"Afternoon," Randall said, greeting Cassidy with a quick nod. "The omegas are waiting for you inside in the kitchen."
Samson went over the door and held it open for her, shielding her from the worst of his brothers' stares. She looked up at him and took a deep breath before stepping inside. As he closed the door behind her, Samson caught a fresh wave of anxiety wafting off her.
And he wasn't the only one who noticed it.
"She all right?" Kian asked behind him.
Samson shook his head before turning around. There was no point in pretending. His brothers would be able to sense his lies just as easily as he sensed Cassidy's.
Of course, that didn't mean he needed to tell them the whole truth. "She says she's worried about finding her place in our world."
"Maybe that's because she doesn't belong here," Ty was quick to say.
That didn't take long. The hairs on the back of Samson's neck stood on end at the insult. A growl of warning rumbled deep in the back of his throat. His chest expanded as he moved toward his one-time friend.
But before he could get to Ty's throat, Randall stepped in his path. The older alpha might have been greying at the temples and nearly half a foot shorter than Samson, but he still radiated a cool, controlled energy that made it clear that—on this land, at least—he was in charge.
"You don't want to do that," he said.
Samson ground his back teeth together. He clenched his fist so hard the nails bit into the flesh of his palm. But no matter how badly he wanted to shut Ty's mouth, he wouldn't insult Randall by punching another alpha on his property.
Once Samson backed down and uncurled his fists, Randall turned toward Ty. "And the last person I remember talking about who belonged here was Mia's father," he said. "And I'm still cleaning that bastard's blood off of my walls."
Ty narrowed his eyes. "That was different."
"Was it?" Randall shot back.
"Mia is an omega," Ty said. "Cassidy is a beta. Don't get me wrong. She's a fine woman, but we can't pretend she's something that she's not. You can't mate with a beta. Shit, you can't even knot one."
"Yes, you can," Samson said.
The porch went dead quiet. For a moment, no one said anything. They barely even breathed. All the other alphas did was stare at Samson in shock.
"You're saying you knotted Cassidy?" Ty finally asked.
Samson gritted his teeth. He hated sharing their personal business, but right now, he couldn't think of any other way to shut them up…other than cracking their jawbones.
"Three times, so far," he said.
Kian let out a dark chuckle. "Sounds like she fits in here just fine."
Randall scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully. "I've never heard of an alpha knotting a beta before. I didn't think it was possible."
"Neither did I," Samson admitted. "But it is. Cassidy may not be an omega, but she is mine. I need you to either accept that fact or get the fuck out our lives right now."
"You know I don't have a problem," Kian was the first to say.
Randall took a second longer. "I've never liked sticking my nose into anyone else's business. I've got enough trouble with my own."
That just left Ty.
All the alphas looked over at him as he rocked back and forth of his heels, thinking. After a couple seconds, he looked up and nodded grudgingly.
"You're right. If you've knotted her, she's yours," he admitted. "I don't get it, but I guess I don't have to. Besides, you're my friend and my brother. I'm not going anywhere."
Samson nodded and felt some of the tension ease out of his shoulders. Maybe he wouldn't have to knock anyone out today after all.
"Enough," Randall said, dusting his hands off and starting down the stairs. "The women are here to talk, not us. I've got a pile of boards that need planing, and if you want to spend the afternoon on my land, you've got to help me finish them."
* * *
Cassidy followed the sound of women's voices through the house, past a cozy living room, and into an airy kitchen near the back.
Unlike Samson's sturdy cabin, this home bore the unmistakable mark of a woman's touch. Starched white curtains hung at the windows, and the floor was covered in colorful braided rugs. Jars full of wildflowers stood on every surface.
"Cassidy," Mia whisper-shouted out as soon as she stepped into the room.
Cassidy had a feeling Mia would have called her name louder if she wasn't currently rocking a sleeping baby in her arms.
The two omegas sitting at Mia's side swiveled around to greet her. One was younger and holding another infant. The other was a couple decades older, her long hair streaked with silver, and her green eyes set off by laugh lines.
"Hi, I'm Gail," the older omega said. Being the only one without a baby in her arms, she rose from her seat and enveloped Cassidy in a hug. "I'm so glad you could join us!"
"Thank you so much for the invitation," Cassidy stammered, feeling hopelessly awkward.
"Come, sit down and have some tea."
There were two painted china teapots on the table, and Gail started pouring her a cup from the one closest to her.
"I'm Paige," the younger woman said. "Kian's omega." She lifted up the bundle in her hands. "And this is Isobel. Mia is holding Wyatt."
"It's nice to meet you all," Cassidy said, taking the last empty seat. The babies were so cute, and the women's welcome was so genuinely friendly that she already found her nerves starting to settle. "I've heard so much about you all."
"And we've heard all about you," Paige said, a knowing grin pulling at the corner of her lips.
Cassidy was sure they had. Just like that, all her anxiety came roaring back. "I guess there's been a lot of talk."
"Not after Samson knocked Rowan on his ass yesterday," Mia said.
Strangely, that didn't make Cassidy feel a whole lot better. She
