Chapter 22: Knot Happening Again: Chapter 22

I wake with a start, my eyes snapping open as consciousness floods back to me. The first thing that hits me is the scent—jasmine and ocean breeze mingled with the musky aroma of sex.

It’s intoxicating, making my cock twitch despite how thoroughly we all fucked her last night. The memories come rushing back, vivid and intense. Ophelia writhing beneath us, her cries of pleasure echoing through the room, the taste of her skin on my tongue.

Blinking away the last vestiges of sleep, I take in my surroundings. The nesting room is bathed in soft morning light filtering through the gossamer curtains. Clothes are strewn haphazardly across the floor, a testament to our frenzied undressing the night before. The air is thick with pheromones, a heady cocktail that makes my head spin.

Ophelia’s curled up between me and Maddox, her raven hair splayed across the pillow like a dark halo. She looks peaceful in sleep, all the tension gone from her face. I can’t help but stare, drinking in the sight of her.

My eyes trace the curve of her cheek, the soft pout of her lips, the elegant line of her neck. Even in sleep, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

It’s hard to believe she’s really here, that she’s ours. The possessive thought surprises me—I’ve never been one for commitment, always keeping people at arm’s length. But with Ophelia, everything’s different.

I glance around the room, noticing Rhys’s absence. That’s odd—he was here when I fell asleep, his knot buried deep in Ophelia. I remember the look of bliss on his face as he claimed her, the way he whispered words of adoration against her skin. Where could he have gone?

‘Where’s Rhys?’ I ask, my voice rough with sleep. The words come out more worried than I intended, and I clear my throat, trying to play it cool.

Mace, who’s sitting in a chair by the bed, looks up from his phone. His large frame seems almost comically oversized for the delicate piece of furniture, but there’s a gentleness to his posture that belies his intimidating size. ‘He went looking for Leon,’ he says, his tone carefully neutral.

I snort, shaking my head. That’s the last thing any of us should have to worry about right now, chasing a pack member who should be here to take care of our scent match. Leon’s absence has been like a black hole in our pack, sucking the joy out of what should be the happiest time of our lives. ‘Guess that answers my next question,’ I mutter, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

I don’t known what the hell is wrong with Leon. It’s like he’s been body snatched. He’s usually so reliable. Dependable. Hell, I’m the black sheep of this little ensemble, not him.

A soft whimper draws my attention back to Ophelia. There’s a sheen of sweat on her skin, tiny droplets glistening in the hollow of her throat and along her collarbone. She’s shifting restlessly in her sleep, her brow furrowed as if in pain. Fuck, her heat’s getting worse again. It seems to come in waves, each one more intense than the last.

The urge to mark her, to claim her as ours, hits me like a freight train. My canines ache with the need to sink into her flesh, to leave a permanent mark that would tell the world she belongs to us. I can’t believe I’m already ready for that—desperate. I’ve always been the most hesitant about bringing an omega into our pack, aside from Leon. But Ophelia… she’s different. She’s ours.

And the sooner that asshole’s mark is off her perfect skin, the better.

But I know we have to take things at her pace. She’s been through so much already—the abandonment, the broken mark, years of struggling on her own. We can’t rush this, no matter how much my instincts scream at me to make her ours in every way possible.

I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. They’re warm and plush against mine, tasting faintly of the strawberries we fed her last night to keep her energy up. She refused anything more substantial, and Rhys warned the pills she has to take might make her a little queasy.

‘Ophelia,’ I murmur against her mouth, my voice low and husky. ‘Wake up, beautiful. Are you okay?’

Her eyes flutter open, those piercing blue orbs locking onto mine. For a moment, she looks confused, her gaze unfocused and hazy with sleep. Then recognition dawns, and she deepens the kiss, her tongue sliding against mine in a way that makes heat pool in my gut.

Fuck, this woman is so perfect. I can’t believe I doubted she was right for us, even for a second.

Even if all those doubts went flying out the window the second I laid eyes on her.

Makes me even more furious with the asshole who rejected her. How could he look into those baby blues and want to give her anything less than the whole world? It still wouldn’t be anything close to what she deserves.

Ophelia arches into me, her body writhing under mine. Her breasts press against my chest, soft and full, and I can’t resist reaching up to cup one in my hand. She moans into my mouth as I roll her nipple between my fingers, the sound going straight to my cock.

