Page 74 of Knot My Only Fan

“Delicious,” I grumble as I wipe my floury hands over my apron and plonk two teaspoons of sugar into my hot drink, needing a sweet hit.

“So tell me more. What does the baby daddy look like?” Sienna pulls out the stool next to me.

“Gorgeous.” I admit, forcing a grim smile onto my face. “Dark hair, blue eyes. But he hates me.”

“Why the hell do you think that?”

My shoulders sag as I sigh. “Because he sent it through the bond.”

“He claimed you?” Her voice raises at least four octaves as she waits for me to explain.

I shake my head. “There are no marks on me. I must have claimed him.”

Her eyes search my face, expecting me to start laughing at the joke she thinks it is. When I don’t, she hisses, “Oh fuck. What were you thinking?”

“I didn’t know I did it. Not until last night. I thought everything I was feeling was me. My fears about having a baby by myself. My shame at not being able to give my baby a father.”

Sienna drags me closer to her and holds me close. “You don’t need to worry about anything. I’m here for you and the baby. You don’t need an alpha.”

“Thank you,” I murmur as I pull away from her. Nervously, I tap my fingers over the counter. “But I made a deal with Stanton.”

“A deal?” Sienna exhales deeply, like she already knows she won’t like what comes next.

“Stanton’s my fake boyfriend.”

“Ah, for Heaven’s sake, Grace. Are you mad?” she hisses.

It appears I am.

“He knows Lucas. And he thinks it will drive Lucas to want me if he thinks Stanton is taking his place.”

She narrows her eyes as her head tilts to one side. “Why do you want Lucas if he doesn’t want you?”

I wish I could honestly answer that, especially after hearing about his father. Still, I can only hope.

“You don’t understand.”

“Of course I don’t. He left you alone, upset and pregnant, and somehow you have it in your head that he wants you.” She exhales. “Grace—“

“Don’t Sienna.”

Her shocked expression says it all. She shakes her head and manages to say, “You’re playing with alphas, Grace. You can’t play games. They don’t play fair.”

I grit my teeth and press my hand on my stomach. “So you think I shouldn’t even try?”

Her eyes bulge as she stares at me. “I just… I don’t want you to be any more hurt than you already are.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

She looks stunned, and I feel insulted she doesn’t believe me.

I sigh, pushing down a pang of disappointment in my chest. “I do.” I insist. “And Stanton is going to help me.”

“Jeez, Grace,” Sienna shakes her head, her mouth hanging open. “He’s an alpha too. And he’s trying to fuck you, not help you. He probably hasn’t had an omega in a while and wants to knot you.”

I nearly spit out my drink. “Just say what you think.”

“I am.”