Knot the Witch Next Door (Knotty Streak Omegaverse #3.5)

CHAPTER TEN – Deacon

The dinner couldn’t have gone better. I’d been fuming when my mom yanked me into the house and thrust me in front of her chosen Omega. She introduced us, so overly sweet about it that I fought not to roll my eyes. The woman’s parents stood to the side as if holding their breaths.

I already knew this Omega though. This past summer, I had gone to my friend John’s summer house where we had met Octavia Kent. She had slipped out from her family’s house to come to a party, and the second John had touched her, they were lost to one another. She’d went into heat and he’d claimed her. Or, at least, that’s what he said. Yet here she was being introduced to me as an unclaimed Omega.

Octavia and I were not compatible. She didn’t have a sparkling gleam of mischief in her smile or a supple mouth that could make me hard just looking at it. Yet it made our families happy to see us getting along. Whatever was going on with her and John, I didn’t know, but there was a lot of tension between her and her parents, and I could sympathize.

I’d gotten Octavia’s number, not for myself, but so I could send it to John. Not once all evening did either of us mention the summer or my friend, but she gave me a single slow nod when she typed her number into my cell. Whatever was going on, I hoped the two of them worked it out.

Mom was in a tremendously good mood after our guests left. She went with Edward to pick up Kat from her ballet practice leaving Rosemary and I to relax for a moment alone in the house. I shared with her the story about Octavia and John, and she was blown away.

“Holy crap. The things that Omegas have to put up with. It’s ridiculous.” Rosemary kicked off her heels and sat very unladylike on the couch. “I feel so bad for Octavia if she loves John. He’s the one that’s a physical therapist for kids, right?” At my nod, she sighed. “He’s super sweet, but I bet he isn’t from the right family or some bullshit like that in the eyes of her family. I swear Omegas are kept locked up and paraded around like prized breeding dogs. I’m so glad I’m a Beta.”

“You really think they’d lock her up?” Some families could be strict, but since I knew so few Omegas, I couldn’t guess.

“I wouldn’t doubt it. Milla has told me how strict many of the families are of her classmates. Thank God her parents are wonderful people. Not that she gets out to meet any Alphas stuck inside working and helping her mom every day. Poor girl.” She took out her phone and started to tap in a text. “Speaking of which, I’m going over to help her with packing up stuff to mail out.”

Carmilla was in no way a poor girl. I was an incredibly lucky Alpha. I didn’t want her to meet anyone else. She was all mine. Though I had yet to come up with a plan to make that happen. “I can come over and help. That way it’s done faster. We can hang out like old times.”

“You just want to steal more of her mom’s cookies.” Rosemary stuck her tongue out at me.

“To be fair, everyone wants more of those cookies.”

We both laughed, and she frowned at her phone. “Aw. Milla doesn’t feel very well. Maybe the day was too long for her at the farm. We’ll have to steal cookies another time.”

Every warning bell rang in my head at the same time. Carmilla didn’t feel well? No. Not even the worst flu kept her down. One Halloween she had her tonsils removed, but she still was out there that night dressed in costume and going door to door with a sign that said ‘trick or treat.’

I stood and headed for the door. “I’m going to go for a walk and maybe tinker in the garage for a while.”

“Okay.” Rosemary yawned and stretched. “I’m going to take a long, hot bath, and catch up on sleep. If you text John and give him Octavia’s number, let me know how things work out. I love a good romance story.”

Throwing on my jacket and boots, I then sent John a quick text. If I was him and Octavia was Carmilla, I’d want my buddy to send me her number right away. Nothing would keep me from her.

There was no doubt in my mind where I would find Carmilla. Something had been off at the farm, but we’d gotten thoroughly distracted in the maze and didn’t get a chance to talk. I exited our backyard and headed into the Rookwoods’. I smirked to see a dim light up in the tree house.

My dick was getting hard remembering the other night in the tree. I silently told myself we’d talk first before we let ourselves be distracted by anything else. But fuck, just the thought of her screaming my name as she came…

I climbed up the ladder and knocked on the door. Even before I heard anything, I pushed up, but the door didn’t budge.

Furrowing my brows, I gave it more muscle. Still nothing.

I knocked again. Worry eating at my heart. “Carmilla?”

