Ready or Knot (Knotted Paths #1) - Susi Hawke Page 0,2

hallway with four doors. The one to our left was open, so Chance stuck his head in. “Hey, Hunter. Got a minute? I’d love to introduce you to Wyatt.”

A moment later, a tow-headed, chubby omega appeared in the doorway. His hair spiked in a multitude of directions, like he’d just rolled out of bed or been running his hands through it constantly. His scent was a mystery to me. My wolf-brain said prey, but what kind? I had no idea. “I only have a minute. I want to finish this module before Bast gets back.” He thrust out his hand. “Hunter. Nice to meet you.”

Even his brusque attitude was more than Craig had offered. I took his hand. I wasn’t nervous about touching other omegas. Only alphas bothered me. “Wyatt.”

I was grateful no one seemed interested in sharing last names. I hadn’t decided what to do with mine. Stanislav had practically become a curse word to me, but I didn’t have an affinity for anything else, so I was stuck with it for the time being.

“I work on school from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon, unless I have an appointment. On Tuesdays, I have class from six p.m. until nine. Even if my door is open, please don’t interrupt during those times.”

“Okay, sure. No problem.” Was I going to be required to do that much schooling as well? I had a hard time imagining Craig setting such strict schedules, so maybe that was a Hunter thing?

“Nice to meet you.” Before any of us could respond, Hunter closed the door.

“He’s a little serious, but a good heart,” Chance said.

“I see what Craig meant about him needing to loosen up,” Dante muttered.

“Dante…” Chance’s disapproving tone made me want to tuck my head. He was so bright and cheerful, I couldn’t imagine his disappointment being turned on me. “You of all people should know everyone has their own way of dealing with things.”

“Disculpe. Yo sé. Which of these is Wyatt’s?”

Chance pointed at the closed door directly across from Hunter’s. “There’s Craig’s room, and next door is yours, Wyatt. The bathroom is right across from you.”

My room had a single bed, pressed into the corner underneath a window facing out at the playground. The walls were painted a gentle off-white, and the bedding was a light blue, probably matching the house color pretty closely. The only other furniture was a nightstand with a lamp, but it was mine and more than I’d owned in a while.

I bit my lip, swallowing through the lump in my throat as Chance showed me the closet and explained that there was a warehouse full of donations I could go through to decorate my room.

Dante put his arm around my shoulders, and Chance trailed off as he realized I was struggling. “Are you okay, lobito?”

I closed my eyes and nodded. I was okay. It was all just… it was a lot.

“Do you want to get settled in?” Chance asked softly. “Take a nap? Whatever you need. We can do the tour any time.”

I cleared my throat so I could speak. “No, I want to do the tour. But maybe… maybe I could have a few minutes to unpack?”

Chance nodded understandingly. “Of course. We’ll be downstairs.”

Dante squeezed me close in a hug. “You’re doing great, guapo. And you know, you are always welcome en mi casa. I’m proud of you for taking this step forward, but I want you to know you have a home with us.”

“I know. But I think this will be good for me.”

“Claro.” Dante gave me one last smile of encouragement, then shut the door behind him.

I left my bag where Dante had set it on the floor and sat on my bed, surveying my room. My room. I jumped up and turned the lock, then tested the doorknob. It was secure.

I leaned my forehead against the door. This was my first step to figuring out who I was. Not as a Stanislav. Not as a child. Not as a slave. But as myself. Wyatt.

Whoever he happened to be.

2

Jordan

I got up to grab the empty plates from the table. “Delicious as always, Mom.”

“I wouldn’t have guessed by the way you licked your plate clean. Didn’t I raise you with better manners?” Her words might have been admonishing, but she was pleased.

Shelby covered her nearly full plate with her shaking arms. “Don’t think about it, knot head.” Her words were slow and difficult, and the uninitiated might have had trouble understanding her, but