Knot the One They Want (Claimverse Book 1)

My mind races with thoughts of Evie and her well-being as I pace in the foyer after getting home from my studio. I’ve been worried about her lately, noticing how she clearly hasn’t been feeling well. Even though I can tell she’s trying to hide it, unlike Daria who always complained the second she was mildly inconvenienced by one of the servants.

For all Daria’s talk of not being like ‘spoiled’ omegas, I’m starting to think she was the spoiled one.

I suspect it’s because Evie is about to go into heat, and that knowledge has been making me even more protective of her than usual, which is saying something. Especially now that Damien has invited another alpha into our home.

The sound of the front door opening catches my attention, and I look up to see Damien walking in. Relief washes over me, knowing I have a chance to talk to him before the others arrive. I’ve been wanting to discuss Evie’s situation with them all, hoping we can come to an agreement on how to handle it.

Damien raises an eyebrow at me as he takes off his outer jacket, hanging it up in the closet. ‘What are you doing?’ he asks, his tone slightly curious.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. ‘I was waiting to talk to you,’ I reply, keeping my voice as even as possible.

Damien turns to face me fully, his expression neutral. ‘What do you want to talk about?’

I hesitate for a moment, knowing this conversation isn’t going to be easy. ‘I think you should call off the dinner with the investor tonight,’ I say, bracing myself for his reaction.

As expected, Damien scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. ‘And why would I do that?’ he asks, his tone bordering on condescending.

I feel my frustration mounting, but I try to keep it in check. ‘Because Evie clearly hasn’t been feeling well, and the maid says she’s upstairs taking a nap right now,’ I explain, hoping he’ll see reason.

But Damien just shrugs dismissively, his expression unchanging. ‘That’s hardly a sign of anything. Maybe she’s just lazy.’

His callous words ignite a spark of anger in my chest, and I can feel my control slipping. I step forward, going toe to toe with him, my eyes narrowing. ‘You know she’s anything but lazy,’ I snap, my voice rising with each word. ‘And even you can’t be oblivious enough not to have noticed the early signs of her going into heat.’

Damien’s jaw clenches, and I can see a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He knows exactly what I’m talking about, but instead of acknowledging it, he just scowls and says, ‘What difference does it make if she is?’

I stare at him in disbelief, my hands curling into fists at my sides, begging to be unleashed on his smug face. ‘Of course it makes a difference! You’ve invited some alpha the rest of us don’t even know over to the house, while our omega could be going into heat at any moment. It’s not only inconsiderate, it’s not safe.’

Damien rolls his eyes, his expression turning dismissive. ‘The investor isn’t going to harm Evie, or anyone else. And if she was that close to going into heat, it would be obvious.’

I can’t believe how cavalier he’s being about this. ‘How would you know?’ I challenge, my voice growing louder with each word. ‘You’ve gone from being hostile to avoiding her completely!’

My words clearly strike a nerve, and Damien takes a step closer, his eyes flashing with anger. ‘Is this really about your concern for Evie’s benefit?’ he sneers, his tone dripping with disdain. ‘Or are you just so weak-willed that you plan on caving the moment another omega is in heat?’

Red hot fury surges through me, and before I can stop myself, I’m shoving him. Hard. Damien stumbles back, his eyes widening in shock. It’s completely out of character for me, the usually gentle and even-tempered alpha of the pack, to resort to physical aggression. But his cruel words, his utter lack of concern for Evie’s well-being, have pushed me past my breaking point.

‘What the hell is going on here?’ Asher’s voice cuts through the tension, and I turn to see him standing in the doorway, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.

I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger. ‘Evie isn’t feeling well, and Damien has some strange investor coming over for dinner like nothing is happening,’ I explain, my tone clipped and frustrated.

Asher frowns, his gaze darting between Damien and me. He doesn’t say anything, but I can tell from his expression that he doesn’t agree with Damien’s decision either. ‘I forgot that was tonight,’ he admits, running a hand through his hair.

Before we can continue the discussion, Cole bursts through the front door, his face grim. ‘I passed a flashy car on the way in,’ he announces, his voice tense. ‘Damien’s investor is going to be here any second.’

Damien straightens his tie, his expression hardening. ‘There’s no point in arguing any further. It’s too late to cancel anything now.’ He turns and stalks off, probably to check on dinner preparations. But I know he never had any intention of canceling in the first place.

I’m seething, my entire body trembling with barely contained fury. Asher places a hand on my shoulder, his brow furrowed with concern. ‘Are you good?’ he asks quietly, his tone gentle.

A harsh laugh escapes me, and I shake my head. ‘I’m fine. But I can’t promise I won’t put a steak knife through Damien at dinner.’

Asher chuckles. ‘Which of us can?’

Cole, Asher, and I are still discussing what to do about Evie when the doorbell rings. Before we can decide who should answer it, Evie descends the stairs. For a moment, I second guess whether she’s really not feeling well. She looks perfectly put together and cheerful as usual in a vibrant yellow dress with a pretty floral print that hugs her luscious curves in all the right places. She’s been wearing her long, golden hair down lately, and it suits her. It’s hard not to think about running my fingers through the soft tresses.

‘Are you going to get that?’ she asks, gesturing to the door, her voice light and airy.

Asher hastily opens it, welcoming Damien’s guest inside. The relatively young alpha is a typical finance type, with slicked-back hair and an expensive suit. I immediately find him distasteful, my instincts warning me that he’s not to be trusted.

But Evie is as charming as ever, immediately putting him at ease as she welcomes him into our home, playing the perfect hostess. She smiles warmly, extending her hand to him. ‘You must be Mr. Sinclair. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’

The investor takes her hand, holding it for a moment too long as he rakes his eyes over her appreciatively. ‘The pleasure is all mine,’ he says, his voice dripping with false charm. ‘Damien didn’t mention his pack had an omega, let alone such a beautiful one.’

Damien arrives back in the living room just as the investor makes his comment. His expression remains impassive as he replies dryly, ‘I guess it slipped my mind.’

I clench my jaw, anger simmering in my veins. I can’t believe how dismissive Damien is being, acting like Evie’s presence is of no importance. It’s clear he doesn’t care about her well-being at all.

As we make our way to the dining room, I can’t shake the feeling that this dinner is going to be a disaster. I just hope it goes by quickly, for all our sakes. But especially for Evie’s. I can see the strain on her face, the way she’s trying to keep up appearances despite not feeling well.

I want nothing more than to wrap her in my arms, to shield her from Damien’s callousness and the investor’s leering gaze. But I know I can’t, not without causing a scene. So I settle for staying close to her, ready to intervene if necessary.

As we take our seats at the table, I catch Asher’s eye. He gives me a subtle nod, a silent promise that he’ll help keep an eye on Evie too. It’s a small comfort, knowing I’m not alone in my concern for her.

But as the first course is served and the investor monopolizes the conversation, I can’t shake the feeling of dread that settles in the pit of my stomach.

This is going to be a long, tense night.

And I can only hope that Evie has the strength to get through it, even as I silently vow to do everything in my power to protect her.