There was an intake of breath from within. She was in the tree house. Closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, I caught her scent. Sweet yet spicy, more enticing than anything else in the world. What was wrong?

She could not keep me away from her. My fist hit the door harder. “Carmilla! Are you okay?”

“Stop it. Go away.” Her voice was rough and it hitched with the last word. There was no way in hell I was going anywhere.

“Open the door. Let me help you with whatever is wrong.”

“No!” There was a bang like she stomped on the floor. “Why are you even here?”

I want to help you. Good or bad, I want to go through everything with you. Nothing would scare me away. “I’m worried about you. You were acting weird at the farm and now you’re upset about something.”

“Oh, so you think I’m weird.” Carmilla huffed and sniffled. “Go home, Deacon. I’m an Omega and you’re an Alpha. We shouldn’t be alone.”

What was with her bringing in the stupid laws now? She hadn’t cared before. I was ready to bash the tree down and yank her out. “I’m not leaving until I see you and we talk. I’ll stay here all night if I have to.”

“Go away or I’ll call the cops.”

I bared my teeth and swallowed my growl. There was no way she’d do that. “I dare you.”

To that, Carmilla was silent. I’d hoped to evoke a challenge and get her to open the door, but maybe she was really calling the police. Or even texting her father. I couldn’t imagine what I’d say if he walked outside. No matter what, I wasn’t leaving until I found out what was wrong.

A minute went by. Despite the chill, perspiration beaded on my forehead. I would take on the world for her. My heart pounded in my chest.

“Not calling anyone, are you?” I pushed at the trap door once more. One of the pieces of wood cracked, and she gasped from inside. “If you don’t open this door, I’m going to force it open.”

“Goddammit.” The floor creaked as Carmilla moved, and the sound of a deadbolt sliding had me raise my brows. “I’m only doing this because I don’t want you breaking my tree house. I have no idea why you’re here.”

I clenched my jaw. Why would she question my motives? I pushed open the trap door and climbed until my upper half was in the tree house. My eyes widened.

The small space was piled with several blankets and pillows. There was a cooler stuffed in a corner by the tree trunk and books nearly toppled over on two new shelves nailed unevenly to a wall. Wrappers from candies littered the floor near her feet, and a tiny LED lantern that looked like it had a real flame sat on top of the cooler.

Carmilla hugged herself as she moved as far away from me as she could get. Her pale hair had half fallen out from a loosen bun, and her eyes were red and puffy.

The pressure around my heart tightened and fury rose in my veins. She’d been crying. Whoever or whatever upset her would pay. I would not rest until everything in her world was right again.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain with your heat? I can help—” I reached for her and she batted my hand away with a small pillow.

“I don’t want your help.” Carmilla wrapped her arms around the pillow. Big tears shimmered in her eyes, and my heart felt like it was shattering. “Go home.”

“Please tell me what’s wrong.” I had never pleaded with anyone for anything in my life, but for her, I would fall to my knees and grovel. Every nerve was on fire with the need to make things right. I held out my hand toward her again. “Carmilla, let’s talk about this. If you don’t want me in here, come to my house.”

“I’m not welcome over there,” she spat and curled her legs up to herself.

I scowled. What the fuck? “You’ve always been welcome in our house. You’re Rose’s best friend and her maid of honor, and my…” What? She was once my childhood friend, but hell, she was so much more now. “My friend too.”

“And what do you think Rose would think if she found out about us?” Carmilla wiped at her cheeks. “She’d hate me. Or she’d hate you. Or both of us! I can’t lose my best friend. I won’t.”

Was that what she was afraid of? I gave her a tentative smile. “Hey, Rose loves you. She could never hate you. Me, maybe, but I can live with it.”

She looked at me with big, horrified eyes. “Why would you want to do that? She’s your family. Your mother already hates me.”

“She does not.” Mom wasn’t fond of Carmilla, but I wouldn’t believe she hated her. My mom just had stuck up ideals, and Carmilla wasn’t a proper Omega from a prominent family. I loved that Carmilla wasn’t a prim and stuffy aristocratic lady. She was far more down to earth. Beautiful, unique, creative, kind, and so very sexy.

