Knot Happening Again (Claimverse Book 2)

My skin tingles from the cold water as I step out of the shower. I never thought I’d need an icy shower to calm down from an omega’s scent, but Ophelia’s pheromones hit me like a freight train. As a beta, I always assumed I was immune to that kind of thing, but damn. That woman smells heavenly, and she’s the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen.

I quickly towel off and throw on some fresh clothes, my mind still reeling from the encounter. When I step out into the hallway, I find Mace and Troy lingering outside the nesting room. They both look tense, worry etched on their faces.

‘How is she?’ I ask, running a hand through my damp hair.

Troy shrugs, his eyes never leaving the closed door. ‘She’s with Rhys, waiting for the pills to kick in.’

An awkward silence falls over us, thick with unspoken concerns and questions.

I clear my throat, unable to bear the tension any longer. ‘So… Ophelia is… definitely our scent match.’

Troy snorts, a hint of amusement breaking through his worried expression. ‘Look at that, even the beta gets it.’

I roll my eyes at him but can’t help smiling. ‘I’ve never smelled anything like her before,’ I admit. ‘It’s… intense.’

‘She said I smell like cookies,’ Mace muses, sounding a bit baffled. And flattered.

I snort. ‘She tried to lick me. I win.’

Mace chuckles, but grows uncharacteristically somber. ‘This heat is a hell of a lot more intense than the last one. Has anyone heard from Leon?’

We all shake our heads, and Mace lets out a frustrated growl. He pulls out his phone and dials Leon’s number, putting it on speaker. It goes straight to voicemail.

‘Leon, it’s Mace. Get your ass home now. And it’ll help if you take your head out of it first because our omega needs us. The pack needs you.’ He hangs up, his jaw clenched tight.

We stand in silence for a moment, each lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Troy speaks up. ‘What the hell is going on? Why was Ophelia out there alone? And where the fuck is Leon?’

I shrug helplessly. ‘I wish I knew, man. This whole situation is⁠—’

The door opens, cutting me off mid-sentence. Rhys steps out, looking exhausted but relieved. We all fall silent, and he raises an eyebrow. ‘What did I interrupt?’

Mace clears his throat. ‘How’s she doing?’

Rhys runs a hand through his hair, sighing. ‘She’s feeling much more clearheaded, but still very much in heat. She’s asking for all of you.’

Mace nods, his expression turning serious. ‘Now that we’re all here—all but one—there’s something I need to mention.’ He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope with a strange logo on it. ‘I think I know why Ophelia was in that rough area. This fell out of her jacket when I brought it in from your car.’

He hands the envelope to Rhys, who looks at it with a mixture of sadness and resignation. ‘I’m not surprised,’ Rhys says softly. ‘I suspected this was what Ophelia was trying to tell us.’

‘What is it?’ I demand. When he hands me the envelope, I take it, my eyes widening as I see the words ‘The Scent Bar’ right above the logo.

Then, it hits me.

Ophelia didn’t just happen to be near there when she called Rhys for help. She works there.

‘I think she fears we’ll reject her if we know she works there,’ Rhys says quietly, echoing my own inner thoughts.

Mace growls, his fists clenching at his sides. ‘That’s ridiculous. She doesn’t belong in a place like that, being pawed at by all those creeps. But how is that her fault?’

Troy mutters, his voice low and angry, ‘It’s probably the fault of that asshole who marked her that she had to work there in the first place. We need to do whatever we can to make sure she never goes back there. Tonight is proof it’s not safe.’

Rhys nods in agreement, his eyes filled with determination. ‘You’re right. We’ll figure something out.’

I step forward, feeling the need to do something, anything to help. ‘I can wait up for Leon if you guys want to go take care of her.’

Rhys shakes his head. ‘No, she asked for all of us.’ A small smile plays at his lips. ‘She specifically asked for, and I quote, ‘The one who smells like s’mores.”

I feel my cheeks heat up. ‘S’mores? Really?’

Troy leans in and sniffs me, a grin spreading across his face. ‘Yeah, I can see that.’

We file into the nesting room, and I’m immediately hit with another wave of Ophelia’s scent. She’s curled up in the center of the massive bed, looking more demure and bashful than before, but still absolutely stunning.

