Page 48 of Knot Your Kismet

“Call Pack Kismet!” I scream, fighting against the restraints. “Call them now!”

Both men freeze in place, and silence deafens the small room. My pack name startles these two men into shock. They’re not so tough now that they realize I’m not some random murdering omega. They have to know that I’m not a criminal.

“Please,” I murmur, still shaking my limbs against the restraints. “I’m not a murderer. Something happened…but I can’t remember. I was going to City Hall to…” I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to force memories to the forefront of my mind to no avail.

The uniformed officer wrings his hands together. “I think she was drugged.”

“Call medical. Now,” the other man says, pushing the officer toward the cell door. He yanks a set of keys from his belt and rattles the ring of metal, searching for the key to unlock my restraints. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Kismet. I had no idea. You must understand that—”

“What the hell are you doing to her!”

The uniformed officer skids across the floor. No one has a chance to prepare for Nolan storming into the small, concrete-walled room.

“I’ll take your fucking job! Cut off your fucking hand for touching her.” Nolan grabs the man in a suit by the back of his collar and hoists him off his feet only to drop him away from me.

Tears burst from my eyes, my anger melting away completely. I don’t even know how to handle the situation. How on earth could they think I’m a murderer? Why would they try to question me and coerce me without my pack? Is this how it is outside of the Omega Resort? Is this what my mom went through? She never hurt my dad, but I’m sure they made her uncomfortable and accused her of things. They probably asked her what she did to deserve his malice.

I hate this. I fucking hate this. This was supposed to be an amazing day. I was going to propose. But then…

Why can’t I remember?

“Are you hurt, Calista?” Nolan inspects my face and drags his gaze along my body to my restrained ankles. He tightens his jaw with a growl and turns toward the two men. He doesn’t even have to say anything for the one in the tie to hand him his keys.

“Mr. Kismet, you have my sincerest apologies. We didn’t know she was Calista. Had we known, we’d have taken her to you immediately. We just did what we thought was right, taking her into custody. She was covered in blood with a knife. There was a dead man beside her. She was speaking deliriously. We thought she might have killed him under the influence.” The uniformed officer swallows, his hand shaking as he tries to compose himself.

“Don’t even talk to me. Get out of here before I kill you.” Nolan heaves a couple of breaths, releasing me from the binds.

Nolan scoops me off the bed and cradles me in his arms. I hide my face against his chest, breathing in long breaths, trying to slow down my racing heart. My whole body buzzes, the adrenaline still pumping hard through me. I hate being so confused. I need to know what happened and how this blood got on me. I know I’m not a killer. I’m certain of it.

“Everything’s going to be okay, omega. I have this handled. I just need you to try your best to stay calm and let me take care of you. You don’t have to be independent right now.” Nolan breathes the words, his voice a mixture of heat and air against the top of my head.

“Where are your brothers? What happened at the meeting? Please tell me it was something good.” Because now that I’ve had a moment to think, I realize that this situation could put our bonding at risk. Packs don’t like criminal omegas. That’s why things get investigated thoroughly. Though this police station hasn’t done a good job. They were more concerned with treating me like a monster than trying to figure out what really happened.

Fuck. What happened?

Come on, brain. Come on!

Nolan adjusts me in his arms and grabs the back of my neck, holding me so that I have to look at him. “Hey, don’t panic before I have a chance to speak. Everything is fine. The pack approved us. We’re set. Let’s just think about you right now. Our security said you went missing. We tracked your location and it bounced to City Hall and then to here. What were you doing? You weren’t supposed to leave home.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.” Tears burn my eyes, and I close them, not wanting to see Nolan’s expression. Because I did something stupid. I followed my heart. I wanted to do something, anything, to prove that I’m in this for life.

Nolan squeezes me tighter, picking up his pace as he navigates through the police station and out to his waiting car, still running while being parked in front of the door with the door wide open.

“Oh, Cali. I’m not mad. Far from it. I’m so relieved that you’re okay. I don’t care why you were out. I just wanted to try to piece things together. I don’t understand what you were doing and what happened.”

“I wish I could explain, but I don’t remember anything. All I remember is I wanted to get to you. I wanted to profess my love to you and your brothers in front of everyone. I wanted our pack to see exactly how much you mean to me.” I keep my eyes closed, the adrenaline seeping away and turning into nausea. A pit forms in my stomach, and I slump into the passenger seat. Nolan shuts the door and runs around, sliding in behind the wheel.

He takes my hand. “Your arrest paperwork mentioned narcotics. I think someone drugged you.”

“I don’t feel so good,” I whisper. “I just want to go home.”

“Don’t worry, Cali. We’ll figure this out. I promise. I will not let anyone tear our pack apart.”

“Me either.” If only I knew exactly what to do.

28

Federal Alphas