the world I grew up in—of what was expected of me from my parents until they found out I was bisexual. “And this is the first time you’ve been around another omega, right?”

Paisley nods. “Yes. There weren’t really any other omegas for me to be around once we knew that omegas not getting along was a lie. Though, it seems like maybe I’m one of the omegas who would’ve made people think that was true.”

“No,” I tell her with a shake of my head, reaching across Malachi to take her hand in mine. “This is the first time that your pack has been around another omega, and you’re just feeling protective of them. That’s the omega in you, and you should never feel bad about the instincts you have. Like I said, today is just to find out if having a second omega in your pack is something you can do. There’s really no pressure.”

Malachi lays his hand on top of ours. “There absolutely isn’t. You’re our priority, Paisley.”

“Thanks, Mal.” Paisley leans in to kiss him on his cheek. “You’re the best alpha.”

“And what am I? Chopped liver?” Ana asks, cocking her eyebrow. I’m not sure if she’s joking or not since she says it completely seriously.

Paisley glances between her and Malachi before unhooking her seatbelt and moving into the second row. “You’ll always be my favorite, Ana.”

“Of course I am,” Ana purrs, wrapping her arm around Paisley after she’s belted in once more.

Glancing at Malachi, I wonder how he feels about what just happened. Only his eyes aren’t on his pack mates, they’re on me.

“This is a regular thing. It’s fine.” Malachi takes my hand in his, intertwining our fingers together. “Ana’s a little possessive. I’m okay with that. She gets like that with all of us.”

“I can hear you, you know?” Ana calls over her shoulder, and I giggle.

Malachi’s grin just grows. “I’m well aware. You just worry about your omega, yeah?”

It takes us close to an hour to arrive at our destination, and I spend the time getting to know Malachi a little better. Every time I mention his work or family business, he gets a little squirrely and changes the subject. I’m not really sure what’s up with that, but eventually, I just let it go.

“Zip-lining and bungee jumping?” Ana asks, turning in her seat to show that her eyebrow is once again cocked. “Is that what we’re doing?”

I grin, seeing the same sign she did. “Yup, and having some food. This place is great. They’ve got a huge zip-lining course across the desert. We’ll end at the spot where we’ll be bungee jumping, and we’ll eat in the canyon we’re jumping into. Cool, right?”

“I don’t know if cool is the word I’d use,” Ana snarks. “But it should be interesting.”

“It’s all very safe, in case you’re worried about that. They have the best safety ratings in California.”

Ana hums as if she doesn’t believe me. “We’ll see about that. If it doesn’t look safe, I won’t allow you or Paisley to do it.”

Her words immediately have my back up. Allow me? She’s not even my alpha, and even if she was, no one allows me to do anything. I do whatever the hell I want. I’m a grown-ass woman who’s older than the alpha currently talking like she’s going to run my life. If Paisley’s okay with that, then good on her, but I’m not. I didn’t escape the hell of my family, only to be sucked back into a pack that’s similar.

“She doesn’t mean it like that,” Malachi assures me. “She just means that she needs to make sure it’s safe enough for you. Obviously, the decision about what you do or don’t do is up to you.”

I glance back at Ana for confirmation, but she’s already turned forward once more. I shrug, deciding it isn’t worth it. Even if she meant it the way it sounded, she’ll find out rather quickly that I’m not an omega who will allow herself to be pushed around.

The car pulls to a stop, Nash getting out first and then helping Ana and Paisley out. He steps back when Malachi exits, and it’s him who helps me down. Lucas is already waiting outside of the SUV for us. “Mike will go park the car and then meet us inside. The camera crew came much earlier so they could work out how to film the date.”

“Lucas? Evangeline? Pack Reyes?”

We all turn to find a pretty brunette walking toward us. She’s taller than me, possibly even a full six feet tall, and it’s clear she works out. Damn. What would it be like to have that much muscle?

“Hi, I’m Bridget! I’ll be your guide today. I’m so excited for you to get to try out the course today. Are you waiting for anyone else?”

Lucas nods. “We have one more who is parking the car right now.”

As soon as he finishes talking, Mike walks up, and I take a look at him for the first time. He’s tall and built with long blond hair. He looks like a damn Viking. I don’t catch his scent on the breeze, but I don’t think he’s an alpha.

“Looks like we’re all here, then. Follow me and we’ll get you started. There will be waivers to sign, videos to watch, and a lot of information for me to cover before we get started.” Bridget smiles, and I hurry to follow her.