Rhys clears his throat. ‘Now that you’re feeling a little more yourself, allow me to properly introduce you to our beta⁠—’

I step forward, offering her a warm smile. ‘Maddox. AKA the one who smells like s’mores, apparently.’

Ophelia blushes, hiding her face in her hands. ‘Oh god, I’m so sorry. I made such a fool of myself earlier.’

I can’t help but chuckle. ‘Are you kidding? That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.’ I pause, realizing how that might sound. ‘I mean, I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you before your heat hit. This isn’t exactly how I imagined our first encounter going.’

‘It’s okay, I didn’t imagine myself acting like a horny idiot,’ she mumbles.

Ophelia looks around at all of us, her brow furrowed in confusion. ‘Can I ask… why do you all smell so good to me? I mean, you did before, too, but this time…’ she trails off, like she’s trying to make sense of it. ‘I’ve never experienced anything like this before.’

We exchange a look, and Rhys sits down on the edge of the bed, taking Ophelia’s hand in his. ‘Ophelia, there’s something we need to discuss. I didn’t want to scare you off before,’ he says gently, ‘but I knew the moment you walked into the room at Temporary Bonds that you were our scent match.’

‘So did I,’ Mace chimes in.

‘Me, too,’ Troy agrees.

I find myself nodding, even though I wasn’t there for that first meeting. It was still obvious from the moment I laid eyes on her. The moment I caught that beautiful scent.

Ophelia looks stunned, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. She seems shaken, even more than I’d expect, and Rhys squeezes her hand.

‘Ophelia? Are you alright?’

She takes a shaky breath. ‘It’s just… not something I thought I’d hear twice in one day.’

We all exchange confused glances. ‘What do you mean?’ Troy asks.

Ophelia swallows hard. ‘I… I ran into my ex tonight—the alpha who half-marked me. That’s when I went into heat. He showed up at my work again and told me I was his scent match.’

Rhys’s voice is tight when he echoes, ‘He showed up at your work?’

For the moment, that’s all any of us can focus on. Her accepting she’s our scent match—or not—will have to wait.

If this prick is endangering her…

‘Again?’ Troy adds, his eyes narrowing.

Ophelia nods, looking uncomfortable. ‘Yes. He showed up before, once. Well… more than once, but the bouncers wouldn’t let him in.’

Mace growls, his protective instincts clearly kicking in. So are mine. ‘So the asshole is stalking you.’

‘No!’ Ophelia says quickly. ‘It’s not like that. Not exactly.’

Rhys takes a deep breath, clearly trying to stay calm. I’m having the same problem. ‘I don’t know what game he thinks he’s playing, but Ophelia, you’re our scent match. Not his. That’s impossible.’

Ophelia bites her lip, looking uncertain. ‘It would explain a lot about how I feel around you guys,’ she says softly. ‘But how did I not realize it sooner?’

Rhys’s expression softens. ‘I think the suppressants messed with your ability to recognize it. Maybe the mark, too.’ He pauses, his voice gentle when he continues. ‘Speaking of which, that’s something we would all be happy to take care of, if and when you’re ready. By replacing it with our mark.’

I watch as Ophelia’s cheeks flush, her scent spiking with a mixture of desire and uncertainty. ‘You don’t know me,’ she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

Troy steps forward, his usually guarded expression open and earnest. ‘We know you’re ours.’

I can see how touched Ophelia is by his words, but there’s still something holding her back. She looks around at all of us, her eyes lingering on the empty space where our fifth member should be. ‘What about the other alpha in your pack?’

We all exchange a look, and I can see the pain and irritation in Rhys’s eyes at the mention of Leon. He takes a deep breath before answering. ‘He’s going through some stuff right now, but he’ll be here. He’ll feel the same way we do, I’m sure of it.’

Ophelia shakes her head, her voice small and scared. ‘He wouldn’t if he knew the truth. None of you would.’

The room falls silent, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. I feel a surge of protectiveness, wanting to reassure her that nothing could change how we feel. But I can see the fear in her eyes, the way she’s bracing herself for rejection.

I step forward, sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. ‘Ophelia,’ I say gently, ‘whatever it is you’re afraid to tell us, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re our match. We’re here for you, all of us.’

