Knot Our Omega (Knot Ours)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

SYDNEY

I tilted my head back with my eyes closed, feeling the sun on my face for the first time in seven years. How had time passed by so fast and so slow? I never felt anything as glorious as the warmth against my face, even as it burned into my skin, reminding me of the dangers of its rays.

When I opened my eyes again, three sets of eyes were on me, watching me like I was some strange creature they'd never seen before, and maybe I was. I wasn't like most omegas that went through Omega Industries. Very rarely does an omega look less than perfect, but maybe that's by their own making. But me, I could care less about spending hours of my morning straightening my hair and doing elaborate art on my face. Especially since so much of my day was spent alone in my room.

"Are you okay?" the beta asked, his shaggy hair brushed to the side as his brown eyes watched me curiously.

"They hadn't let her see the sun since…" The delta paused. "How old are you, love?"

Love.

I wasn't going to admit out loud what that nickname did to me. It made my stomach tighten and my palms sweat. Hell, my inner omega was a melty puddle on the floor, already begging me to rub against this delta and make sure my scent was claiming him as mine. I knew he couldn't mean it. Knew it was just a nickname and that's all. Still, I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be truly loved and desired.

I tore my gaze away from the beta and looked to the ground. "Twenty."

"Those fucking bastards," the delta cursed. "Seven years."

The beta blinked. "Seven years? That means she was just…"

"She got dropped off when she was thirteen and she’s been inside ever since."

"That should be illegal," the beta claimed, outraged on my behalf. "Don't worry, darling. We'll make sure you get all the sun you want. Our home has beautiful views and a great patio to enjoy them on."

"And a pool," the delta added as he turned to the beta. "Our omega likes to swim."

The beta's eyes trailed up and down, assessing me. "I can't wait."

"Time," The alpha barked before pushing past me, going straight for the SUV that was parked on the curb.

"Don't worry about Luka. He's just in a bad mood, but he's usually not like this. He was just expecting..." The beta stopped what he was going to say, realizing a second too late. But I knew what he was expecting.

Someone tall.

Someone pretty.

Someone thin.

An omega that checked all his boxes. That omega apparently wasn’t me.

We don’t need his approval. We are worthy the way we fucking are.

"Someone else," I finished.

"He means no harm. He'd never hurt you," he explained, but one look at the alpha they called Luka, who loomed inches above the already tall beta and delta, and I couldn't be so sure. "Let's get you up in the back seat, okay?"

The beta held out his hand, and though I hesitated, I took it. I leaned in slightly, trying to catch the faint scent of the beta that would be mine. Mine. A smile curled my lips as spicy black pepper and lemon tickled my nose. My favorite savory scent combination. He pulled open the vehicle door and helped me step up before he climbed in and took the seat next to me. He was sitting so close our thighs touched, and I didn't know what to do. I'd never been this close to a man before. Even a harmless beta wasn’t allowed near omegas. My inner omega purred her joy and urged me to rub against the beta. I couldn’t. Not when we just met and I knew nothing about him.

He turned to look at me, a wide smile on his face as Luka and the delta climbed in. "I'm Alfie, by the way. Luka is your alpha." Luka grunted as he jerked the key in the ignition. Jerk. "And your delta is Felix."

My alpha.

My delta.

My beta.

My fingers dug into my thighs as I struggled to speak. I wasn't used to speaking much and never freely. "My- my name is Sydney."

"Nice to meet you, Sydney. I hope you like our home; we've tried to make it something we think an omega would like. But if you want us to change anything, we can, and we will," Alfie promised, and I decided that I liked him. Felix too. But with Luka, I would do anything to keep my distance. Despite how delicious he smelled. And phew, he was delicious. If I didn't see the alpha, I couldn't get on his bad side, and something told me his bad side was a place I'd never want to be.

I kept my head down as I said, “Thank you."

"The drive is a long one, love." Felix turned in his seat, watching me. "If you get tired, go ahead and nap. We won't reach home until well after dark now."

"I'm sorry," I replied instantly for no other reason than that our training had taught us that omegas should apologize for all wrong doings, even if they weren’t responsible.

Alfie snorted. "For what?"

The car pulled away from the curb, and for a moment, I watched as the building I spent the last seven years in disappeared. Then, when I could no longer see my former home, I answered, "For making you late. For angering the alpha over the delay."

Luka's fingers gripped the steering wheel as he cursed, then turned so I could see him. The aroma of cinnamon with a hint of pine slammed into me, and my breath caught. Mine. Instantly, I looked down. "Look at me, Sydney." I struggled to look up, his power and anger radiating off him. When I forced my head up, I was met with mossy green eyes, blazing strong at me. "I am not angry at you, or angry about a delay because of you. You understand me? I'm angry at the situation I wasn't prepared for."

