Knot the One They Want (Claimverse Book 1)

‘Ow, Evie, you’re pulling too hard!’ Lily whines as I attempt to tame her wild curls into a French braid.

‘Sorry, Scrap. I’m almost done.’ I twist another section, trying to focus on not yanking my little sister’s hair out. Braiding when I’m already wound tight was probably not the best idea, but she’s got cheer practice and she begged me to.

‘Is it true you’re going to marry one of the Blackwood alphas?’ Lily asks, her voice full of innocent curiosity.

My hands freeze mid-braid. In the aftermath of that awful, awkward dinner I’ve almost managed to successfully convince myself I imagined the whole scent matching thing. That the scents that seemed so heavenly at the moment were nothing more than the malfunctioning suppressants my doctor switched me off of in favor of others that have at least successfully dampened all my senses. It helps that I’ve retroactively assigned different scents to each of them to replace the ones from my memory.

Damien’s is motor oil. Acrid and slimy, just like the rich bastard himself.

Lake and Cole are hot sauce and pepper. Too pungent and unappealing.

And Asher? He’s not sunlight anymore. He’s dog piss.

Yep. That’ll dampen the fantasies my mind tries to torment me with when I replay that tension-filled meeting in my sleep.

If only. It’s far from an effective coping strategy, but it’s the only one I’ve got. ‘Where did you hear that?’ I ask warily, glancing at Lily’s reflection.

She shrugs. ‘I heard Mom and Dad talking. They said it would be good for the family.’

Of course they did. My future, decided without my input, as usual. I force a smile. ‘Nothing’s set in stone yet. But if it happens, you’ll be the first to know.’

And I’ll be the first to throw up.

Sure, the Blackwood pack is easily the most eligible out of all the packs who’ve asked for my hand, but I was out the moment those assholes couldn’t even be bothered to show up on time for dinner. They made it clear how little they value my time, so why the hell would that change once they have me at their mercy?

Alphas might take one look at me and see a dumb blonde, but I’m smart enough to know an omega’s never holding more power in her hands than when she’s in the selection process of choosing a mate. And I’ve worked with enough omegas through Safe Harbor to know exactly what can go wrong if I make the wrong choice.

And then there are the omegas who don’t get to choose at all…

Even a scent match isn’t enough to guarantee a happily ever after for some omegas. And that’s including the ones whose alphas don’t act like they smell like day old cod in return.

The doorbell chimes and Tristan’s footsteps pound down the hallway. Lily squirms in her seat, the braid forgotten. ‘Ooh, I wonder who it is! Maybe one of your new boyfriends?’ she asks with a mischievous grin.

I roll my eyes, but curiosity gets the better of me too. I tie off Lily’s hair with an elastic and we tiptoe to the foyer. Tristan is already at the door, signing for a large cream envelope embossed with an ornate wax seal. My heart skips a beat. I’d know that seal anywhere.

The Blackwood pack crest.

‘Tristan, give me that,’ Vivienne commands, reaching for the envelope.

He holds it out of reach, a glint in his eye. ‘Sorry Mom, messenger’s orders. For Dad’s eyes only.’

Vivienne’s mouth tightens. Before she can argue, Dad strides in, his presence alone commanding the room. ‘What’s this about?’

‘Delivery for you.’ Tristan hands over the envelope with an unnecessary flourish.

Dad breaks the seal and scans the contents, his brow furrowing. Vivienne hovers at his elbow. ‘Well? What is it, Charles?’ she asks impatiently.

He looks up, his gaze landing on me. Dread crawls its way up my spine. ‘It’s a formal summons. The Blackwood pack has requested an audience in front of both coalitions.’

‘About what?’ Vivienne presses, but I can tell from the gleam in her eyes, she already knows.

‘What else?’ Dad asks. ‘To discuss a potential mating. With Evangeline.’

The room spins. This can’t be happening.

My disastrous first meeting with the pack flashes through my mind. The one thing I was counting on was that they were as unimpressed with me as I was with them.

At least, Damien was.

And he’s the pack leader.

‘They want to mate Evie?’ Lily pipes up. ‘But we haven’t even met them yet!’

Jasper trots into the room at that moment, his curls bouncing and his eyes blown wide at Lily’s words. He looks between us and our parents. ‘Is that true?’ he asks in the same disbelief I still feel.