She looks at me, her blue eyes swimming with unshed tears. ‘You can’t know that,’ she whispers.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Mace moves closer, his large frame somehow less intimidating as he kneels beside the bed. ‘Little one, we’ve all got pasts. We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. But that’s what pack is for—to support each other, no matter what.’

Troy nods in agreement. ‘Whatever it is, we can handle it.’

Rhys takes Ophelia’s hand again, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin. ‘Why don’t you tell us what’s worrying you so much? I promise, we’ll listen without judgment.’

Ophelia takes a shaky breath, looking around at all of us. I can see the moment she makes her decision, her shoulders squaring as if preparing for a blow. ‘Okay,’ she says softly.

There’s defeat in her tone. As if she thinks our reaction and subsequent rejection is a guarantee. I wish I could just come out and say we all know and it doesn’t change a damn thing, but I don’t want to risk scaring her off or embarrassing her.

Ophelia takes one final deep breath and begins to speak. ‘The place near where Rhys picked me up tonight… the Scent Bar? I work there. At least, I did. I went there tonight to pick up my last check. I’ve been working there for the past few years, and places like it before that, ever since…’ She trails off, her eyes distant. ‘Ever since my family disowned me because of the incomplete mark.’

I hear Mace’s low growl and see Troy’s fists clench, but we all stay silent, letting Ophelia continue.

‘It started with just bartending, but then… I started taking clients. Alphas in rut who needed an omega’s scent to get through it.’ She looks down at her hands, unable to meet our eyes. ‘I’m not proud of it, but it was the only way I could survive. My heat… it’s so painful because of the incomplete mark. The suppressants barely worked, and I couldn’t afford them half the time anyway. So I did what I had to do. But if you can’t accept an omega like that, I get it. Trust me.’

The room is silent for a moment, the weight of her confession hanging in the air. I feel a surge of anger—not at Ophelia, but at the circumstances that forced her into that situation. At the alpha who abandoned her, at the family who turned their backs on her.

Rhys is the first to speak, his voice soft but firm, a hair’s breadth away from an alpha bark. ‘Ophelia, look at me.’ She raises her eyes slowly, fear and shame evident in her gaze. ‘You have nothing to be ashamed of. You did what you had to do to survive. That shows strength, not weakness.’

Mace nods, his expression fierce. ‘That asshole who left you and your so-called family—they’re the ones who should be ashamed. Not you.’

Troy runs a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. ‘I wish we’d found you sooner,’ he says. ‘You shouldn’t have had to go through that alone.’

I walk over to sit on the edge of the bed and reach out, taking Ophelia’s free hand in mine. ‘Thank you for trusting us with this, beautiful,’ I say softly. ‘It doesn’t change how we feel about you. If anything, it makes us want to protect you even more.’

Ophelia looks around at all of us, her eyes wide with disbelief. ‘You… you’re not disgusted? You don’t want me to leave?’

Rhys pulls her into a gentle embrace, and even I can smell the comforting alpha pheromones he’s releasing. ‘Never,’ he says firmly. ‘You’re ours, Ophelia. Nothing will change that.’

I watch as Ophelia breaks down, her body shaking with sobs as she clings to Rhys. Mace and Troy move closer, each placing a comforting hand on her back. I squeeze her hand, trying to convey all the support and acceptance I can through that simple touch.

As we surround our omega, our missing piece, I feel a sense of rightness settle over me. This is what pack is supposed to be—unconditional love and support, no matter what. And even though we’re still missing one member, I know somehow we’ll all find a way to come together. Around her. For her.

Ophelia’s sobs eventually quiet, and she pulls back slightly, wiping her eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ she mumbles. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

‘Don’t apologize,’ I say gently. ‘You’ve been carrying this weight for so long. It’s okay to let it out.’

She gives me a watery smile, then looks around at all of us. ‘So… what happens now?’

Rhys strokes her hair, his voice soothing. ‘Now, we take care of you through your heat. And after that, if you want, we start building a life together. As a pack.’

Ophelia bites her lip, looking uncertain. ‘But what about… my job? And the other alpha? And⁠—’

‘One thing at a time,’ Mace interrupts gently. ‘Right now, you need rest and care. We can figure out the rest later.’

Troy nods in agreement. ‘He’s right. Let us take care of you, Ophelia. You don’t have to face anything alone anymore.’