The scent of her arousal spikes, filling the air with a sweet, heady aroma that makes my head spin. It’s like nothing I’ve ever smelled before—intoxicating, addictive. I want to drown in it, to lose myself in her scent and never come up for air.

Mace grins, standing up from his chair. The wood creaks in protest as he shifts his weight, reminding me of his presence. ‘Looks like Troy’s up,’ he says, his voice tinged with amusement. ‘I’m going to go make breakfast. We all need fuel. Especially you, little one. No fussing about it this time.’

He gives her a stern but affectionate glance and she returns it with a teasing salute.

Mace grins and pulls on a pair of boxers and sweats. As he heads out, I catch a glimpse of the tent in his gray sweats. Seems like Ophelia’s scent is affecting all of us.

As I trail kisses down Ophelia’s neck, savoring the taste of her skin, Maddox stirs beside us. The guy could sleep through a damn hurricane. He blinks awake, his eyes bleary with sleep for a moment before focusing on us. A slow smile spreads across his face as he takes in the scene, his pupils dilating with desire.

‘What a way to wake up,’ he murmurs, his voice husky with sleep and arousal. His hand slides down his abs, disappearing beneath the sheet draped low on his hips.

Ophelia whines, her hips bucking against mine. The movement sends jolts of pleasure through me, and I have to grit my teeth to keep from taking her right then and there. ‘Please,’ she gasps out, her voice high and needy. I’ve never responded to an omega’s whine the way I do hers. If she asked me to kill a man, I’d do it. Especially if it was the one who left that mark on her. ‘I need…’

‘She really needs a knot,’ Maddox remarks, his eyes dark with desire as they roam over Ophelia’s writhing form.

Before I can respond, Ophelia turns, her hand reaching for Maddox’s boxers. She palms his growing erection through the thin fabric, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from him. The sight of her, so desperate and needy, makes my cock throb with want.

‘Looks like she needs you too, Mads,’ I say with a grin, unable to keep the arousal from my voice. It should be illegal, the control she has over us. Without even realizing it.

Maddox doesn’t need any further encouragement. He shucks off his boxers, his cock springing free. It’s already glistening at the tip with pre-cum. Ophelia immediately latches onto it, taking him deep into her mouth with a moan that vibrates through all of us.

She’s usually so buttoned up, so guarded. Seeing her like this, wild with desire, her inhibitions stripped away by her heat, is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes me want to break down every wall she’s built, to see her come undone over and over again.

I position myself between her legs, sliding into her wet heat with one smooth thrust. She’s so tight, so hot around me that for a moment, I see stars. Ophelia moans around Maddox’s cock, the vibrations making him groan and thrust deeper into her mouth.

We fall into a rhythm, Ophelia rocking between us as I fuck her and she sucks Maddox off. The room fills with the sounds of our pleasure—skin slapping against skin, muffled moans, and breathless gasps. It’s a symphony of desire, and I never want it to end.

I run my hands over Ophelia’s body, marveling at the softness of her skin. She’s all curves and valleys, a landscape I want to spend hours exploring. My fingers find her clit, circling it in time with my thrusts. Ophelia’s reaction is immediate—her back arches, pushing her hips further into me as she takes me deeper.

I can feel my knot starting to swell, catching on Ophelia’s entrance with each thrust. She whines, pushing back against me, silently begging for more. The sound goes straight to my core, awakening something primal in me. I want to claim her, to mark her, to make her ours in every way possible.

‘Fuck, I’m close,’ Maddox grits out, his hands tangled in Ophelia’s hair. His face is a mask of pleasure, his jaw clenched as he fights to hold back his orgasm.

I speed up my thrusts, chasing my own release. Ready to give her what she needs. The familiar tension builds at the base of my spine, a coiling heat that threatens to consume me. ‘Me too,’ I pant, my voice rough with exertion. ‘Come on, baby girl. Come for us.’

As if my words are the final push she needs, Ophelia comes undone. Her body tenses, inner walls clamping down on my cock as she cries out around Maddox. The sight and feel of her orgasm triggers our own, and we come almost simultaneously.

I guess she’s bringing us all together in more ways than one.

My knot swells, locking me inside Ophelia as I empty myself into her. The sensation is overwhelming—pleasure so intense it borders on pain. I’ve knotted omegas before, but never like this. Never with this sense of rightness, of completion.

Maddox groans, his hips jerking as he spills down Ophelia’s throat. His face is a picture of ecstasy, his head thrown back and his mouth open in a silent cry of pleasure.

