Knot the One They Want (Claimverse Book 1)

The next day, I stand at my vanity, gathering my golden curls into a loose updo. The reflection staring back at me looks pale and tired, the dark circles under my eyes a testament to the restless night I spent tossing and turning. The bites on my neck throb in time with my pulse, a constant reminder of my alphas’ rejection.

Damien’s mark is still the worst. I grimace, tugging at the high collar of my sweater. Looks like I’ll be investing in a new wardrobe full of turtlenecks to hide this mess.

How chic.

But I refuse to let their cruelty break me. I have a mission today, and I’ll be damned if a little discomfort is going to stop me. Squaring my shoulders, I head downstairs, the black credit card burning a hole in my pocket. And I intend to make use of it before Damien can change his mind.

Or cancel the card.

As I reach the foyer, Ellen materializes out of thin air, her sharp eyes narrowing as she takes in my appearance. ‘Going somewhere, Miss Blackwood?’ she asks, her tone dripping with suspicion.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course she’s keeping tabs on me, probably reporting my every move back to Damien like the loyal little watchdog she is. I suspected that from the start, but her showing up like some kind of cursed vampire definitely confirms it.

‘Yes, I am. I wasn’t aware I needed to clear my comings and goings with the staff.’

Ellen’s cheeks flush, clearly taken aback by my boldness once again. ‘I apologize, Miss Blackwood. I just wondered if there was an errand I could take care of for you.’

I smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. ‘How thoughtful of you, Ellen. But no, I have some shopping to do. The fresh air will do me good.’

Her brow furrows, concern warring with irritation on her pinched face. ‘Perhaps I should accompany you, then. To help with the bags.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t dream of keeping you from your duties,’ I say, my tone dripping with false sincerity. ‘I know how indispensable you are to the household.’

Ellen’s jaw clenches, her eyes flashing with barely concealed resentment. I can practically hear her teeth grinding from here.

‘But you’re right,’ I continue, tapping my chin thoughtfully. ‘I could use an extra set of hands. Why don’t you fetch Lori for me? I’m sure she’d be happy to assist.’

She’s the one person on staff Ellen hasn’t yet fully poisoned against me and I wouldn’t mind spending time with her. And it wouldn’t hurt to try to get her on my side.

Ellen sputters, her face turning an unflattering shade of red. ‘Lori? But she’s useless, Miss Blackwood. She can barely keep up with her regular chores as it is.’

I arch an eyebrow, my smile turning icy. ‘I believe there’s been a misunderstanding, Ellen. I wasn’t asking.’

For a moment, I think she might actually argue with me. Her hands clench into fists at her sides, her nostrils flaring with barely contained fury. But then she drops her gaze, dipping into a stiff curtsy.

‘Of course, Miss Blackwood. I’ll fetch her right away.’

She scurries off, her sensible shoes clacking against the polished hardwood. I let out a slow breath, my heart pounding in my throat. It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

A few minutes later, Lori appears, her eyes wide and confused. ‘You wanted to see me, Miss Blackwood?’

I smile, genuinely this time. ‘Yes, Lori. I was hoping you’d accompany me on a little shopping trip.’

Her face lights up, excitement replacing the uncertainty. ‘Really? I mean, of course! I’d love to go.’

‘Perfect,’ I say brightly. ‘Go get dressed, then, and we’ll leave in ten.’

‘I’ll be right back!’ She dashes off, her red hair bouncing with each step.

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. It’s refreshing to see someone in this house who doesn’t look at me like I’m the scum of the earth.

When Lori returns, she’s wearing a simple but pretty sundress, her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. We head out to the car, where the chauffeur opens the door for us with a polite nod.

As we settle into the plush leather seats, I turn to Lori. ‘So, tell me about yourself, Lori. How long have you been working for the Blackwoods?’

She fidgets with the hem of her dress, her gaze darting away from mine. ‘A few months now, Miss Blackwood.’

I nod, sensing her unease. No doubt Ellen has already tried to poison her against me, filling her head with lies and warnings. But I have nothing but time and patience. I’ll win her over, one shopping trip at a time.

Our first stop is a high-end furniture store, the kind with gleaming hardwood floors and tasteful jazz music piped through the speakers. Lori’s eyes widen as we step inside, her gaze darting from one exquisite piece to the next.

‘What exactly are we shopping for, Miss Blackwood?’ she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smile, my eyes sweeping over the showroom. ‘Everything,’ I say simply.

As if on cue, a sharply dressed salesman appears at my elbow, his smile all teeth and dollar signs. ‘How may I assist you today, madam?’

I turn to him, my own smile equally predatory. ‘I’m looking to replace all the furnishings in my home. Every last piece. Even the rugs and lamps.’

His eyes bulge, his mouth falling open in a comical ‘O’ of surprise. ‘I see. And how large is your residence, if I may ask?’

I rattle off the rough square footage, watching with no small amount of satisfaction as he practically salivates at the prospect of such a lucrative sale. They roll out the red carpet after that, plying us with champagne and caviar.

Time to put Damien’s card to the test.

I take my time perusing the showroom, running my fingers over plush velvet and sleek leather, rich woods and cool marble. Occasionally, I glance at Lori, gauging her reaction to each piece.