I watch as Ophelia’s eyes fill with tears again, but this time, there’s a smile on her face. ‘Okay,’ she whispers. ‘Okay.’

I reach out, unable to stop myself from touching her. My fingers brush her cheek, wiping away a stray tear. Ophelia’s eyes lock with mine, and the world narrows to just us. Her scent envelops me, sweet and intoxicating. Before I can process what’s happening, her lips are on mine.

The kiss is electric, sending shockwaves through my entire body. Ophelia tastes like heaven—a mix of ocean and jasmine and something uniquely her. I cup her face, deepening the kiss, savoring every second of this moment I never thought I’d have.

‘Maybe Maddox should get her ready first,’ Mace’s voice breaks through the haze of desire.

I pull back, breathless, and look at Ophelia. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips swollen from our kiss. She nods, giving me permission.

‘Gladly,’ I murmur, my voice husky with want.

I stand, stripping the loose sheets off the bed. Ophelia watches me, her blue eyes dark with desire. I crawl back onto the bed, capturing her lips once more. My hands roam her body, exploring every curve and dip. She arches into my touch, a soft moan escaping her.

I trail kisses down her neck, reveling in the way she shivers beneath me. Her skin is like silk under my lips, and I can’t get enough. I make my way down her body, worshipping every inch of her with my mouth.

When I reach the apex of her thighs, I look up at her, silently asking for permission. Ophelia nods, her fingers tangling in my hair. I dive in, tasting her for the first time.

She’s exquisite—sweet and aromatic and perfect. I lose myself in her, using my tongue to explore and tease. Ophelia’s thighs tremble on either side of my head, her grip on my hair tightening as I find a particularly sensitive spot.

I double down on my efforts, determined to make her fall apart. Her hips buck against my face, and I hold her steady with my hands on her thighs. I can feel her getting close, her body tensing beneath me.

‘Maddox,’ she gasps, her voice breathy and desperate. ‘Please, I need⁠—’

I redouble my efforts, sliding two fingers inside her as I suck on her clit. Ophelia cries out, her back arching off the bed as she comes undone. I work her through it, gentling my touches as she comes down from her high.

When I finally pull away, I look up to see Ophelia staring at me with wide, shocked eyes.

I can’t help but grin, feeling a surge of pride at her reaction. ‘Just the beginning,’ I promise, crawling back up her body to kiss her deeply.

I pull back slightly, my breath coming in short pants as I gaze down at Ophelia. Her blue eyes are dark with desire, her lips swollen from our kisses. I can’t help but marvel at how beautiful she looks, flushed and wanting beneath me.

‘Are you ready for more?’ I ask, my voice husky with need.

Ophelia nods frantically, her hands gripping my shoulders. ‘Please,’ she gasps out, her hips bucking up against mine.

I groan at the feeling of her heat against me, barely able to control myself. But I know I need to take this slow, to make sure she’s ready for what’s to come. I look over at Troy, who’s watching us with hungry eyes.

‘Why don’t you come give our omega a kiss?’ I suggest, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

Troy doesn’t need to be told twice. He moves up the bed, capturing Ophelia’s lips in a searing kiss as I begin to push her legs apart. I can smell her arousal, sweet and intoxicating, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to bury myself in her right then and there.

Mace and Rhys move closer, their hands roaming over Ophelia’s body. Mace cups her breasts, thumbs brushing over her nipples, while Rhys trails his fingers along her sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

Ophelia moans into Troy’s mouth, her body arching into our touches. I can’t take my eyes off her, watching as she comes undone under our collective attention. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, I position myself at her entrance. I lock eyes with her as Troy breaks the kiss, giving her a moment to catch her breath.

‘Ready?’ I ask again, needing to hear her say it.

‘Yes,’ Ophelia breathes out, her voice filled with need. ‘Please, Maddox. I need you.’

Those words are all it takes. I push into her slowly, groaning at the tight, wet heat that envelops me. Ophelia gasps, her eyes widening as I fill her. I pause once I’m fully seated, giving her time to adjust.

‘You okay?’ I ask, my voice strained with the effort of holding still.

Ophelia nods, her hands gripping my biceps. ‘Yes,’ she says. ‘Move, please.’

I don’t need to be told twice. I start to move, setting a steady rhythm that has Ophelia moaning beneath me. Troy captures her lips again, swallowing her cries as I pick up the pace.