For a moment, we’re all still, panting heavily. The only sound in the room is our ragged breathing and the distant chirping of birds outside. Then I chuckle, unable to help myself. ‘We’re pretty in sync,’ I remark, my voice still breathless.

Maddox laughs, the sound warm and rich. He carefully extracts himself from Ophelia’s mouth, his softening cock slipping free with a wet pop. Ophelia collapses onto the bed, a satisfied smile on her face. Her hair is a mess, her lips swollen and red, and there’s a flush high on her cheeks. She’s never looked more beautiful.

The door opens, and Mace walks in carrying a huge tray laden with food. The smell of bacon and coffee wafts through the air, making my stomach growl. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until now.

‘What did I miss?’ Mace asks, a teasing grin on his face. His eyes roam over us, taking in our disheveled state and the obvious signs of what we’ve been up to.

Ophelia lifts her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘Nothing you can’t make up for once Troy’s knot goes down,’ she says, her voice hoarse but playful.

Mace chuckles, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. ‘I’ll hold you to that, gorgeous,’ he says, setting the tray down on a nearby table.

We maneuver Ophelia so she’s sitting up on my lap, my knot still buried inside her. It’s a bit awkward, and we have to move slowly to avoid causing her discomfort, but we manage to arrange ourselves so she can eat comfortably. The feeling of her weight on me, the way she fits so perfectly against my body, sends a wave of contentment through me.

As we dig into the feast Mace prepared—-fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, and steaming mugs of coffee—I can’t help but marvel at how right this feels. It’s like Ophelia has always been a part of our pack, filling a void we didn’t even know existed.

Ophelia looks around as she nibbles on a piece of bacon, her brow furrowing. ‘Where’s Rhys?’ she asks, her voice clearer now that she’s had her needs met for the moment. There’s a note of concern in her tone that makes something twist in my gut.

We exchange awkward glances, unsure how to explain the situation. The easy mood of moments ago evaporates, replaced by a tension that’s become all too familiar lately.

Finally, Maddox speaks up, his voice gentle. ‘He had to go look for Leon,’ he says carefully, watching Ophelia’s face for her reaction.

Ophelia freezes, her fork halfway to her mouth. ‘Leon?’ she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper. All the color drains from her face, and for a moment, I’m worried she might faint.

We all look at her, confused by her reaction. It’s more than just surprise—there’s fear there, and something that looks a lot like pain. ‘Yeah, Leon. Our other alpha,’ I explain, trying to keep my voice casual even as worry gnaws at my insides. ‘What’s wrong?’

Ophelia shakes her head, as if trying to clear it. ‘Nothing. I just… didn’t realize that was his name, too.’

‘Too?’ Mace asks, frowning in confusion.

‘It’s nothing,’ she says quickly, but I can hear the tremor in her voice. ‘Just… my ex had the same name.’

Maddox, Mace, and I exchange a look over Ophelia’s head. A strange thought flits through my mind—could it be the same Leon? The one who left her with a broken mark and a lifetime of pain? But I quickly dismiss it.

No, that’s insane. It’s a huge city, and Leon isn’t an uncommon name. It has to be a coincidence.

More importantly, Leon would never do something like that. Never.

But as I watch Ophelia pick at her food, her earlier appetite seemingly gone, I can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

I feel my knot start to go down, the swelling gradually subsiding. Gently, I lift Ophelia off me, both of us wincing slightly at the sensation. ‘I’m going to go shower,’ I tell her, pressing a kiss to her temple. Her skin is warm beneath my lips, and I have to resist the urge to pull her close and never let go. ‘And see if I can find the other two.’

She nods, cuddling up between Maddox and Mace in my absence.

As I head to the bathroom, my mind races. There’s so much we still don’t know about Ophelia, so many pieces of her past that don’t quite fit together. And then there’s Leon, our missing alpha, the final piece of our pack puzzle. What’s keeping him away? Why hasn’t he come to meet Ophelia?

I step into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me. It helps clear my head, washing away the lingering fog of sleep and sex. As I soap up, I can’t shake the nagging feeling that there’s more to this Leon situation than meets the eye.

But right now, I have more pressing concerns. Like finding our missing alphas and bringing them back to our omega where they belong. Because one thing’s for certain—now that we’ve found Ophelia, now that we know what it’s like to have her in our lives, in our bed, I’m not letting her go.

No matter what secrets her past might hold.