"I-I am not the omega you want," I blurted out, self-conscious at my truth even when my mind screamed at me to stand tall. I have worth.

"But you're the one we've got, and that has to be good enough." Good enough. Just… good enough, I mocked silently, feeling the sting and pain his words caused. He turned back around, his attention back to the road while I tried not to cry because I didn't want to just be good enough for my alpha and his unit. I wanted to be their all. What they wanted. What they desired. What they couldn't live without. But maybe I'm destined to always be just... good enough.

I opened my eyes, struggling to grasp consciousness as the SUV jolted to a stop. It was dark outside, and they hadn't been lying about the drive. I felt like we were on the road for hours until my eyes became too heavy to keep open and I surrendered to the call of sleep. I blinked, grasping at the tiny amount of lucidity that I had.

"She's waking," a voice, maybe Alfie's, announced as a hand brushed hair off my cheek. I jolted up, not used to the touch. "You're fine darling. I was just brushing some hair off your face."

I stared, letting my eyes adjust to the dim overhead light, as I looked at the man next to me. Heat suddenly flooded me, my cheeks warm and no doubt red from embarrassment when realization dawned on me. I had been sleeping on him, using him as my pillow. Did I snore? Did I drool? I was mortified at the possibilities as scenarios raced through my brain.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" He chuckled. "Sleeping on a long drive?"

"I didn't mean to sleep on you," I confessed.

"Well, I'm glad you did." He looked to the other members of the unit, blushing a little, before whispering. "I like you close to me." Now I was really flushed. I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing at all. "We're home."

He reached for my seatbelt and released me before he did the same for his. Then he pulled open the door and got out. The alpha and delta were already out of the vehicle when I stepped out. Felix winked as he raised his arms over his head and stretched, exposing a thin strip of skin above the waistband of his jeans. My muscles clenched at the view, a feeling that was completely new to me.

Mine. My omega urged me to claim him.

"Are you hungry?" Felix asked when he lowered his arms.

Yes. But not for food.

Whoa. Who am I? Surely not a person who would objectify a male because of a single strip of skin.

"No," I responded automatically, not wanting to bother them. But at the same time, my stomach growled, begging for substance.

"Don't lie to us, little omega," Luka growled as he walked past me to the trunk. "I don't like liars."

Shame filled me as I looked at the dirt I stood in. I hadn't meant to lie. A finger hooked under my chin and Felix shifted my head to look up from the ground. "Do not look ashamed by anything with us. If you're hungry, Omega, tell us. We're fucking starved and one could conclude that you would be too. I was just making conversation, that was all."

My lip trembled. I was ashamed. "I'm sorry."

"Shit. Don't cry, love." He shifted uncomfortably as he released my chin.

"I- Omega industries taught us it is improper and rude to ask for food." I nodded my head as I quoted their teachings. "Ask the alpha for nothing. An alpha will provide what you need, without demands. To demand is to disrespect."

Felix shook his head in disbelief. "Omega, I asked you if you were hungry. That was not a demand if you replied that you were in fact, starving. It is our job to take care of you. Starving you is not taking care of you properly."

"I'm sorry," I replied.

"Damn it, omega. Stop saying that." I flinched before Felix reached forward, taking my hand. "We will feed you."

Alfie had taken both my bags, and we followed him and the alpha up a walkway. I braved a look around, taking in the fact that their house was a large rancher style home that spread across the land. It was surrounded by trees and fields, and if the sight was this beautiful at night with the faint glow of lights, I couldn't imagine just how stunning it would be at sunrise. Would I be able to see it? Would they allow it? I'd heard some alphas were strict. I could see Luka being strict, even if his beta and delta were kind.

"I hope you like your space." Alfie smiled wide while the broody alpha opened the door and typed in a code to deactivate the alarm. "You have free roam of the house, just so you know. We'd never keep you caged up like that place did."

"Thank you." I paused before testing out using his name. "Alfie."

When Alfie smiled, it crinkled the corner of his eyes. He must smile a lot, showing joy in things in this life. I wondered what those things were. Wondered if he would share them with me one day or if he would keep his likes private, hide who he truly was from me.

"We've got a nursery ready too," Felix added.

I froze midstep through the threshold. A nursery for a child I'd never be able to give them. I was broken. A broken omega. Would they send me back if they knew? Disregard me like my family had so easily done? I couldn't tell them. Not yet. Not when I just felt the sun against my skin for the first time in years.

I glanced at Luka, his wide back taking up the whole entryway. Disappointment already radiated off him that I was here, existing in his space when I wasn't what he had wanted. I couldn't do it. Couldn't say a word.

Instead, I pasted on a fake smile, trying not to cry as I declared, "I can't wait to see it."