Page 45 of Knot Her Reality

As soon as we hit the trail, Justin takes the lead, and Lucas falls back behind us. They stay about ten feet in front of and behind us, trying to allow us privacy for our date, but it’s not like we don’t know they’re there.

Choosing not to allow myself to become annoyed about something I can’t change, I fall into step beside Conrad. “Do you do much hiking?”

He glances over at me with a smile, shaking his head.

“He’s a man of so few words,” Natalie sing-songs as she appears on my other side. “Mysterious. I bet he does it to get all the women.”

Conrad’s laughter starts quiet but grows until he has to stop walking to hold his stomach. A smile lights up my face at the sound, and I know I want to hear more of it. I bet he doesn’t laugh nearly enough, but I want that to change.

“I don’t think it was that funny.” Natalie narrows her eyes at the alpha.

“It’s funny because most women are scared of me—and men. I don’t get many offers, sweet beta.”

Natalie wrinkles her nose. “Awww, he thinks I’m sweet. But that’s their loss and our gain. Right, Evangeline?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

“You’ve seen my alpha.” Natalie hooks a thumb behind her to where Ronan and Gavin are chatting as they follow us. “Most people are scared of him, too. It’s the big dick energy, plus the size and the take-no-shit attitude. Turns me the fuck on.”

“Natalie!” Ronan’s exasperation is clear, and without turning around, I know he’s rolling his eyes.

She just shrugs, glancing between Conrad and me. “Did what I say bother either of you?”

Both Conrad and I shake our heads, but if I’m not mistaken, he’s blushing. That’s adorable.

“You’ll never hear me complain about pretty women hitting on me.” Conrad pauses for another moment before adding, “Or hot men.”

My thighs immediately clench as Natalie grabs my arm. “Did he just—damn. Just when I thought he couldn’t get any hotter.”

“Okay, new topic, please. We still have another fifty minutes of hiking before we stop, and I need to not spend the entire time turned on.”

“Awwww, where’s the fun in that?” Natalie asks, squealing as Ronan’s hand comes down on her ass.

She spins on him with a glare, but he just points at her as he says, “Behave.”

Natalie rolls her eyes but nods as she turns back around. I’m not sure how much longer her being on good behavior will last, but hopefully, it’s long enough for me to get my hormones under control. At least if I start perfuming like crazy, we’re in the wide-open desert.

Somehow, Natalie manages to behave for the rest of the hike. Now, we’re standing at the bottom of a canyon, staring up at the wall we’re meant to climb. The equipment has all been lowered as it’s attached to the plateau at the top where we’ll be eating, but we’re currently waiting for Lucas to finish the climb and give us the all clear before starting our own climbs. Justin is going to stay down at the bottom of the canyon while we all go up.

I don’t understand it, but I know better than to argue. I’m coming to realize that Lucas is extremely worried about my safety, especially since I was hurt on his and Finn’s watch—not that there was anything they could’ve done to prevent the accident from happening. But that’s how alphas are sometimes.

Justin’s phone beeps, and he glances down at it before giving us a thumbs-up. “Lucas says it’s all clear. You’re good to go.”

“Thank goodness. I hate waiting around,” I complain, already moving toward the wall.

“Evangeline,” Conrad’s deep voice and warning tone bring me up short.

Spinning around, I ask, “What?”

“Please let me check your harness?”

“Oh, sure.” I walk back over to him, allowing him to check that I’m all buckled in and that the rope is properly attached. “All good?”

He nods. “All good. Climb safely.”

I shoot him a smile before starting my climb. This particular wall is perfect for climbing with plenty of handholds and footholds, but tall enough that it’s a beast of a climb. It takes me a good thirty minutes to make it to the top, allowing Lucas to pull me to the top.

Spinning around, I see Conrad pulling himself up, with Gavin not too far behind. Natalie and Ronan are about twenty feet below him, and I’m assuming Ronan kept pace with his beta. It’s so sweet when I’m sure he could’ve done it much faster.

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