I’m stopped by a hand on my arm. Frowning, I find it’s Ana. “We’d prefer you not hurry ahead without us. Let one of the security guys go first. That’s what they’re here for.”

“But I have questions for Bridget,” I say with a frown.

“And you’ll have time to ask them, but we want to make sure you’re safe,” Malachi tells me, arching his eyebrows.

I glance at Lucas, who shrugs. “They’re not wrong, Evangeline. One of us should be at the front and one at the rear.”

It takes more effort than it should to not pout. “Fine.”

“Come walk with me, Evangeline.” Paisley holds her hand out to me, and I take it with a smile. “Just let the alphas and security keep you safe. I know you’re new to the whole bodyguard thing, but you’ll get used to it.”

“Do you have bodyguards?”

Paisley giggles. “Of course I do. It’s not safe out there for omegas on their own. My alphas want to make sure I’m safe, after all.”

“So, you never go anywhere alone?” I ask, surprised.

“Not since revealing as an omega. I don’t mind, though. Honestly, most of the time, I forget they’re there.”

I shake my head, trying to wrap my head around what she’s telling me. Sure, there are people out there who would take advantage of an omega, but they’re few and far between. Omegas are too rare to be anything but revered. So why do her alphas keep her guarded at all times? That seems like overkill to me.

We arrive at a building then, and Bridget starts talking, pulling me away from my confused thoughts. Something is definitely weird about Pack Reyes, but that’s something I can worry about later. Right now, it’s time to have some fun.

“Come on, admit it—that was fun, wasn’t it?” I lean forward in my chair, unable to wipe the grin off my face as I glance between the four faces of Pack Reyes.

“I still think it was taking unnecessary risks,” Ana says drolly before her lips turn up at the corners. “But, yes, it was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.”

Paisley snorts, holding up her shaking hand. “I was terrified the entire time—I can’t stop shaking. I need someone to explain to me why I enjoyed it so much if those two things are true.”

“Adrenaline,” I tell her. “It’s all about the adrenaline. I’m addicted to it.”

Nash looks pale as he shakes his head. “I don’t think I ever want to do that again.”

Malachi chuckles. “Zip-lining or bungee jumping?”

“Either—both. Just no.” Nash shakes his head. “I don’t even think I’m going to be able to eat.”

“I’m sorry, Nash.” My smile starts to fade. I didn’t realize he wasn’t enjoying himself.

He shakes his head. “It’s okay. The rest of you had a good time, and that’s what matters. I’m used to sitting in my dark room with my face buried in a computer screen. Things like this are outside of my comfort zone, but I’m glad I tried it. At least now I know I don’t like it.”

I don’t know if he’s trying to make me feel better or if he’s being genuine, so I give him a tight smile before turning my attention back to Malachi. “What did you think?”

“That was fucking amazing, Evangeline. If these are the kinds of dates you plan, I can’t wait to go on another one.” He grins down at me, his eyes locked with mine—as they have been every time I look at him. He always seems to be watching me. I guess it should be a good thing, but there are three other people with us—his pack mates, at that—shouldn’t he be paying them some attention too?

I duck my head, needing to look away from Malachi’s intense stare. “We should probably get to eating. It won’t be much longer before we have to head back so I can meet the next set of suitors.”

I lift the lid off my plate, licking my lips when I see the steak, lobster tail, and grilled asparagus. Glancing around, I see the others lift their lids as well, revealing the same thing. “I see we’re all fans of surf and turf with asparagus.”

“I like the steak and the lobster, but I hate vegetables,” Paisley informs me. “But my alphas require me to eat them with my meals.”

“We do need them in our diet. I have specific ones I prefer and those are the ones I tend to stick to. But it’s good that your alphas are making sure you’re eating healthily.”

Ana snorts. “I don’t know about healthily, but we try to make sure she at least has everything she needs in her diet.”

I cut into my perfectly cooked ribeye, lifting a piece and sliding it into my mouth. My eyes flutter shut, a moan falling from my lips as the taste explodes inside my mouth. That’s the perfect damn steak right there.

Opening my eyes, I find four sets of eyes on me. “What? Do I have something on my face?”

Malachi smirks, shaking his head. “No. But that moan you just let out was particularly sinful. Something I would’ve expected to be reserved for the bedroom.”

Heat flickers in my belly as my eyes move to each of them. There’s hunger in each of their eyes—even Paisley, which surprises me. While she said she wanted to give this a try, I really thought she just meant for her pack. This is the first time I’ve seen her show any attraction toward me.

