Page 99 of Knot my First Rodeo

My first thought is immediate and terrifying, but also familiar in a way it shouldn't be. It’s like some part of me has finally clicked into place.

Oh.

My stomach drops.

Oh, shit.

The guys told me after my first heat I'd be able to recognize my scent match. I just never expected it to be all three of them, or for the realization to hit me hard enough that I suddenly forget how to breathe.

My body does still feel different. Not bad exactly, just different enough that I keep noticing it. Every brush of someone's hand lingers a little longer than it should. Every time one of the guys walks into a room, awareness follows before I can stop it. It's not the frantic desperation from a few days ago. It's quieter now, worse in some ways.

Clint shifts beside me, eyes opening slowly. He blinks once, then looks down at me.

"Morning."

I smile despite myself. "Morning."

His hand squeezes my hip once before he pushes himself upright.

"You hungry?"

Something about that makes me smile wider.

"A little."

A minute later, Briggs groans from the other side of me and throws an arm over his eyes.

"Why are you people talking?"

"Because it's morning."

“Sounds terrible,” he mumbles.

I bite my lip to keep from laughing again.

The sound earns me a look from Briggs, the kind that lingers a second too long.

I’m waiting for one of them to say something, do something, but nobody sits upright and announces we’re scent matches. Nobody looks at me differently.

For a second, I wonder if I'm wrong. Maybe scent matches aren't as obvious as everyone makes them sound. Maybe I'm imagining it.

I suddenly wish my mom was here, so badly it hurts. She would've explained all the omega stuff nobody ever bothered teaching me. Instead, all I have is a handful of health classes from high school, and a teacher who spent more time talking about safety pamphlets than actual relationships.

"You'll just know when you find your scent match."

That was the entire lesson.

Super helpful.

Now I'm lying in bed next to three men who feel like mine, and I have absolutely no idea what happens next.

What does happen next, is Briggs rolls onto his side and steals half the blanket wrapped around my legs.

"Hey!"

"You weren't using it."

"I was absolutely using it."