Knot Over (Omega Den #3)

14. Hux

Chapter 14

Hux

M y mind replays the events in slow motion, the images refusing to fade no matter how hard I try to shake them away. Kay's fear-stricken eyes, wide and pleading, her pained cries that seemed to rip through the silence like a blade—every moment echoes in my head, an endless loop of torment that tightens its grip on my sanity. I clutch the bathroom sink so hard my knuckles turn white, the cold porcelain grounding me even as a growl of frustration rumbles in my chest, threatening to break free like a caged beast.

Three fucking days.

Three excruciatingly long days of watching her suffer, watching her pleasure at a distance. I kept my distance, but all I wanted was to be there for her, to hold her, to whisper in her ear that everything would be okay. But I couldn’t.

The mere thought of her taking Heat, of the destruction it could bring, claws at my mind, relentless and unforgiving. The images of her writhing in pain, trembling uncontrollably, her body betraying her—Kay could have died. That possibility seizes me with a cold terror that sinks deep into my bones, a fear I can’t shake no matter how much I try.

If I hadn’t been so damn focused on hiding Michelle’s plans, maybe I would have seen the signs sooner. Maybe I could have stopped this from happening. But I thought I was protecting her. I thought keeping her at the Den would keep her safe, shield her from the darkness closing in around us. It was a stupid fantasy, a delusion that I could control the uncontrollable.

It’s only a matter of time before Michelle demands that all of Sterling's unmated omegas register with the Bramwell Sanctuary, and that's a problem we aren’t ready to face. Not yet. Candi, Creed, Kay—three omegas in my care, three lives that depend on me. I can’t afford to fail them, but the weight of that responsibility is crushing me.

Pixie installed new cameras yesterday, and for a brief moment, they eased the gnawing anxiety in my chest. But I know it’s not enough. It’s never enough. The paperwork on my desk is piling up, overflowing with the responsibilities of reopening the Den to the public. Everything is spiraling out of control, but none of it matters right now.

All I care about is Kay.

I lift my gaze to the mirror, barely recognizing the man staring back at me. The face is worn, lined with the stress of too many sleepless nights, my beard is more gray than black these days. Dark circles shadow my eyes, making me look older, more exhausted. I sigh, turning on the faucet and splashing cold water on my face, but it does nothing to cool the fire raging inside me. My cock has been hard for hours, throbbing with a need that only she can satisfy. The idea of anyone else easing her heat is unbearable. I’m supposed to be her alpha, her protector, yet I’ve been reduced to a bystander, helpless as she suffers.

My reflection stares back at me, a man changed by the past few months—eyes harder, darker, filled with a desperation I can barely contain. "I should have been in there with her," I murmur to myself, my voice a harsh rasp in the empty bathroom.

My responsibilities as an alpha go beyond just protecting. I’m supposed to nurture, provide, and ensure the safety of my pack. I’ve failed them in so many ways, and the thought alone is enough to drive me to my knees.

Creed and Vaughns broken bond.

Adam hurting Kay.

Kay getting hooked on Heat.

Candice, my sister, dealing with my absence.

All the things I missed, the things that I didn't protect my pack from, weigh down on me. But I can’t afford to be paralyzed by it. I have to push forward, to be better, stronger. For Kay, for our pack. I’ll become whatever I need to be to keep them safe.

The passage of time has done little to ease the tension coiled tight within me. It's getting harder and harder to keep my distance. The memory of her pain is still fresh, a wound that refuses to heal. And the more time passes, the more I realize how much I need her.

I can’t stay away any longer.

With renewed determination, I leave the bathroom and head towards Creed's nest, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope. I need to see her, to make sure she’s okay. The thought of her alone, suffering, tears at me.

"Kitten, can I come in?" I call softly as I push open the door. My pack's pheromones hit me like a freight train, and I greedily inhale their scents, grounding myself in the familiar mix of comfort and desire. Vaughn and Creed are tangled together fast asleep in the nest. Alone.

Kay isn't here.

A cold knot of panic tightens in my chest as I scan the empty space.

Where is she?

I race through the bottom floor of the club, each empty room only heightening my anxiety. My heart pounds in my ears, the silence mocking me with every step.

Fuck.

I take the stairs two at a time, my mind racing as fast as my feet. The upstairs loft looms before me, and I head straight for my room, clinging to the desperate hope that Candi was right—that Kay has been spending every night in my bed, finding some solace there. I push open the door, expecting to see her curled up in the sheets, but the room is empty. Her scent lingers, wrapping around me like a cruel reminder, but it offers no comfort, only a deepening sense of dread. My eyes dart to the bed, where the blanket is conspicuously missing. My heart skips a beat, the dread turning into a full-blown panic.

Where the hell is she?

Don’t panic.

