Knot Over (Omega Den #3)

12. Creed

Chapter 12

Creed

A s I make my way to the kitchen upstairs to grab Kay some water, I chuckle to myself, imagining just how hard Vaughn is trying to resist Kay. I don't think he needs to worry about taking advantage of her. She was pretty clear on what she wanted. Hopefully the alone time will get him out of his head.

I'm stopped in my tracks at the door frame into the loft when I notice Hux sitting on the couch, his head bent low, hands covering his face. Guilt settles heavy in my chest at the sight. I snapped at him earlier, telling him to leave the room was for Kay's sake, but seeing him like this now, I know it’s tearing him apart. His need to protect her, to be by her side, is as strong as mine, and pushing him away is probably driving him crazy.

My poor alpha.

"Hux?" I call softly.

His body stiffens, and he slowly glances up at me. The wild look in his eyes makes my gut clench. Frantic and searching, his nostrils flare as he scents the air, desperately seeking Kay's scent. My skin is saturated with her rose perfume, and I know his instincts are screaming that she’s nearby.

"Creed," he croaks, getting to his feet with a quick, almost jerky movement. "What’s wrong? Is Kay okay? What happened?"

The questions come rapid-fire, his voice laced with anxiety. I hold up a hand to placate him, trying to keep my own composure in check. But deep down, I don't know if she’s okay. I wasn’t when it happened to me, and memories of how out of control I felt resurface.

But I will do anything I can to help her through this.

"She’s fine, alpha," I soothe, making sure to keep my tone steady. "She’s in my nest with Vaughn. I just came upstairs to get her some water."

His shoulders sag in relief, but the tension in his body doesn’t fully ease. "Good." He mutters the word, but his gaze drifts away from mine, landing on the floor. The spicy scent of his anxiety hangs in the air, thick and heavy, practically tangible.

I hesitate for a moment, watching him as he tries to compose himself. It’s clear that he’s struggling, torn between wanting to be near Kay and respecting the boundaries I’ve set. I know how much she means to him, how much he’s sacrificing to keep her safe. Because I care about her just as much.

If it were me, I’d be going insane too.

"Why don’t you go into your office. Into your viewing room?" I suggest, hoping to offer him some semblance of comfort.

This wouldn’t be the first time Hux used that one-way mirror to watch. He doesn't think I know, but Candi caught him watching during one of my heats.

He's a secret voyeur.

His brows shoot up in surprise, the first real sign of hope I’ve seen from him since I walked in. "You’d be okay with me watching you with her?" he asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

I chuckle, stepping fully into the room. "This wouldn’t be the first time you’ve watched me and Vaughn."

A heavy silence descends as he realizes I’ve known all along that he likes to watch me. He swallows thickly, and my smirk widens as I head toward the kitchen, pulling open the fridge to grab a bottle of water before turning to face him again. "You should be there, Hux. She’s our omega, and she needs her alpha near. Mine and Vaughn’s scents may not hurt her, but she needs you." I pause, letting the words sink in. "I need you there too."

"You do?" he croaks.

"Yes." I let the word hang in the air for a moment, watching as he absorbs what I’m saying. "I think she would be more comfortable knowing you were close by. She misses you. When she was asleep in the bathtub, she called out for you."

"She did?" he asks, his voice thick with emotion.

I nod, taking a step closer. "Yeah, she did. She needs you, Hux. We all do. You're our alpha."

The weight of my words settles over him, and I watch as the tension in his body slowly melts away. His shoulders slump, and the strained look in his eyes softens.

"I knew that Michelle wanted to break her and Adam's bond, Creed. That she planned to kill her. I knew, and I didn’t tell her," Hux confesses, his voice heavy with regret.

I run a hand through my disheveled hair, a sigh escaping my lips. "I know. And you kept it from me, too, Hux."

He drags a hand over his peppered beard, his blue eyes locking with mine. "I'm sorry. It was hard being trapped down there. The only thing keeping me going was the fact that I was going to be bringing my kitten's best friend home. And I failed her."

The raw vulnerability in his voice hits me hard, and his scent carries a bitter tang of regret and self-reproach. It’s a side of him I’ve rarely seen—stripped of the alpha's usual control and strength.

My heart aches at the sight of his brokenness. My omega instincts surge, urging me to offer comfort. I step forward, wrapping my arms around him in a tight embrace.

Hux tenses for a moment before his arms come around me, pulling me close. The warmth of his body against mine is a grounding presence, and I can feel his breath shuddering as he tries to hold back his emotions.

"I should have been there for her," he murmurs into my shoulder, his voice muffled by the fabric of my shirt.

"My mother is to blame for this, Hux," I whisper, gently rubbing his back. "She is the one who accused you of killing Dane. She forced all those omegas to take Heat, including me. None of that is your fault."

He nods, his grip on me tightening. "But I should have at least protected her from Adam."

I lean back to look him in the eyes. "Be there for her now. She needs our alpha during her heat, Hux. She’s confused and in pain. As an omega, the only ones who can help her through that are her pack. And that includes you."

"But I can’t be in the same room as her without hurting her more."

"Go to the viewing room. Comfort her from a distance."

We stand there for a few moments, offering each other silent comfort. The tension between us eases as we both take solace in this shared understanding of our roles and responsibilities.