Chapter 14: Knot Happening Again: Chapter 14

I step into the foyer of our pack house, the familiar scents of home washing over me. The place feels oddly quiet, almost too still. Leon’s absence weighs on me, his mysterious ‘personal business’ nagging at the back of my mind.

I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Dropping my bags by the door, I take a moment to straighten my suit. It’s wrinkled from the flight, but it’s one of my favorites. A deep plum I had custom made in Italy. I run a hand through my dark hair, trying to tame it into some semblance of order.

The house feels occupied, but there’s no sign of life. It’s not unusual for everyone to be off doing their own thing, but it strikes me how much we sometimes feel like roommates rather than a pack. Even though three of us work together, we’re lacking that center that pulls us all together.

I’m about to call out when Rhys appears, a warm smile lighting up his face. He pulls me into a tight hug, his familiar scent enveloping me.

‘Welcome home,’ he says, his voice warm and genuine. ‘You’re earlier than we expected.’

I return the hug, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. ‘Thanks, Rhys. Yeah, the flight arrived sooner than I thought it would.’

Rhys pulls back, his brow furrowing slightly as he glances behind me. ‘Where’s Leon?’

The question catches me off guard. I’d assumed Leon would have given his mate more details about his plans. Awkwardness settles over me as I realize I’m caught in the middle of something I don’t fully understand.

‘I’m not really sure,’ I say, trying to keep my voice casual. ‘He said he had some personal business to take care of before he came back. Probably planning a surprise or something for your upcoming birthday.’

Rhys’s expression softens, a small smile tugging at his lips. ‘Ah. I see. Well, I won’t pry then.’ He gestures toward the kitchen. ‘Mace went out to the store to get some ingredients for your homecoming dinner. He should be home soon. Troy’s holed up in his studio, as usual.’

I nod, grateful for the change of subject. ‘How did the heat go?’ I ask, unable to contain my curiosity about the omega we’ve all been hearing about.

Rhys’s green eyes light up. ‘It went great,’ he says, clearly excited. ‘How much did Leon tell you?’

I shrug, trying to recall the sparse details Leon had shared. ‘Not much, just that it’s an omega you hooked up with from that Temporary Bonds place you’ve been discussing.’

Rhys’s smile widens. ‘Let me pour you a glass of wine, and we can discuss things.’

Curiosity piqued, I follow him into the kitchen. Rhys moves with practiced ease, pulling out a bottle of red and two glasses. I settle onto one of the barstools at the island, watching as he pours.

‘So,’ Rhys says, sliding a glass toward me. ‘There’s something you should know about Ophelia.’

I take a sip of wine, savoring the rich flavor. ‘Oh?’

Rhys takes a deep, nervous breath. ‘She’s our scent match.’

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I set my glass down carefully, staring at Rhys. ‘Seriously? How do you know?’

Rhys’s smile turns soft, almost dreamy. ‘It’s the kind of thing you just know,’ he says. ‘But you don’t have to take my word for it. Come on, I’ll show you.’

Curious and a little apprehensive, I follow Rhys upstairs to the nesting room that’s been sitting completely untouched since we moved in. As he pushes open the door, a wave of scent hits me like a freight train. As a beta, I’m not usually as profoundly impacted by omega scents as alphas are.

But this… this is different.

The scent of jasmine and ocean air overloads my senses, intoxicating and all-consuming. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

‘Holy shit,’ I mutter, gripping the doorframe for support.

Rhys gives me a knowing look from where he’s leaning against the opposite side of the door. ‘The others and I felt the same way.’

I take a few steps into the room, letting the scent wash over me. It’s everywhere—in the sheets, the pillows, the very air itself. I can’t imagine how intense it must have been for the alphas if this is how it affects me.

‘How did she react when you met?’ I ask, turning back to Rhys.

His expression grows more serious. ‘I don’t think she knows yet.’

Confusion creases my brow. ‘How is that possible? Even after her heat?’

Rhys sighs, running a hand through his auburn hair. ‘The experience of matching isn’t always as strong for omegas as it is for alphas,’ he explains. ‘But Ophelia’s situation is… complicated.’

I lean against the wall, sensing there’s more to this story. ‘Complicated how?’

‘For one, she’s been on heat suppressants for years,’ Rhys says. ‘That can result in a delayed reaction. But more importantly, she’s marked. Partially.’

The words don’t make sense at first. ‘Partially marked? Does that mean…?’

Rhys’s expression darkens. ‘It means an alpha started the mating process but didn’t finish it. Left her with an incomplete bond. They can cause immense suffering.’

The implications of that hit me hard. ‘Is that why she went to Temporary Bonds?’

Rhys nods. ‘She was looking for a pack to temporarily help her through her heats. They’re… painful for her. She has bond sickness.’

I let out a low whistle and rake my hand through my hair. ‘So you think that’s making it harder for her to realize we’re her match?’

‘That, and the fact that she doesn’t trust alphas,’ Rhys says. ‘She’s in a fragile state. I didn’t want to tell her before she was ready. It was hard enough trying to convince her to come back for another heat.’

A sudden panic grips me at the thought of this omega—our match—not coming back. The intensity of the feeling surprises me. If I’m this affected without even meeting her, the others must be going out of their minds.

‘Does Leon know?’ I ask, thinking back to his strange behavior.