Every dark thought rushes to the surface, threatening to overwhelm me—Adam finding her, the Hounds taking her from me. A million and one scenarios whirl through my mind, each more terrifying than the last. But no, the alarms would have gone off. We would have known.

I fumble in my pocket for my phone, pulling up the camera feed with trembling fingers. But there’s nothing—no movement notifications, no alerts, nothing to suggest anyone has breached the Den. Yet the gnawing anxiety refuses to relent. I need to see for myself. My breath comes in shallow bursts as I flip through each camera feed, scanning every corner of the Den.

The back alley. The bar. The hall outside my office. The stairs leading to the loft. All empty. I growl in frustration, feeling the walls closing in on me. Where else could she be? Just as I’m about to abandon the room and continue the search, a soft cry reaches my ears. It’s so faint, I almost miss it—a sound muffled by the thick walls, but unmistakably coming from the direction of the closet. My heart clenches painfully in my chest as I approach, every instinct screaming at me to be prepared for the worst.

Why would she be in the closet?

I hesitate for a fraction of a second, my hand hovering over the doorknob. The fear of what I might find on the other side nearly paralyzes me, but I force myself to push the door open, bracing for whatever awaits me inside.

"Kay?" I call out, my voice trembling slightly as I push the door open. The sight that greets me makes my heart plummet. Kay is curled up in the back of my closet, clutching Vaughn’s shirt to her chest like it’s the only thing tethering her to this world. The sight breaks something deep inside me. Her distress is palpable, her rose scent tinged with something bitter and sour. Fear and despair interwoven with the sweetness. She deserves better than this—better than the cold, hard floor of a closet, surrounded by old clothes and blankets, seeking comfort in the darkness.

"Why are you on the floor, baby?" I ask softly, sliding down the wall next to her. The urge to pull her into my arms, to shelter her from whatever demons are chasing her, is almost overwhelming. But I hold back, not wanting to invade her space when she’s clearly struggling.

Her body shakes with the force of her sobs, and she buries her face deeper into Vaughn’s shirt, as if trying to disappear into the fabric. The sound of her crying cuts through me like a knife, and I’m torn between giving her the comfort she desperately needs and respecting her need to be alone. But when she finally looks up at me, her stormy gray eyes puffy and red, it shatters the last of my restraint.

"I feel so lost without her, Hux," she sobs, her voice cracking with the weight of her grief. "I thought she was dead this whole time. I had given up on her. If I had just tried harder…"

Her words trail off into another sob, and I can see the anguish etched into every line of her face. The pain she’s carrying, the guilt she’s shouldering—it’s too much for anyone to bear. I can’t stand to see her like this, so broken and lost.

I reach out and grab her, pulling her into my arms before I can second-guess myself. She collapses against me, her body trembling as I hold her close, my chest tightening as her bitter scent coats my tongue, masking the sweetness of her roses. A deep purr rumbles in my chest, a desperate attempt to soothe her pain, to comfort her in any way I can.

"Rebecca’s death isn’t your fault, kitten. It’s mine," I admit softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

She looks up at me, her eyes wide with shock, silent tears tracking down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumbs, lifting her chin so she has to look at me. "It’s not your fault," she whispers, her voice trembling. "You couldn’t have known."

" I should have protected you both better," I say, my voice breaking with the weight of the confession. "I told her not to fight, Kay. She trusted me, and look where it got us. If I hadn’t—"

She cuts me off, pressing her forehead against mine, grounding me in the warmth of her touch. "You did what you thought was best. You were trying to keep her safe. We’ve all made choices we regret, Hux. Her death isn’t your fault, okay?" She leans back to look at me, her eyes pleading with me to believe her. "I don’t blame you."

Her words are meant to soothe, but the guilt still gnaws at me, sharp and unforgiving. As her alpha I'm supposed to be the one soothing her. "I should have been stronger," I whisper, the confession slipping out before I can stop it. "For you. For Rebecca... For everyone."

She shakes her head, her fingers gripping Vaughn’s shirt tighter as if drawing strength from it. "You’ve been strong, Hux. Stronger than any of us. But you can’t carry all this alone. You can't keep things from us anymore."

I hold her tighter, my heart aching with the truth of her words. She’s right. I’ve been carrying the weight of this for too long, trying to protect everyone, trying to be the alpha they need. But I’m only one man, and the burden is too heavy. "I just want to protect you. To make sure you’re safe. And be the alpha you deserve… If you’ll let me."

She looks up at me, her eyes softening, and for a moment, the fear and pain in them recede, replaced by something warm and hopeful. "I’m not going anywhere, Hux. I trust you." Her words, simple as they are, fill me with a resolve I didn’t know I had left. I press a kiss to her forehead, my heart pounding as I vow to keep her safe.

No matter what it takes.

