Page 12 of Knot Your Kismet

“You’re going to have to try harder than that,” Jensen says, his anger melting into amusement. While we fight often, we’re always quick to end shit. We can love and hate each other in seconds. It’s what brothers do.

Calista thins her lips and flares her nostrils, looking cute as fuck. Her sky blue eyes narrow, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think one look from her like that could knock a man off his feet. She truly is a spitfire. She gets that from her mom, for sure. Jessica knew exactly what she wanted from the pack and didn’t take no for an answer. She was kind and considerate, and she expected the same from everyone.

“Nolan? Don’t make me wake you up how I was taught to wake alphas up who have worn out their welcome at the Omega Resort. You wouldn’t like it,” Calista says, speaking loudly in his ear.

The way she says it scares me yet piques my interest. I’ve heard about the darker side of the Omega Independence Program, but Dad paid even more than the average to keep Calista away from the supposed dating scene that helps omegas leave the program…or stay long term. We did see Calista out with someone that sounded a bit transactional…

“You really won’t like it,” Calista continues, adjusting her grip on Nolan’s hair.

“That’s what you think,” I mutter, smirking at Jensen. I’d love to see her follow through with her threat. Nolan deserves it. The asshole should be awake and dealing with Calista instead of me. He knew that we couldn’t just drag Calista all the way from Nevada and assume she’d go with the flow of things. She made it clear she wouldn’t.

At least her anger is now directed at him and her tears are gone. Because fuck. Seeing her cry did something to me. I don’t like it.

I move closer to stand beside her, not letting the desk stand between us. I can’t have anything blocking my view. “He’s a different brand of alpha.”

Glowering at me in response, Calista shakes Nolan again. She’s not going to take my bait. “Nolan, wake up.” Calista raises her other hand and digs her nails into the crook of Nolan’s neck. She’s messing with his scent gland. That’s one way to handle things. Leaning forward, Calista sticks out her tongue and drags it up Nolan’s face from his chin to his forehead, surprising the hell out of both Jensen and me.

Nolan’s eyes snap open from his medicated sleep, and he bares his teeth. I rush forward and hook my arm around her waist, dragging her away just in time to save her from being accidentally head-butted as he jerks upright. The chair rolls with the movement and hits the wall.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Nolan hops to his feet and reaches for his belt out of habit. He doesn’t actually have a weapon. That’s a house rule. Even though Dad is dead, he would not disobey him, so all weapons are in the safe.

Calista elbows me, getting me to release her. She doesn’t let Nolan’s state of confusion stop her from stomping forward. She grabs his chin, forcing him to look into her eyes. Damn. I’ve never seen anyone manhandle my brother like that. I don’t know what kind of life Calista had in Nevada, but the big city really did something to her. She’s bossy. Determined. Unlike any omega I’ve seen.

“What’s happening? What’s happening is you’re about to get your ass handed to you because you made the chef prepare breakfast and you’re not even awake. Lucas said we were having a pack meeting. So come on. Let’s have a pack meeting.”

I step back and raise my hands in surrender. She threw me under the bus. What the hell? I guess I should’ve told her that it was Jensen who arranged breakfast. And it was my idea for the meeting.

Oh well. It was worth seeing her put Nolan in his place.

Nolan doesn’t say anything, but his expression speaks volumes. He’s going to fuck me up later if he gets a chance.

If Calista lets him. It looks as if she’s going to put all of us in our places.

Is it bad that I want her to?

This is going to be hell.

8

Kismet Omega

Calista

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was Mom and Henry’s funeral with how sullen everyone looks. It was like a funeral march from the study to the dining room. No one talked. No one looked at each other. The only reaction I’ve gotten was from Nolan when I sat down at the head of the table in the seat Lucas put me in first.

I take a bite of my waffle, my plate full of sweets instead of the savory eggs and bacon that all three of the Kismet brothers have. The chef saw that I wasn’t touching much and brought me my own special breakfast. I appreciate it, and I hope the chef realizes it. I can tell that he doesn’t get many thanks in this household. Well, at least not from the alphas.

No one speaks even though this is supposed to be a pack meeting—a very small pack meeting. I’m sure Henry had advisors. His siblings, maybe. Other people that he trusted. But this is different. This is about family. We are the last of the official Pack Kismet under Henry’s power, which leaves everything to question. What now? I’m here for a reason.

“I’m about to eat breakfast alone in my room if you guys don’t start talking. I already know that you all probably plan to marry me off.” I hold up my finger, silencing the three of them before they can even refute my comment. “And to that, I say fuck you. You’re not going to decide which pack I’m to spend the rest of my life with.”

Nolan slaps his palm to the table, startling me. I jump in my seat and drop my fork into my lap. I don’t know what I was expecting. I guess I’m too used to the alphas at the Omega Resort doing everything to please omegas. They want an omegas’ attention, not scare them off. And Nolan’s reaction freaks me out. It reminds me of my biological father and his temper.

With that thought, tears burn my eyes, and I can’t stop one from spilling on my cheek.

“Calm the fuck down. Look what you’ve done. You’ve scared her.” Lucas hops from his seat and strides around to the head of the table to where I’m frozen in shock. He kneels beside me and strokes his thumb across my wet face. His hazel eyes soften as he stares at me. “Don’t worry, Lis. We’re not going to just marry you off. That’s outdated. Our father would come and haunt us if we tried. I’m sure your mom would possess his ass to knock him silly for it.”

I don’t know what to say or how to react, so I just continue to blink my eyes, forcing the unbidden tears away. The way he calls me Lis reminds me of Mom. She would call me that sometimes in affection, preferring that over my pack-given name.