Page 27 of Knot Her Reality

“I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t choose me,” Koda says quietly as if he doesn’t want the others to hear. “What I feel for her? I’ll never find that again. She’s it for me. She’s my future.”

“Damn, man.” I reach over and ruffle his hair. “Maybe don’t let her hear that?”

He laughs as he flushes. “I’m aware it’s a little too soon to start spouting off about forever. I can’t help what I feel, though.”

Lillian wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him into a hug. “Of course, you can’t. I think it’s amazing that you feel that way. I really like her, but I’m definitely not there yet.”

“I don’t think anyone but Koda is,” Jagger says with a laugh.

“Okay, everyone. It’s time to start the interview.” Bree claps her hands, eyes moving around the room to look at each of us.

It doesn’t take long for the conversations around us to die down, which makes Bree happy.

“Okay, things are obviously a bit different this week. Usually, the interview would’ve happened a week ago after the date with the day two suitors, but that obviously didn’t happen. You’ve all had more time to get to know one another than usual, so I’m interested to see how the interview goes.” She glances between the eight of us, and I wonder if she notices the divide as much as I did. “Let’s start with our day two suitors. Who wants to go first?”

Glancing at Lillian, I don’t bother to turn my attention to Viktor and Dustin. She wrinkles her nose, and I sigh. I guess I’m up first.

“I’m not going to lie,” I say, turning my attention to Bree and the camera she stands beside. “That date was terrifying. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so terrified in my life when Evangeline went into the water and when the kayak hit her on the head. Then, having another week of not being able to see her or really know how she was doing? It sucked.”

“It really did,” Lillian adds before biting her lip. “When I signed on, I knew there would be a few days where we wouldn’t see her, but this was so much different. Though, it’s been nice having time to get to know the other suitors… I would’ve preferred spending that time getting to know Evangeline. Getting to have that time with her today before she meets the next set of suitors helped, though.”

Viktor clears his throat, drawing my attention to him, and I have to fight to keep from scowling at him. I really don’t like him, and I don’t believe his story that the kayak incident was an accident. I don’t know what he would gain from hurting her, but I’m damn well going to keep my eye on him to make sure he doesn’t get another chance to hurt her. He’s clearly an asshole who thinks too highly of himself, but that’s not reason enough for him to be sent home. I have no doubt that he’ll show his true colors before too long.

“I felt terrible after everything that happened—that I hurt Evangeline. I’m an alpha. I never want to hurt anyone, but especially not an omega.” He shakes his head, the remorseful look on his face not quite reaching his eyes. I can’t be the only one who notices that, can I? “I don’t think there’s anything in my life that I’ve regretted more than that. Thankfully, because Evangeline is an angel, she’s forgiven me. She understands that it was an accident.”

I can hear the words he doesn’t say as his eyes meet mine—unlike some people. My lips curl up at the edges. He doesn’t like that I suspect him of having done it on purpose. Something tells me he’s very good at getting people to believe what he wants them to believe, and I’m not falling for it.

“Of course, it was an accident,” Dustin says, his voice shaky as he glances between me and Viktor. “What else would it have been?”

I lift my eyebrows as I turn my attention to the beta. “Of course, it was an accident. No one would ever intentionally hurt an omega—especially not one who they were trying to win over. I’m sure no one ever thought otherwise.”

When my eyes flash back to Viktor, I find his eyes narrowed. For just a moment, his mask drops and rage flashes across his face. It’s gone in the blink of an eye, that smarmy smile finding its way to his lips once more.

“Obviously,” he says, winking at me before turning his attention back to Bree. “But that didn’t make the guilt any less. Seeing her today and seeing that she’s healing well helped set my mind at ease.”

Koda leans forward, looking around Lillian, who is still perched on his lap. “It’s been hard for me to go all week without seeing her. Being an omega, I want to take care of the people that I care about, and not being allowed near her has been driving me crazy.”

“I can attest to that,” Jagger says with a chuckle. “He’s like a puppy with the zoomies most days. Except worse because he can talk. He might seem nice and chill now, but he would not shut up all week. Honestly, it’s adorable.”

Koda turns to him with a glare, even as a blush colors his cheek and his scent fills the room. “I’m not a damn puppy.”

“I don’t know,” Lillian says with a giggle. “You seem pretty puppy-like to me.”

Koda murmurs something under his breath that I don’t quite catch, but I’m pretty sure he just threatened to spank her ass. Now, that’s a show I’m all for seeing. It would only be made better if Evangeline was there for it.

Cora giggles as she leans forward. “I would have to agree with Jagger and Lillian. Sorry, Koda. You definitely have that puppy vibe.”

Skylar looks uncomfortable as she shuffles on the loveseat. She tugs on Cora’s hand until she leans back against her. Of the two betas, she’s been the more withdrawn. Jagger said they’d had a moment during their date, but she hasn’t really talked with him either. I’ve tried to get to know her, but she doesn’t seem overly interested. I’m not sure why, though. Maybe I should try harder?

Cora has made it perfectly clear that she has no interest in men, but she’s still been taking the time to get to know all of us. I just don’t understand why Skylar hasn’t? I guess I could just ask.

“What about you, Skylar?” Bree presses. “Do you think Koda has puppy dog energy, too?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I haven’t really spent much time with him.”

Bree hums. “So, who have you spent time with over the last week?”

Of course Bree would’ve noticed that Skylar wasn’t putting in much effort to get to know the other suitors. I am surprised that she’s calling her out on it, though.

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