Her eyes drop to my lips briefly, and I growl softly at the thought of tasting her after all this time. The longing I’ve kept buried surges to the surface, making my pulse quicken. Our gazes lock, and I can see the same need mirrored in her eyes.

Slowly, she leans in, her breath mingling with mine.

My heart pounds in my chest, the world narrowing down to just the two of us. When her lips finally touch mine, it’s like a dam breaking. The kiss is gentle at first, a tentative exploration, but the pent-up desire, the longing, and the grief soon take over. I deepen the kiss, pouring all my emotions into it, hoping she can feel how much I’ve missed her, how much I need her. A deep rumbling purr vibrates through me and her hands slide up to my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as she presses herself closer. The taste of her, the feel of her lips moving against mine, is intoxicating.

I pull back just enough to rest my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. Her scent is stronger now, and I can physically feel another wave of heat coming on. The familiar mix of roses and something uniquely her fills my senses, making it hard to think clearly.

"Your heat is coming back kitten," I whisper, my voice heavy with concern. I know I should leave, get Vaughn and Creed. She needs them to get through this. All I do when I’m near her is hurt her.

But the thought of leaving her...

It twists something deep inside me, a primal instinct to stay and protect her, to be the one who comforts her. But I also know my presence could complicate things. I’ve always wanted to be the alpha she needs, but what if my being here does more harm than good?

"I know," she whispers, her voice trembling as her eyes gloss over with a fresh wave of tears. "It’s why I came in here. I can’t take another wave, Hux. I can’t."

Her voice cracks, filled with desperation, and my frown deepens as I search her eyes, trying to understand. My gaze follows hers to a small white bottle lying on the floor, and my stomach drops.

She was going to take another Heat pill?

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, and I clench my jaw tightly, trying to suppress the growl rising in my throat. The urge to bark out a command, to demand she never do something like that again, is almost overpowering. But I force myself to stop. I can’t give in to my instinct to control or command her. Right now, I need to put her needs first—her fears, her mistakes. I need to be the alpha she can lean on, not the one who adds to her burden.

Softening my voice, I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "Kitten, I get it. I understand how unbearable it feels, how tempting it is to find an easy way out. But this—" I glance at the pill bottle, the weight of it heavy between us, "this isn’t the answer, baby. You’re stronger than you think, and you’re not alone in this. Our pack will get you through it. I promise." She looks up at me, her eyes brimming with tears, the faintest flicker of hope in them.

It’s enough for now. Enough to keep her going.

"Alpha," she murmurs, her voice shaky, desperation clinging to every word. "I need you, Hux. I need your knot. Please."

Her plea hits me like a punch to the gut, tearing down the last of my resolve. The raw need in her voice, the way her fingers grip my shirt like I’m her lifeline—it’s too much to bear. I can’t leave her, not when she’s begging me to stay, not when I know the consequences of denying her.

"Kitten," I say softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her sweat soaked face. "You know I’d do anything for you. But are you sure this is what you want? Vaughn and Creed can help—"

"I want you ," she interrupts, her voice firm despite the tears still shining in her eyes. "I need my alpha."

Her words send a rush of conflicting emotions through me. The thought of being the one she turns to in her time of need fills me with a sense of pride, but there’s also a nagging fear that I might fail her again.

"I just don’t want to hurt you," I admit, my voice barely more than a whisper. "I would die if I hurt you."

"You won’t," she assures me, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I think… the only way to break my heat is with an alpha knot." The weight of her words settles over me, and I realize the full extent of what she’s saying.

The heat she’s experiencing—it’s not natural.

It’s been induced by the Heat drug, a substance so potent it forces omegas into relentless cycles of heat that only an alpha’s knot can break. It’s a drug designed for one purpose—to breed. The breeder facilities used it to keep their omegas in a perpetual state of need, to ensure they would mate as often as possible. Without an alpha’s knot, the heat doesn’t just subside; it builds, intensifies, until the omega is driven to madness.

That’s why the overdoses have been happening. Omegas, desperate for relief, keep taking dose after dose, not understanding that only an alpha’s knot can release them from the drug’s vicious grip. The thought sends a chill down my spine.

I can’t let that happen to Kay. I won’t.

"I’ll stay with you," I vow, my voice firm with the promise of protection. "I won’t leave you. Not ever again."

Her grip on me tightens, and I can see the fear slowly giving way to trust. "I need you, Hux," she whispers, her voice trembling. "Please."

"I’m here, kitten," I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "And I’m going to make sure you get through this."

As I lower her gently onto the bed, I can feel her body trembling, her scent thickening with the telltale signs of her heat reaching its peak. She’s right—without an alpha’s knot, the heat will only grow more intense, more unbearable.

I won’t let it consume her. Not while I’m here.