Rhys nods. ‘He knows about the scent match. I wanted to wait and explain the other parts of her condition until we had a chance to talk in person.’

I can see the worry in Rhys’s eyes, the tension in his shoulders. I step forward, placing a hand on his arm. ‘Hey, you don’t have anything to worry about,’ I say, trying to sound reassuring. ‘I know Leon as well as you do. He wouldn’t let something like this stand in the way of our match.’

Rhys smiles, some of the tension easing from his face. ‘You’re right, of course. I know that. I’m just worried since Leon has been hesitant about the whole idea of taking an omega.’

I squeeze his arm gently. ‘I know Leon. Whatever it is, he’ll get it together for the good of the pack.’

Rhys nods, looking more relaxed. ‘Thanks, Maddox. I don’t know what we’d do without you.’

‘Probably succumb to your alpha hormones and kill each other,’ I tease. ‘Or at least never be able to find the remote again.’

Rhys laughs. ‘Probably not far from the truth.’

As we head back downstairs, I can’t help but think about Leon’s mysterious disappearance. I hope I’m right about him getting it together. Because if this omega really is our match, we can’t afford to lose her.

Back in the kitchen, Rhys pours us each another glass of wine. I swirl the rich red liquid in the glass, contemplating the complexity of our current situation.

‘So,’ I say, taking a sip, ‘tell me more about Ophelia. What’s she like?’

Rhys’s face lights up, a soft smile playing at his lips. ‘She’s… incredible,’ he says. ‘Strong, but vulnerable. Guarded, but sweet and playful when she lets herself be. And so beautiful, Maddox. You wouldn’t believe how beautiful she is.’

I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. I’ve never seen Rhys like this. Then again, he’s been around more omegas than probably any other alpha out there, considering his job. But even though they fawn over him, he always remains professional.

Or maybe he really is that oblivious.

‘Sounds like you’re smitten,’ I tease.

He chuckles. ‘We all are, I think. Even Troy, though he’d never admit it.’

That catches my attention. Troy’s always been the most resistant to the idea of bringing an omega into the pack aside from Leon. He was fine with the idea of a temporary arrangement—eager, even—but long term? Nope.

‘Really? Troy too?’

Rhys nods. ‘You should have seen him. He was so gentle with her, so attentive. It was like seeing a whole different side of him.’

I whistle low. ‘I’d pay to see that.’

We share a laugh, the tension from earlier dissipating. As it fades, I find myself growing more curious about this omega who’s managed to captivate my packmates so thoroughly.

‘What does she do for a living?’ I ask, realizing I know next to nothing about her life outside of her heat.

Rhys’s smile falters slightly. ‘She said she works in customer service, but… I don’t think that’s the whole truth.’

I raise an eyebrow. ‘Oh?’

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. ‘I think there’s a lot she’s not telling us. About her past, about her work. But I didn’t want to push. She’s been through so much already.’

I nod, understanding his caution. An omega with an incomplete bond, working a job she’s not comfortable discussing… it paints a concerning picture. ‘Do you think she’s in some kind of trouble?’

Rhys shakes his head. ‘I don’t think so. Not immediate danger, at least. But I worry about her. The bond sickness, the suppressants she’s been taking… it’s not a sustainable situation.’

A protective instinct I didn’t know I possessed flares to life. ‘We’ll help her,’ I say, surprising myself with the vehemence in my voice. ‘Whatever she needs.’

‘I’m glad you feel that way,’ Rhys murmurs. ‘I was hoping… well, I was hoping you might be able to talk to her.’

I blink, surprised. ‘Me? Why?’

‘You’re a beta,’ Rhys explains. ‘Less threatening than an alpha—and she’s had plenty of reason not to trust our kind—but still equally pack. And you have a way with people, Maddox. You might be able to get through to her in a way we can’t.’

I consider his words, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of meeting Ophelia. ‘I’ll do my best,’ I promise.

Rhys smiles, relief clear in his softening expression. ‘Thank you. I think it could make a real difference.’

We lapse into comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I find myself wondering about Ophelia, trying to picture her based on Rhys’s description and the intoxicating scent that still lingers in my nostrils.

The sound of the front door opening breaks through our reverie. Heavy footsteps approach the kitchen, and Mace appears, his arms laden with grocery bags.

‘Maddox!’ he booms, his face splitting into a wide grin. ‘Welcome home, kid!’

I stand, helping him with the bags. ‘Thanks, big guy. Need a hand with dinner?’

Mace nods gratefully. ‘Always. Hope you’re hungry. I’m making my famous lasagna.’

As we start unpacking groceries, falling into an easy rhythm, I can’t help but notice the way Mace keeps glancing toward the nesting room upstairs. There’s a softness in his eyes I’ve never seen before, a tenderness that speaks volumes about how deeply Ophelia has affected him.

All of them.

As we continue preparing dinner, the conversation flows easily. We catch up on what I’ve missed while away, the latest pack gossip and news. But underneath it all, there’s an undercurrent of excitement.

And nervousness.

The possibility of Ophelia returning, of our pack finally being complete, hangs in the air like a promise.

Eventually, Troy emerges from his studio, lured by the smell of Mace’s cooking. He greets me with a nod and a fist bump, his usual taciturn self. But there’s something different about him, too.

As we all gather around the table, passing dishes and pouring wine, I’m struck by how right it feels.

How much like a family.

The only thing missing is Leon and Ophelia.