‘Hush, Lily,’ Vivienne admonishes. ‘This is wonderful news. The Blackwoods are the most influential pack in the city. An alliance with them would open so many doors for us.’

It’s the first time she’s ever looked at me like that. Like I’m actually worth something, even if it’s tinged with jealousy.

I’m pretty sure I like it better when she’s just ignoring me.

But I barely hear her through the blood pounding in my ears anyway. An arranged mating. My dream, and my nightmare. To have my future decided, my mates chosen, without any say.

And yet, some secret, shameful part of me still craves it, however it happens to come to be. To be wanted, claimed, cherished.

Even if my alphas never truly love me.

Tristan just looks pissed. He hates not being the center of attention. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and all that.

‘I don’t even know them,’ I protest. There’s no reason they’d be requesting our presence in front of both coalitions unless they intended to propose officially. ‘I haven’t even met them one on one. It’s not conventional.’

Not that I have any interest in that.

‘That hardly matters,’ Dad says in a gruff tone. ‘You’re twenty-two, and you haven’t even officially had a coming out, so there’s hardly anything conventional about you, either.’

‘And whose fault is that?’ I demand before I can stop myself.

Dad and Vivienne go silent, and I know that look on Dad’s face. It’s never anything good.

‘Tristan, Jasper, Lily, go upstairs,’ Dad says.

Lily and Jasper cast me sympathetic glances, but Tristan smirks as he leads the way out of the room.

Wonderful. Now I’m in the dog house again.

‘Evangeline? Did you hear me?’ Dad’s voice snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts.

‘No, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,’ I admit, my voice small. I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes, knowing the disappointment and frustration I’ll find there.

Dad sighs heavily, the weight of his expectations bearing down on me. ‘Evangeline, it’s time you start thinking about what’s best for this family and the coalition. I’ve been more than patient with you turning down the other packs, but there’s no good reason for you to say no to the Blackwoods.’

His words settle like a stone in my stomach. Of course he thinks he’s been ‘patient.’ Patient in waiting for me to fulfill my duty as the perfect omega daughter, to secure an advantageous match that will elevate our family’s status. Never mind my own hopes and dreams.

‘But Dad, I barely know them. Shouldn’t I at least have a chance to-‘

‘Enough,’ he cuts me off, his tone leaving no room for argument. ‘If you won’t make the right choice, then I’ll make it for you. And I doubt you’ll like the results.’

I swallow hard, the threat wrapping around my throat like a vice. I know he means it. If I don’t go through with this, he’ll marry me off to the first alpha who comes knocking, regardless of who they are or how they’ll treat me.

Vivienne watches the exchange with barely concealed glee, her perfectly painted lips curving into a smug smile. She’s been waiting for this moment, for me to finally be put in my place.

‘I understand,’ I say through my teeth, unshed tears of rage stinging my eyes.

Dad nods, satisfied. ‘Good. If the Blackwood pack asks for your hand at dinner, you will accept. No arguments.’

‘Yes, sir.’ The words taste like ash on my tongue, but what choice do I have?

As Dad and Vivienne leave the room, no doubt to celebrate their victory, I sink onto the bottom step of the grand staircase, my legs no longer able to support me. Hot tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back furiously. I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

This is everything I’ve ever wanted, isn’t it? To be chosen, claimed, part of a powerful pack that proves I’m someone worth choosing. But not like this. Not without any say in the matter, traded like a prized mare to the highest bidder.

I think of the Blackwood alphas, with their cold eyes and cruel smiles. The way Damien looked at me like I was nothing. Is that the fate that awaits me? To be nothing more than arm candy, a broodmare to bear their heirs and smile prettily at their side?

A shudder runs through me at the thought. No, I can’t let that happen. I won’t. Even if I have to go through with this farce of a mating, I’ll find a way to make them see me as more than just a silly little omega. I’ll prove my worth, carve out a place for myself in their pack.

But first, I have to survive dinner.

I take a deep, steadying breath and rise to my feet, squaring my shoulders. I can do this. I am Evangeline Beaumont, and I will not be broken. Not by my family, not by the Blackwoods, not by anyone.

I’ll play the perfect omega, giggle and bat my lashes and hang on their every word. But they’ll soon learn that the woman beneath the pretty mask is a survivor. A fighter.

And I won’t stop fighting until I have the life I deserve. On my own terms.

No matter what it takes.