Knot Without You: An Omegaverse Romance

Chapter 62

Chapter

Sixty-Two

“Killer, you get out of the truck wearing all black, she’s gonna know something’s not right.” King smiles one of his big smiles. He does that a lot now, but only when he’s home with us. All other times, he’s a right asshole.

I look down at what I’m wearing, “Pretty sure she’s going to look at me once and be able to see what the issue is. I mean you’re kind of hard to miss but bringing three new tatted up hotties is going to have her alarm bells going.”

“If we make it past Siderno’s check points,” King smirks.

I go to mouth off at him but the reception door across the way opens, and Tyson comes out with Nancy and her pack trailing after them. But Ty’s like that, he’s a walking talking magnet, people trail after him because he’s such a kind hearted soul.

“No way,” I whisper, seeing the answer in front of me. “Ty can tell her.”

Even over the distance, Tyson hears me whisper his name, his eyes jump immediately to mine. A small nod of his head, the tip of the smallest smirk on his lips quashes that idea.

My phone rings and Simona’s name fills the screen. I flick our call straight over to FaceTime. I need to see her, to borrow her unshakeable fortitude. “Sim, I can’t do it. She’s going to kill me even before I can open my mouth.”

“Is that why you’re wearing black? Go change. You look like you’re attending a funeral.”

“I am!” I squawk dramatically. “My own!”

“How many times have we been through this?” Simona asks patiently. “You know she’s going to be upset.”

“With reason,” I counter straight away, pulling my hair out of the harsh ponytail I had it in. And we have been through this a few times now. I broke down and called Sim after seeing her at Verdune.

“Justified reasons actually, don’t forget that. And once you have had the chance to explain all the intricacies of why you’ve elected not to share that her father is your scent-matched Alpha, I’m sure she will be fine. But, Tristan, do not discount those reasons; they tried to get rid of you.”

I rub my hands over my face again. “I lied to her, and you and Ho for a long time.”

“You did. But we all have to do things we don’t want sometimes, Tristan, and that does not make you a bad person at all. Yes, I was shocked when you finally confessed but at the same time I’m so thankful you found such a beautiful, strong connection and turned it into your future, with a pack to love and cherish you. Don’t make light of the bond you have with King or your pack just to save yourself from Raney’s anger.”

“Again,” I growl, “deserved.”

Simona’s eyes flutter closed, her sweet disposition disappears, her eyes burst open, and she hisses angrily at me. Well, as angry as Simona can be. “You need to stop second guessing yourself. Go change into the yellow jumpsuit you showed me last week and then go apologise to one of your dearest friends. Whether you have Raney’s blessing or her friendship after, is up to her.”

Spoken like a woman who has a million secrets herself. But Simona is not finished although she reverts back to her serene self again. “The reality was you fell head over heels for King before you even knew who he was. And that is a wonderful, and very important fact that can’t be ignored. You did not know who he was. The issue of how long you kept that lie going is also easy to justify considering what you endured at the hands of women at the club, who incidentally Raney probably spent a lot of time around when she used to visit King.”

Simona looks off screen for a minute, her eyes dropping slightly and the dip in her ‘shine’ is impossible to ignore. “I need to go. I’ll see you soon anyway.”

“Sim, you know I am here, don’t you? Always and forever. I don’t need explanations or excuses but if you ever need a safe place, you let me know.”

She looks off in the opposite direction, but she can’t hide the tears that well in her eyes. She blinks them away in the very next second, and if you didn’t know her as well as I do, you wouldn’t notice them.

“You are an amazing person, Tristan, and I love you for it. Now go.” She smiles softly before reaching forward and tapping an end to our call.

Since I came out to Simona, it reinforced so many things—my friendship with her, my love and respect for her, but also a reminder of Simona’s strength. And she shared some of her plight, enough for me to know she’s got things handled, although I also know I’m on standby to be available whenever she needs.

The instant I pull on the overly bright and happy yellow jumpsuit, I feel less like I’m about to die. Sliding my feet into my favourite jade green stilettos, I spin around to check out the back before I stuff everything in an oversized tote nearly slamming into a wall of blackberry.

“Now, you look more like yourself. Come here,” Maverick demands, tugging me onto his lap and taking a selfie of the both of us. “I’ll wait until you’ve explained who I am to your best friend but this is going to be our first social post.”

