Page 91 of Knot the One They Want

"No!" The word bursts from me, horror flooding my veins. I round the kitchen island, desperate to erase that look of hurt from Evie's face. "God, no. That's not it at all."

I stand before her, close enough to catch the faint scent of vanilla and honey that clings to her skin. My hands itch to touch her, to pull her close and never let go.

But I don't deserve that comfort. Not yet.

"Evie, I..."

The words catch in my throat. I've spent so long burying my emotions, hiding behind a mask of cold indifference. But now, faced with the possibility of losing her forever, I can't hold back anymore.

"I wantyou," I confess, my voice raw. "I've wanted you from the moment I first saw you."

Her eyes widen, disbelief warring with hope.

"I never hated you," I continue bitterly. "I hated myself. For wanting you so desperately when I thought I wasn't over Daria. For being weak enough to fall for another omega. But I can't keep fighting it anymore."

I rake a hand through my hair, frustration and self-loathing bubbling up. "But I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. After everything I've put you through, how could you possibly accept me? That's why I'm willing to walk away. To give you a chance athappiness with the pack—without my baggage weighing you all down."

Evie's gaze sharpens, a spark of defiance igniting in those depths. "Shouldn't that be my decision to make?"

Her words jar me once more. Of course. Even now, I'm trying to control the situation, to decide what's best for her without giving her a say.

"You're right," I admit, a rueful smile tugging at my lips. "I'm not very good at this, am I?"

A hint of amusement flickers across her face. "Youarean alpha. But you're learning."

That tiny bit of encouragement, that she hasn't immediately rejected me, sends hope surging through my chest. I take a tentative step closer, drawn to her like a moth to flame.

"Evie, I..." I swallow hard, searching for the right words. "I know I've hurt you. Pushed you away when I should have been pulling you close. But if you'll let me, I want to make it right. To be the alpha you deserve."

She studies me, her gaze so intense I feel like she can see straight into my soul. Then, slowly, she reaches out. Her hand comes to rest on my chest, directly over my thundering heart.

The simple touch sets my skin ablaze. My breath catches, every nerve ending hyper-aware of her closeness. For a moment, I'm frozen, afraid to move lest I shatter this fragile moment.

"Your heart's racing," she murmurs, a hint of wonder in her voice.

It is. For her. Only for her.

"It's yours, Evie," I say quietly, my voice hoarse with the want I'm trying to restrain, for her sake. "If you want it."

Her eyes lock with mine, searching for any hint of deception. But there's nothing left to hide. I'm laid bare before her, all my walls crumbling to dust.

I don't know who moves first. One moment we're staring at each other, the air crackling with tension. The next, her lips are on mine, soft and sweet and everything I've ever wanted.

I cup her face in my hands, pouring every ounce of longing, every whispered apology, every promise for the future into that kiss. Evie melts against me, her arms winding around my neck as she pulls me closer.

Time seems to stand still. The world narrows down to just this—the warmth of her body against mine, the taste of her lips, the soft sigh that escapes her as I deepen the kiss.

When we finally part, both breathless, I rest my forehead against hers. "I don't deserve you," I murmur.

Evie's fingers card through my hair, sending shivers down my spine. "Maybe not," she agrees, a hint of teasing in her voice. "But I'm willing to let you try to earn it."

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, relief and joy intertwining. "I'll spend every day proving myself to you, if that's what it takes."

She pulls back slightly, her expression turning serious. "No more pushing me away? No more making decisions about what's best for me without asking?"

"Never again," I vow, meaning it with every fiber of my being. "From now on, we're partners. Equals."

A slow smile spreads across Evie's face, brighter than the sun. "Then kiss me again, alpha."

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