‘What do you think of this one?’ I ask, gesturing to a sumptuous sofa in a deep emerald green.

Lori bites her lip, her brow furrowed in thought. ‘It’s lovely, Miss Blackwood. But…’

‘But what?’ I prompt gently, sensing her hesitation.

She takes a deep breath, her words coming out in a rush. ‘I just worry that you might get in trouble. With the alphas, I mean. For spending so much.’

I chuckle, shaking my head. ‘Oh, Lori. I highly doubt a little furniture shopping is going to bankrupt the Blackwood family.’ I lean in closer, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ‘Unless, of course, you know something I don’t. About their financial situation, that is.’

Her eyes widen, panic flashing across her delicate features. ‘No, of course not! I didn’t mean to imply…’

I wave away her concerns, my smile never faltering. ‘Then it’s settled. We’ll take the entire set.’

The salesman practically trips over himself in his eagerness to finalize the sale, his pen flying across the order form. I sign with a flourish, handing over Damien’s black card without a second thought.

Let him choke on that later.

We hit a few more stores after that, picking out plush rugs and glittering chandeliers, silk sheets and fur throws. Everything I need to build a nest so perfect and sumptuous it’ll almost make up for not having any alphas to share it with. I even arrange for a team that comes highly recommended by the salesman to come and repaint. Lori grows more animated with each purchase, her initial nervousness giving way to genuine excitement.

‘There’s one more stop I need to make,’ I tell her, instructing the driver to stop off at the pharmacy.

As I exit the car, Lori’s brow furrows with genuine concern. ‘Is everything okay, Miss Blackwood? Are you feeling sick?’

I force a smile, touched by her worry but not quite ready to trust her with the truth. ‘Everything’s fine, Lori. I just need to pick up a couple of small things. I’ll be out in a moment.’

She nods, still looking unconvinced as I close the car door and head into the pharmacy. The sterile scent of disinfectant and medication assaults my nose, making my stomach churn. Or maybe that’s just the anxiety gnawing at my gut.

I wander the aisles, my eyes scanning the shelves until I find what I’m looking for—a tube of antibiotic cream, the strongest one they have. I pray it will be enough to soothe the angry, inflamed skin around Damien’s mark. The last thing I need is for it to get infected on top of everything else.

As I make my way to the pharmacist’s counter, a thought strikes me. While I’m here, I might as well refill my heat suppressants. The idea of going into heat in a house full of alphas who despise me is enough to make my blood run cold. I’d be completely at their mercy, vulnerable and needy and utterly humiliated.

No. I can’t let that happen.

I won’t.

I approach the counter, placing the cream and my prescription card down with a polite smile. The pharmacist, a middle-aged beta woman with kind eyes, takes one look at the collar around my neck and her expression shifts to one of awkward sympathy. I had to put it back on to go out into the world, even if it’s torturous against my inflamed mark.

‘I’m sorry, Miss Blackwood,’ she says gently. ‘But I can’t refill your suppressants.’

I blink, confused. ‘Why not? I should have at least six refills left on my prescription.’

She shakes her head, her gaze darting away from mine. ‘It’s not that. It’s just… there’s a new law. Mated omegas need their alpha’s permission to take heat suppressants now. But if you come back with one of your alphas, I’d be happy to fill it for you.’

For a moment, I can only stare at her, my mouth hanging open in shock. She has to be joking. This has to be some kind of sick, twisted prank. But the pity in her eyes tells me it’s all too real.

Fury rises in my throat, hot and bitter and choking.

How dare they?

How dare they take away my bodily autonomy, my right to decide what I put in my own body? And for what? So my alphas can have unfettered access to me whenever they please whether I want it or not?

I want to scream, to rage, to tear this whole fucking pharmacy apart with my bare hands. But I can’t. I can’t afford to make a scene, not when I’m already on such thin ice with the Blackwoods. So I swallow my anger, my humiliation, my fear, and force a smile that feels more like a grimace.

‘I understand,’ I say through gritted teeth, snatching up the antibiotic cream and my useless prescription card. ‘Thank you for your time.’

I turn on my heel and stalk out of the pharmacy, my heart pounding in my ears. The car is waiting for me, Lori’s concerned face peering out from the window. I slide into the backseat, slamming the door behind me with more force than necessary.

‘Everything okay, Miss Blackwood?’ Lori asks tentatively, her eyes wide and worried.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to relax my white-knuckled grip on the bag with my cream. ‘Everything’s fine, Lori. Just a little misunderstanding, that’s all.’

She nods, clearly unconvinced but too polite to pry further. I lean back against the plush leather seat, closing my eyes and willing my racing heart to slow. This is just one more obstacle, one more hurdle to overcome.

But as we pull away from the pharmacy, the weight of my new reality settles heavy and suffocating on my chest. I’m trapped, well and truly trapped, with no way out and no one to turn to.

Lori seems to sense the shift in my mood and we’re both silent the rest of the drive home. The imposing stone facade of the mansion eventually looms before us, a reminder of the cold, unwelcoming alphas waiting inside.

The day wasn’t a complete loss, though.

I made a huge step toward putting my mark on this house, and if nothing else, with Lori’s company, I don’t feel quite so alone.