Page 96 of Knot a Thief

His eyes flicker between Lily and me, something unreadable in his expression. “You told me you’d do anything for Lily while you’re here,” he says quietly, mindful of the sleeping child.

I nod, my eyes narrowing. “I did.”

“But not me?” His question catches me off guard.

“Oh.” I pause, unsure how to respond. “Mm ... Such as what? You hate me. You purposefully do something to your body to not smell me.”

He shakes his head, taking a step closer. “Not anymore.”

I inhale, trying to catch his scent, but there’s nothing. “I can’t smell you. I probably could when I was in my heat, but my senses are still a little numb.”

Silas pulls a vial out of his pocket, his movements slow and deliberate. “It’s wearing off, but smell this?”

He runs the vial under my nose, and then his wrist, and suddenly his scent overwhelms my senses.

Rich, deep rum, a little spicy, maybe cinnamon. It’s intoxicating, and I lean in unconsciously before I catch myself. I swallow hard, trying to regain my composure.

“What ... what is this?” I ask.

My heart is racing, and I’m acutely aware of how close Silas is standing.

He watches me intently, his eyes searching my face. “This is me, Ava. Without the suppressants.”

I’ve always liked the way he looks. His stormy gray eyes that look at me with such intent; his wide shoulders, muscular tattooed arms and chest, but with his scent, I’m caught between wanting him and the urge to run.

His scent is clouding my judgment, making it hard to think clearly.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I croak, my voice shaky as I glance at Lily, still sleeping peacefully, unaware of the tension in the room. “I’m the reason she lost her mother.”

Silas takes another step closer, his voice low and intense. “Because I need you to understand. Things are changing, Ava. And I need to know if you’re willing to change with them.”

I look up at him, torn between fear and a strange, unwelcome attraction. The scent of him, the proximity, the sleeping child between us—it’s all too much.

I open my mouth to respond, but I’m not sure what I’m going to say.

“I know you smell Max too. I know that’s why you constantly bicker with him, because you’re fighting this attraction. I know because I was too.” He gulps. “It’s because I feared my attraction to you, but now I don’t.”

What he doesn’t know is I fear mine for him, too.

I need to get away from these alphas before I’m crawling on the floor to them.

Chapter 28

Silas

I told Ava how I felt and she’s not once given me a sign that she wants me, and that fucking hurts. I let down my guard, showed all my cards, and she trumped me with silence.

I expect she blames me for her failed escape attempt.

“We need to deal with Ava differently,” I say to Max as we sit on the balcony of his office and stare at her as she strolls around the grounds.

She’s in deep contemplation. Hopefully considering my words. “Let her feel she could have alphas if she’ll give us a chance.”

Max chews on the corner of his lip. “I thought she’d want us by now, but she’s holding back. I think it’s because of the beta.”

“Then we need to do something. You’re getting what you want if she walks away from us, but I’m not.” I twist to him. “You and her are bonded for life now. But me—”

Max stares at me for a considered moment. “I thought you only wanted revenge.”

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