“Okay, hate is too strong of a word. Claudia wouldn’t waste that much energy on anything to do with me. She disapproves of me. If she knew you were here…” She shook her head and squeezed out a few more tears. “She would never let you spend any of your time or energy on me. She’d disown you.”

I wanted to protest, but I wasn’t certain what my mom would do if I told her I wanted to claim Carmilla. Not that it would stop me. I knew what I wanted. “I’m a full grown Alpha. My mother doesn’t get a say on what I do anymore. Her opinion of us shouldn’t matter to you.”

“It should matter to you,” she shot back feverishly. “She’s your mom! And I won’t be the reason for any break between the two of you.”

“Carmilla.” I hissed between my teeth. The fact that my mom has made her feel bad pissed me off. I had no idea how she acted to Carmilla while I was gone at my apprenticeship, but if the way she treated my sisters was any indication, if I never saw my mom again, I would be fine. “If anything ever happened between my mom and I, it wouldn’t be your fault. She’d be completely to blame. I don’t want you thinking you’ve ever done anything wrong. You’ve been a marvelous neighbor, the best of friends to Rose, and to me… you’ve become so much more.”

Carmilla pressed the pillow to her face trying to hide a sudden wracking sob. I climbed up farther, reaching out to her to comfort her, but she pressed her back up against the wall. “No! Please go away. Go back to your new Omega.”

I gripped the edge of the trap door and frowned. “Do you mean Octavia? She’s—”

“Oh my God! That was Octavia Kent?” She gasped and face planted herself with the pillow again.

“You know her?” My mind frantically tried to grasp what was going on. Had Carmilla seen us at the house? Rosemary might have told her that my mom was attempting to pair me up with Octavia, but I never had any intention to do so, no matter who that Omega might be. I only had eyes for Carmilla.

“Everyone knows her. She was a few years older than me, so we never met, but she was one of the most popular Omegas at our school. She is what our teachers told us to strive to be. Beautiful, feminine, submissive.” Carmilla suddenly went limp. Tears ran down her cheeks. “You have the perfect Omega. Leave me alone.”

Wait. Did Carmilla think Octavia and I were together? No wonder she was flipping out. I let out a long breath and spoke in a soft tone. “Hey gorgeous, Octavia and I aren’t compatible. In fact, she was claimed by a buddy of mine. There’s only one perfect Omega in my life, and that’s you.” She gave a tiny whimper and I leaned toward her as if crawling on my knees to her. There was no other way to fix this than to show her what was in my heart. “I want you as my mate. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’ll do anything for you.”

“No,” it came out as a rough whisper as she shook her head. She didn’t look my way but squeezed her eyes shut. Her knuckles were white as she squeezed the pillow. “It can’t be, Deacon. For so many reasons. So please, I’m begging you, leave me be.”

I wanted to roar and shake some sense into her. She was mine . It couldn’t be any other way, but I knew her. If I pushed this any harder right now, it would guarantee she would never speak to me again. As it was, I didn’t know if she’d let me near her again.

Every instinct said to fight. But that would mean fighting her, and that I couldn’t do. I couldn’t force her to want to be with me. I didn’t want her with me if she didn’t come of her own free will.

Had I been wrong that she felt the same way? Was I seeing my own feelings mirrored on her when they weren’t really there? Fuck. This wasn’t the way I’d wanted it to happen.

I shoved back, lowering down a few rungs on the ladder. I’d shared my heart’s desire with her. She knew I wanted her. As much as I wanted to fight, I needed to respect her wish for me to leave her alone and wait for her to make the next move.

“No matter what you think might happen, I will always want you. In my heart, I believe we were always meant to be together.” My throat tightened. I wasn’t the type to be so free with how I felt, but for Carmilla, she was and always had been the love of my life. She needed to know. “Take all the time you need. I will wait for you forever.”

It fucking killed me to leave. Yet I closed the trap door and climbed down the ladder.

On the ground, I stared up at the tree house and imagined myself inside with her. I’d wrap her in my arms and hold her until every single doubt fled from her heart. I’d hold her until she knew only peace and love, and she couldn’t stop smiling.

I walked the neighborhood, and the one next to ours. Then I sat in our backyard where the moon and I held vigil for my beautiful Omega.