Mace and Rhys continue their exploration of Ophelia’s body, their touches adding to her pleasure. I can feel her getting close, her inner walls starting to flutter around me.

‘That’s it, sweetheart,’ I encourage her, my hips snapping forward with more force. ‘Let go for us. Show us how good we make you feel.’

Ophelia breaks away from Troy’s kiss, her head thrown back in ecstasy. ‘Oh god,’ she cries out. ‘I’m so close. Please, don’t stop.’

I grin, feeling a surge of pride at her words. ‘I may not have a knot,’ I say, my voice low and husky, ‘but I bet I can make you scream.’

With that, I shift my angle slightly, hitting that spot inside her that makes her see stars. Ophelia’s eyes fly open, a loud moan escaping her lips. I keep up the relentless pace, feeling her getting closer and closer to the edge.

‘Come on, Ophelia,’ I urge her. ‘Come for us. Let us hear you.’

As if my words are the final push she needs, Ophelia shatters. She cries out, her body arching off the bed as her orgasm washes over her. The sight and feel of her coming undone is enough to push me over the edge as well. I bury my face in her neck, groaning as I find my release inside her.

For a moment, we’re both still, our heavy breathing the only sound in the room. Then, slowly, I lift my head to look at her. Ophelia’s eyes are half-lidded, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

‘That was…’ she trails off, seemingly at a loss for words.

I chuckle, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. ‘We’re nowhere near done with you yet.’

I pull out slowly, mindful of her sensitivity. As I move back, Mace takes my place between Ophelia’s legs. His large frame dwarfs her, but the gentle way he cups her face belies his size.

‘My turn, gorgeous,’ he rumbles, his voice deep with desire.

Ophelia nods eagerly, her hands reaching for him. As Mace starts to enter her, I move up to the head of the bed, cradling Ophelia’s head in my lap. She looks up at me, her blue eyes filled with trust and desire.

‘You’re doing so well,’ I murmur, stroking her hair. ‘Just relax and let us take care of you.’

Ophelia’s response is cut off by a gasp as Mace fully seats himself inside her. Her eyes flutter closed, her mouth falling open in a silent moan. I can’t take my eyes off her face, watching as pleasure overtakes her features.

Mace sets a steady pace, his large hands gripping Ophelia’s hips. The bed creaks beneath us, the sound mixing with Ophelia’s moans and our collective heavy breathing. The air is thick with the scent of sex and arousal, our pheromones mingling in a heady cocktail.

Troy moves to Ophelia’s side, his hand replacing Mace’s on her breast. He rolls her nipple between his fingers, eliciting a sharp cry from her. Rhys is on her other side, his mouth latched onto her neck, no doubt leaving marks that will last for days.

I continue to stroke Ophelia’s hair, murmuring words of encouragement. ‘That’s it, sweetheart,’ I say softly. ‘You’re taking him so well. You look so beautiful like this.’

Ophelia’s eyes flutter open, locking onto mine. The intensity of her gaze takes my breath away. There’s so much emotion swirling in those blue depths—desire, yes, but also trust.

‘Maddox,’ she gasps out, her voice breathy and strained. ‘I’m close. So close.’

I smile down at her, my free hand moving to cup her cheek. ‘Then come for us, beautiful,’ I tell her. ‘Let go. We’ve got you.’

As if my words are the final push she needs, Ophelia cries out, her body arching off the bed as her orgasm washes over her. Mace groans, his hips stuttering as he follows her over the edge, his knot swelling and locking them together.

For a moment, the room is silent save for our heavy breathing. Then, slowly, Mace maneuvers them onto their sides, careful not to jostle his knot. Ophelia whimpers softly at the movement, her body oversensitive.

I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. ‘You’re doing so well,’ I murmur. ‘Just rest for a bit. We’ve got all night.’

Ophelia nods sleepily, her eyes already starting to drift closed. I exchange a look with the others over her head. We all know this is just the beginning. We have a long night ahead of us, taking turns caring for our omega through her heat.

But as I watch Ophelia’s face relax in sleep, I can’t help but feel a sense of rightness settle over me. This is where we’re meant to be. This is who we’re meant to be with. And for the first time ever, our pack is going to be complete.