“Add the logo.” I go to add it, but Maverick kisses the words off my lips.

“Logo and web on everything,” he confirms with one of his incredible kisses. “No one gets to download this sucker without our agency, Throne, being tagged. These two beautiful faces so in demand they’re like fucking royalty.”

I laugh at Maverick talking about us in the third person, but he’s not wrong. In no time at all, Throne has made a big impression within the industry. Our growing success has obviously helped that I’m attached to our brand, but I’m pushing Maverick and Steel hard and both of them have just as many bookings as I do. And as well as that, Maverick and I also have the connections that have been fostered by working with people for years.

It has been incredibly satisfying stealing big name makeup artists, hair stylists, dressers, photographers, administration staff, client managers from other modelling agencies, and the clients came once we started revealing who we represented. It was a very conscious decision to pick up the men and women, of all designations, who had been rejected by other agencies for the smallest flaw or tiniest transgression. At Throne, we welcomed everyone with open arms, irrespective of what they looked like, because royalty was a state of mind.

There was a killer learning curve starting up your own business and surprisingly King was the person who gave me the guidance and confidence to chase down the dream of having my own agency. Looking back now his business acumen was there all along; he was the founding member and president of The Fallen. He knew his business inside out and could see what worked and what didn’t.

The foundations of our newest venture was based on the years of all our success and hard work. King was my business mentor as well as a shareholder, along with Tyson, though Ty was very much focussing his energy on being a doctor. When the fool wasn’t out riding in the dead of night with my pack, setting fire to Nolan’s newest studio or Banks Agency’ place of business, that is.

Boy, my pack could hold a grudge.

The final leg of our journey we spent talking about our next getaway, going home. It seems my Alphas are holding on to that grudge too. They’re still slightly obsessed with going to pay Troy a visit, although they swear it’s more about meeting my parents face to face. I call BS but hey they call me out on my BS all the time too.

We stop in front of Raney’s pack home, staying out of view of their security system to give me the final out if I want. But telling her needs to happen.

Tyson leans forward his finger trailing over his claim on my throat. “You go dazzle. We will wait here until you’re ready. No rush, okay?”

Steel taps his fingers against my heart not saying a word. Maverick climbs over him to kiss me hungrily.

I feel ready.

King meets me at the front of the truck, his hand in mine. A final look back at my pack and I press the buzzer. It feels like a week passes before I get a response.

“Tris? Dad? Oh my god… what has happened?”

“Open the door, Raney, please.” I push. And I’ll keep pushing hard because I am not leaving her without confessing. But I’d like to do that to her face, and not via her security camera feed.

The door buzzes, letting King and me into the building. We barely press the button for the elevator to take us up to their floor when the lift dings, indicating one is already on the way down.

The anticipation is like watching a countdown in an action movie. I hold my stomach as it gurgles loudly. “I feel like I’m about to puke.”

King chuckles before he wraps his hands around my face. “Tristan, you are the bravest woman I know. I fucking love you, yeah?”

“It’s why we’re here.” I wink back at him, dropping my head to his chest and taking in a lungful of bourbon infused air. “Because you and I were always going to be.”

“Be what?” Raney demands as she flies out of the lift, looking half terrified and definitely panicked. “Who died?”

Koz is right behind her, armed to the goddamn hilt too. Though he doesn’t race, his movements are slow, but it’s a guise. The guy is a fucking unit who has threatened me about upsetting Raney before.

“No one. Let’s keep it that way, hey?” King says calmly before looking at me, giving me the chance to tell her, giving me the option of him telling her too.

Instead, I grab his hand again at the same time he makes a reach for mine. I take a final inhale, trying to maintain a calm, confident facade when I look at her. “Raney, King and I are together together.”

Her eyes bug for half a second before she starts laughing, grabbing a hold of Koz in the process.

“Not quite the reaction we were hoping for, kid.” King’s mood drops as he watches her, and I know it’s because he’s worried. It’s instinctual the way I move, lifting his arm up to settle it over my shoulder so my hand can bury into his jeans and get as close as I can to him. My need to comfort my Alpha is as evident as his need to protect me.

“It’s okay,” I say, looking up to him.

I swear the way he looks at me with such love overrides my worry.

“Bullshit!” She hisses, her laughter drying up.

