Page 12 of Knotty Pumpkin

Noah starts telling me more about his gym and the plans he has to increase membership as we walk and my skin prickles, unease filling me. Glancing over my shoulder, I survey the crowd behind us. Nothing looks out of place, and no-one seems suspicious.

“You alright, Pumpkin?”

Turning back to Noah I smile, “Yeah, just a weird feeling. Sorry.”

The wind blows through the festival grounds just as I relax into Noah’s side, bringing with it a scent I’d hoped and prayed to never experience again. My spine stiffens, every muscle in my body going tight with tension.

I don’t hear Noah’s response as blood pounds in my ears and my stomach sinks.

No. No. No.Hecan’t be here. Can he?

Luke shouldn’t know where I am, all that information is protected. There’s no way he’s found me again. Something tells me he does, that I should know he does. Somethingtugs at my memory, a hazy, menacing figure in lowlight, but it’s gone before I can make any sense of it.

I don’t want to believe he’s here.

But that’s his awful, gut churning, week-old dirty sock scent blowing on the wind.

Maybe he hasn’t found me. Maybe it’s a coincidence he’s here. He’s not long released, maybe he’s passing through, trying to find somewhere to settle. Maybe he doesn’t know I’m here.

Bile rises in my throat and my blood runs cold as my instincts scream at me to run, to get away, that Luke most definitely knows I’m here and will have come with the intention of playing new games with me.

Memories of that time flash through my mind.

Noah’s hands grip my chin, turning my face to his as my heart pounds in my chest. I can’t hear him over the blood pounding in my ears.

Dammit, Saylor. You’re stronger than this.

I take a deep breath, focusing on Noah’s voice, on the deep brown of his eyes shining with concern. My heart rate slows as his rich coffee scent washes over me, calming my omega. Warmth floods through me as he pulls me into his arms, caging me against his chest and giving me the security I so desperately need in this moment.

“Can you takeme home, please?”

As much as I want to bask in the comfort of this alpha, in reality, I barely know him. My priority is to get away from here, from Luke, as fast as possible to the safety of my apartment.

“Of course. Anything you need.” Noah’s voice is thick with concern as he takes my hand and leads me to the nearest exit, but I’m too lost in my own fear and anxiety to offer him any words of comfort.

As much as I like Noah and want to get to know him and Corey further, this shit with Luke isn’t something I want to bring them into.

They don’t deserve to become targets for his twisted wrath.

Chapter Eight

Glancing at my watch for the thousandth time tonight, I see it’s a quarter to eight, almost time for my shift to end. Finally. I cannot wait to get home and ask how Noah’s date with Saylor was. I’ve spent my entire shift stomping around the college grounds, envy gnawing at my insides the entire time.

Deciding to do one last pass by the festival, I circle the main entrance and make my way down towardsthe tents. The sun is almost fully set, the last rays of light dancing on the horizon, making the lights of the festival shine brightly on the horizon.

People mill about, munching on popcorn and candied apples while browsing the stalls and checking out the different attractions. The House of Horrors is going off, the sound of people screaming in both fear and delight ringing through the air. I weave through the crowds, keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, or anyone looking suspicious.

Everything seems fine, the crowd calm and in control, so I head back to the security office, eager to hand off my keys and sign off for the night. Walking around the lake is a habit now, part of the usual security path, so I think nothing of it as I head back that way.

A light breeze stirs the trees, the water lapping gently at the bank, the distant sounds of the carnival the only sound reaching me. Goosebumps pepper my skin as I glance behind me, seeing nothing. But something feels off. The back of my neck prickles with awareness and I know, through instinct alone, that someone is watching me.

Straightening my spine, my senses on high alert, I pull my torch from my belt and scan the area more thoroughly. There’s no one in sight, though shadows dance between the trees in the dim evening light. I lengthen my stride,sniffing the air and pulling out my phone as I do. I have Hudson—Sargeant of Linnara Police—on speed dial. We all do.

The wind changes, blowing from the woods towards the lake, and my nostrils flare as the scent hits me. I immediately hit the call button, recognising the vile, dirty scent of the alpha we’d saved Saylor from the other night. Noah and I made a report the following day and Hudson had put out an omega safety alert against him, meaning if found, he’s to be brought in for questioning.

“Hey, Corey. What’s up, man?” Hudson answers after the third ring.

“North side of Linnara Lake. The guy we reported, the one on the OSA, is here. I think he’s following me.”

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