Page 102 of Knot my First Rodeo

"Hunter's gonna kill us," he mumbles.

"Why?"

"Because we should've already taken you."

My pulse spikes.

"We were so focused on getting you through the heat, that none of us even thought about the damn follow-up."

The knot in my chest loosens slightly because he's not blaming me, he's blaming himself and the other two alphas.

Briggs pushes himself to his feet.

"Get your shoes."

I blink.

"What?"

"Get your shoes."

"Briggs—"

"I'm taking you to the clinic."

"Right now?"

"Right now."

I stare up at him. The concern written across his face catches me completely off guard.

"I don't even know if I need it."

"You do."

"How do you know?"

"Because every omega does if they don't use protection during their heat."

I open my mouth again, but nothing comes out.

Briggs points toward the house. "Shoes."

I brush past him toward the screen door, and he falls into step beside me.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

Clint

I've convinced myself things are settling back down.

The heat's over. Autumn's feeling better. Everybody will sleep in their own beds tonight. The ranch still needs to be fed, fences still need fixing, and life keeps moving whether anybody's ready for it or not. Usually, that's enough for me. Work has always made more sense than people.

Today should've felt normal.

Instead, I spend most of the morning realizing I keep looking for Autumn without meaning to.