Page 28 of Knot Their Princess

Sin

Ilet myself get conned.

One handsome Alpha whose scent made my stomach growl and my mouth water, and I instantly turned into a weak and pliable Omega mess, spilling almost all my secrets.

I sigh. It’s more than that. I know it is.

He’s Ilya and Garen’s pack brother. Cade’s my scent-matched Alpha, just like they are.

I have three fated Alphas. And I’ve found them all in the span of six hours.

My body sinks deeper into the chair at the thought as my mind reels.

I could stay here. With them. Never go back to my shitty life, never have to see Mama’s face again. At least, not outside my nightmares.

But I can’t, can I?

Matty’s life is in danger, but so are all the Omegas being held there. We may not be friends, but I can’t abandon them, even if most of them piss me off to no end. Even if most of them hate me.

What kind of person would I be to abandon them?

I force myself to get up, to walk back through the double doors into the ballroom where the lights are a bit brighter, the music a bit softer, and all the TV screens are on, showcasing the festivities in Time’s Square. The counter on the bottom right of each screen shows less than ten minutes before midnight now, and the crowds on screen are already cheering and dancing, donning their new-year-themed hats and glasses and spinning their noise-makers.

I make my way along the wall on the right to our table, finding only one older couple still seated. No Petrov.

After scanning the room as best I can, I lean in politely to the couple. “Excuse me. Do you know where Mikhail went?”

The female Omega smiles kindly. “He went looking for you, dear. You haven’t seen him?”

Shit. “No, but I’ll find him. Thank you.”

Godsdammit. I have to find him before he thinks I ran off and tells Mama!

I begin to canvas the ballroom, starting a circuit around the perimeter between the rows of tables, head on a constant swivel, desperate to find Petrov.

“Everyone! If I may have your attention, please.”

Cade’s voice rings through the room, which quickly falls silent. Even the music is gone now.

Servers swarm the ballroom, their trays filled with more champagne, which the joyful partygoers snatch up with a fervor.

I turn back to the dais where Cade stands, a microphone in one hand, a gorgeous smile on his face. “This year has brought us all a great deal of prosperity. Many of us have watched each others’ businesses thrive, our endeavors succeed. Some have watched their children grow into leadership roles,” he nods at one of the tables where those seated wave at him in reply. “Others have seen their families grow,” he nods to another table. “New businesses have been born this year as well. And some…” his voice trails, those honey eyes locking on my form, making my stomach flutter. He looks away before continuing. “And some have even found love before the new year has begun.”

The room erupts into laughs and murmurs, some people hugging and kissing each other.

“Now, now,” he sings, “save it for the ball drop.”

There’s more laughter.

As Cade continues his speech, I try to casually return to my search for Petrov, moving slowly back toward the lobby door, when an arm drapes over my shoulder and I’m handed a champagne flute. For a split second, I think it’s Petrov, but I see the blood-red sleeve of Garen’s tux jacket and smell his zest scent. Looking up, his split-colored horned mask, gold and black, is secured on his face, his black and red hair elegantly disheveled, those mismatched eyes glinting with humor, one chocolate brown, the other gray.

“It’s almost time, love,” he whispers in my ear, just as another arm rests on my lower back.

“Indeed,” Ilya says, leaning in close to my other ear.

I turn to him, to his sparkling green eyes, and notice a brown smudge on his cheek where his ornate gold mask doesn’t cover. I can’t help but wipe it off his skin with my thumb.

Ilya’s hand grips my wrist and his lips descend on the digit, his warm, wet tongue lapping at the pad of my thumb, making my entire body shudder.