Page 16 of Knot Without My Permission
“Yes,” I whisper. The comfort would be nice, but I know I’ll crumple like an accordion if I accept a hug.
“Let’s go then, stubborn Little Omega,” he mutters. “I love your strength. Please don’t allow that to keep you from accepting help.”
“It’s not weak to lean on someone,” Storm adds, holding his hands up as if I’m going to shoot the messenger. “That’s all I’m saying. I’m going to run up and grab your stun gun. Where did you leave it?”
“Noted,” I murmur. “I actually left it in the living room. I fell asleep and it fell between the sofa cushions.”
Storm nods and walks to the living room to hunt for my weapon, while Wilder gazes at me.
“We’re going to West Kings Episcopal Church,” he says. “I do not expect for us to encounter trouble, but the funeral will be making the rounds in the biker community. I’ll have people on the doors of the church.”
“What are you actually concerned about?” I ask.
“People trying to kick us while we’re mourning Lore. We’ve pissed people off over the years with our enforcement of who we're willing to work with. Our suppliers get so much money from us, they exclusively work for us. It’s a cushy place to be,” he explains. “Our clubs sell custom motorcycles for exorbitant prices. It’s why I call bullshit on Chester not having any work.”
Understanding how twisted this all is, I nod as my alphas escort me out of the house. It doesn’t escape my notice how Storm sets an alarm before he walks out, and I wonder when that was set up.
Feeling the weight of my gaze, he leans down toward my ear to explain as we walk.
“I don’t trust anyone with our safety. I set up a system for us with video cameras for the brownstone. No one will get within our perimeter without sending me an alarm,” Storm explains.
“When did you find the time?” I ask, wide eyed as he takes the keys from my hand to unlock the doors.
“Whenever you were sleeping or Wilder didn’t specifically need me,” he admits.
Fuck, I’ve been napping a lot. His eyes narrow as he sees the pinching around my lips.
“Kitty, your body and soul needed the rest. Don’t overthink things, okay? Our pack’s safety has been eating at me, and I hate falling down a rabbit hole when I want to shower you with attention. It makes me feel as if I’m ignoring you,” he says.
“I never feel ignored,” I snort. “There’s always someone passing me a bottle of water or offering me food.”
“The club has adopted you. The only reason we haven’t made it official and made you our old lady is because?—”
“We have some issues to work out first,” I finish for him.
“Yes. I don’t expect you to accept us right away, especially after I used my alpha bark on you,” Storm murmurs, rubbing hischeek against mine. “Instead, I intend to make sure you smell like us at all times.”
“Alphas are impossible,” I grumble. “I’m still pissed you used your bark on me, in case I need to tell you that.”
It doesn’t matter that he removed his bark, I’m still pissed about it. I may need to channel my inner petty to stay mad. Lore’s death makes me want to soften toward Storm and Wilder. I don’t want to be a doormat. I want them to think twice before they do something that’ll affect my autonomy.
Unless there’s orgasms. Fuck, I took my heat suppressant pills, why am I being led by my pussy lately?
“I know,” he says, opening the car door and wrapping his hands around my waist to set me in the driver seat. “The boys are waiting for us. We’re going to sandwich you with the bikes as we drive. Please don’t freak out.”
It may make me feel better.In the moments when my nerves give away and I relax long enough not to feel as if they’re judging my every move, the club members make me feel safe. It’s very different from the men my brother employs.
They were only nice to me because my brother will cut their fingers off. The Knotted Anarchy is good to me because they’re slowly finding that they respect me. We’re bonding over our shared loss.
It’s a very big difference.
“I love you,” Storm says, kissing my cheek quickly. “Please be careful driving.”
He gathers my dress up and tucks it underneath me as I sit in shock before gently closing the door. He and Wilder have alluded to falling in love with me, but this may be the first time he’s said it. There’s no fanfare, simply sweet words and gestures.
Storm may be a knot head when he panics, but he’s not a bad alpha. Far from it actually.
Starting the car as I mull over the most recent emotional bomb in my life, I watch as the bikes get into line. This isn’t going to be a quiet ride. Instead, it’s going to garner attention in the city due to the sheer amount of noise we’ll make riding through town. I refuse to put the address into my phone even as I put it in the mount because I have an armed and dangerous escort.
