Page 115 of Knot a Thief

The one Ava lives on.

The one that carried my omega away from us.

I was so fucking angry with Ava for leaving without a word, without a care for Lily. The memory of consoling my daughter night after night because she missed her “Mommy” still burns in my chest. And then Max admitted to her letter, and that anger turned to a complicated mix of hope and anxiety.

I don’t blame Max for withholding it. He was devastated when he learned of her escape.

He became withdrawn, and I never saw him for days until the day he gave me the letter and told me she was ours. He just had to work out how to let her know. And get her to believe it.

Then he disappeared and went to America.

I’m not waiting.

She said come visit. So here I am, heart pounding, Lily’s slight form a comforting weight in my arms.

“Is this where Mommy is?” Lily asks as we reach the boat I know belongs to Ava and Seb. Her dainty nose sniffs the air, like she can smell her already. But it’s her little voice that is filled with such hope that nearly breaks me.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why don’t we find out, sweetheart?”

I inhale a deep breath. I don’t smell her scent yet, only the salty sea breeze that ruffles my hair, and carries with it the smell of sun-warmed stone and blooming bougainvillea that grows on the arbors of the homes all around us.

As we reach the boat, I step onto the immaculate deck and glance around. Everything is in its place, but there’s no sign of Ava.

There’s a sudden rush of footsteps and Seb emerges from below deck. The surprised look on his face turns to wariness.

“Silas,” he says, his tone guarded. “What are you doing here?”

I set Lily down, keeping a hand on her shoulder. “We’re here to see Ava,” I say, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. “Where is she?”

Seb’s expression softens as he looks at Lily, who’s scanning the deck with eager eyes. “She’s not here right now,” he breathes, like it hurts him to say it.

Disappointment crashes over me like a wave. I’d steeled myself for this confrontation, for the chance to tell Ava how I felt about her, how much we need her.

“When will she be back?” I ask, trying to keep the desperation out of my tone.

Seb hesitates, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. Finally, he sighs. “She’ll be back later today. She had some business to attend in the U.S.”

And so did Max.

Lily tugs at my hand, her lower lip trembling. “But I want to see Mommy now,” she whimpers.

Seb’s gaze roams back to my daughter.

I kneel beside Lily. My heart is breaking at the tears in her eyes. “I know, sweetheart. We’ll see her soon, I promise.”

“She told me all about you,” Seb tells Lily and he gets a big smile in return. “How special you are to her, and—” He hesitates as he looks at me. “I think she was prepared to go back for her.”

“She was?”

He nods. There’s a moment of understanding between us. Yet, I can see the torment in his eyes. He wants Ava for himself, but deep down he knows he can’t have that forever.

In the end, when it comes to omegas, alphas win. And right now, I want to include him. He’s just like us. We’re all trying to do what’s best for those we love. He, like me, like Max, like Lily. We all want the same person in our lives.

“What can we do to make it work?” Seb asks, his voice hesitant but hopeful. His teeth dig into his lower lip, waiting.

I take a deep breath, considering his question. “You’re prepared for this?”

“It’s all I’ve thought about since I argued with her.”

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