Page 45 of Knot A Trace: Part One

I was an asshole to her, and she was still kind.

Omega…

My inner Alpha stirs awake, wanting nothing more than to knock down her door and take her into my arms again.

I want…

Knock. Knock. Knock.

There’s a frantic knocking at her front door, accompanied by two muffled voices.

The shower has stopped running, so I assume Skylar will answer the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I rinse my mouth, then head back to the front room, my headache growing as the incessant knocking continues.

“Skylar?” a panicked voice says. “Skylar, open the door!”

I unlock her front door and pull it open.

There’s a young Omega facing me, her eyes shiny with tears.

Only she’s not alone.

My cousin stands next to her, a look of confusion etched in his features.

“River?” he asks cautiously. “I…can we come in?”

Something is seriously wrong.

I nod and step aside to let them in at the same time Landon pulls up to the driveway in her car.

Great.

15

SKYLAR

I didn’t need another shower, but I refused to let River see me cry.

It also doesn’t hurt to wash off his scent again.

I don’t care what he says—I’m going to work.

If I don’t, I don’t know what I’ll do.

I can’t rest.

Every time I close my eyes, April’s there, and fear claws at my throat.

I spend more time than necessary in the shower, trying to figure out how to give River his jacket back.

What was I thinking? I can tell he didn’t buy my lie, either.

I’m sure it still smells like me, even though I spot cleaned as much of it as I could and rubbed the teeth marks out.

It’s still in my bedroom, draped over my desk chair.

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