“No, it’s not bullshit.” I’m being as non-confrontational as possible as I stand my ground looking at her.

I want us to be okay, god how I do, but I’m also way past the point of being intimidated or scared of the consequences of falling in love with her dad. Her friendship means the world to me, and I hope I’m one of those people who get to keep her man and her bestie, but I’ll survive without her if needs be.

I hold her attention, staring at her making it near impossible for her to misinterpret what I’m saying. “The instant I saw King, I knew he was my scent-matched Alpha, Raney. It wasn’t something either of us could ignore.”

The colour drains from her face, her eyes harden before she snaps. “But you should have”.

Her words are like a physical slap. But I knew they were coming, so I was already leaning against King. I’ve got no issue with how she reacts because she knows the truth.

“Wasn’t going to happen,” I stare at her. And I hold her look, ignoring her disgust. I do not let her unnerve me before I tell her all of it. “I met King before I knew he was your dad. And it wasn’t done to be malicious or to tick you off.”

“How could you?” she spits. And yeah, all her focus and anger is aimed at me.

I take a slow steady breath, trying to find the right way to answer her accusation because Raney might be quick to rise sometimes but she also had the most amazing and giving side of her personality.

“It wasn’t a choice, Raney,” King answers.

“I was not speaking to you!” she snaps.

“And you are not a fucking three-year-old either. Tone down the attitude or we’re fucking done until you are ready to discuss this like an adult! Jesus, Raney, I raised you better than this.”

She scoffs a vicious laugh. And Koz settles behind her, his hands on her hips but she slaps him off her, “Were you in on this too? You know they were together?”

Koz doesn’t immediately answer with words, but instead he uses his eyes; the anger in them flames until his love for her burns brighter. “Micina, you are not yourself. And if you were, I’d be agreeing with King about the attitude. Take a deep breath for me.” Without looking at us, Koz talks again. “Now is not a good time. Perhaps you should go have coffee, and if Raney feels up to it, we will invite you back.”

“Nah,” King says, shaking his head slowly. His anger taints the air as much as his daughters does. “We have travelled for a fucking day and a half to be here because Tristan has wanted to tell Raney for a long fucking time. If I was in Raney’s position, I’d be shocked, but I would not be a cunt about it.”

“You were an absolute asshole when…”

King interrupts Raney, his tone and mannerisms full of frustration. “Ah, so you do remember the moment you told me you were involved in a relationship with one of my best friends, and business associate. It only took you both a few years, wasn’t it? Sneaking behind my back, lying to my face.”

“Which is exactly what you have been doing, apparently.”

“And if the threat on Tristan’s life was still active, Raney, I would still be fucking lying to your face. Stop making this about you! This is about two adults finding each other.”

“My bad,” she bitches.

“Jesus, you did it again. Did you miss the part where I said Tristan was in danger? You know what, Koz is right, now is not the right time because I can’t fucking look at you.”

“King, that’s not fair,” I insist, rubbing his back, trying to make him stop saying shit he’s going to regret.

“You want to talk about fair?” he barks down at me. But his anger is not directed at me, and I know that.

“No, I don’t want to talk about fair. I did what I set out to do today, which is tell Raney. You can’t control how she reacts because that is not fair. Not at all.” I step out of the safety of his arms, a little closer to her, and I watch her avoiding looking at me. “Every lie I told you, Sim, and Heidi was like a cut on my soul but it didn’t change the fact that I would do it time and time again to protect what we have. But lying about being with King was necessary because it wasn’t safe. You know how to get in contact with me. I won’t push you but I do need you to understand, King is always going to be your father, and I will never leave his side.”

I make it three steps before King is next to me, his arm around my shoulder, his fingers interlinked with mine. Behind us Koz is talking softly to Raney, but it is their conversation, not mine. I feel better than I thought I would. Without doubt I’m heartbroken at her reaction, but truthfully if she’d reacted differently I think I’d be more worried. At least she’s being honest.

“Tris, Dad,” Raney’s voice is unexpectedly small when she calls out, and we turn to look at her. She rolls her eyes, wiping her tears away. ‘“I’m pregnant and anything sets me off, everything actually. I’m so pissed at you both for lying but at the same time kind of relieved.” She throws her hands up in the air, stomping her feet. “See, not even that makes sense!”