“Ummm…” I fight to remain still in my seat when all I want to do is rub my thighs together. Thank the gods for scent-canceling panties. I can’t even imagine what it would’ve been like to be one of the first omegas before they really knew what the hell we’d evolved into. Because slick is dripping into my panties, and the last thing I need is for the four of them to scent just how turned on I am, considering we’re in a public-ish place. Hell, Lucas and Mike are less than ten feet from us, leaning against the wall.

I clear my throat. “I’ll try to refrain from doing it again?” Why it comes out as a question and not a statement, I have no idea.

“I, for one, wouldn’t mind hearing you make just that sound again.” Malachi is still smirking as he lifts a bite of steak to his lips, humming. “But I can see why you made such a sexy sound. That’s a damn good steak.”

Luckily, that seems to break the tension as the others tear into their food.

Sometimes, being an omega is really weird. I’m not sure how I feel about this pack, but I know they’re all hot and smell delicious. For the part of me that’s all omega, that’s enough. For the part of me that’s more than my omega side, it’s not remotely enough.

Forcing myself to stop thinking about it, I recall what it was like to fly through the air while we were zip-lining. The course is massive, a total of over 8,000 feet, but broken up into smaller sections. Paisley had gone tandem with Malachi, not comfortable doing it on her own. Even Lucas and Mike took part in the zip-lining, Lucas taking the lead and Mike going just before Bridget.

There’s just something about being in the air, the wind whipping around you. I can’t get enough of it. It’s the closest I’ll ever come to being able to fly myself, and I think that’s a huge part of the reason I love it. Just call me an adrenaline junkie.

Once we’ve all finished eating, we climb back into the bungee jumping harnesses so we can be lifted out of the canyon before heading back to the compound. I feel like today has gone so much better than yesterday, which is why I choose to sit beside Paisley on the ride home.

“Tell me how you’re feeling about all of this.” I grab her hand in mine, glancing up when Ana goes to sit on Paisley’s other side. “Would you mind if it’s just the two of us? I think we need to talk, omega to omega.”

Ana looks like she wants to argue, but Malachi lays a hand on her shoulder. “Let the omegas have some time together. You can’t always be with both of them.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Ana leans over to press a kiss to the top of Paisley’s head before sitting in the second row with Malachi.

“I feel a lot better about today. Obviously, I started out the day feeling a little possessive, but when Malachi had his arm around you as we walked out to the car, I didn’t feel the need to growl at you, so I count that as a win.” Paisley laughs, squeezing my hand. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch to you. I know I come off as entitled—because I am, and I know that—but you’re beautiful. I think you’d make a great addition to our pack or us to yours. I just can’t promise that I won’t get possessive.”

I nod. “And that’s perfectly okay. As long as you talk to me about what you’re feeling. I don’t want to do anything that’s going to set you off, you know?”

“I know.” Paisley glances down at our intertwined hands before meeting my eyes again. “I’d like to kiss you, if you’re okay with that.”

I grin, already leaning toward her. “I’d love nothing more.”

Our lips brush against one another once, twice, and then a third time before I pull away. When she chases my lips, I kiss her again. This kiss isn’t nearly as innocent. Her mouth opens to allow me access. Our tongues move together as I try to move her closer to me, but we’re already practically on top of one another.

“Do we really think this is the best time for that, omegas?” Ana’s cold voice is like a glass of water being thrown over my head.

The two of us jerk apart, panting. My eyes narrow on Ana, annoyed that she interrupted us.

Ana just lifts her eyebrow and cocks her head. “I was starting to smell the two of you. I know Mike and Lucas have mates of their own, but I’d rather they not smell my omega… or you, if I’m honest.”

I cross my arms, full-on pouting at this point. While I get what she’s saying, I’m so turned on that I just want to get fucked, and that’s obviously not going to happen.

“Thank you, Alpha Reyes,” Lucas calls back. “It is preferred if there is no sex in the car.”

I sink down in my seat, face flushing. Okay, they have a point, but damn it.

Paisley giggles. I glance at her to find her face as red as mine. As soon as our eyes meet, I dissolve into laughter with her.

Such is the life of an omega, am I right?

I’m just glad that it seems Paisley was able to work past her possessiveness. There might be a few things I find odd about her pack, but I still want to get to know them better. It would really suck if I had to send them home during the first rose ceremony. Now, that’s no longer a worry, and I can move on to worrying about the last eight suitors I’ll be meeting over the next two days.