Page 25 of Knotty Pumpkin

Noah is silent for a moment. He reaches for a washcloth on the vanity, then dips it in the water, beginning to rub it over my body. I relax into the water, the heat and his touch soothing the ache in my muscles.

“It was. They were taken by a car accident. Mom, Dad, and Alfie. All in one swoop. I came to live with my uncle,and a few years later I lost him to a heart attack. It was one of the darkest periods of my life. If it wasn’t for Corey, I might still be drowning in it. He gave me love and purpose, and I’ll forever be grateful to him for that.”

Closing my eyes, I nod.

“Izzy, you saw her at Sip n’ Study, did the same for me. After Luke took me, I lost a part of myself. I didn’t want to be an omega anymore, vulnerable to the whims of those who thought they were entitled to me, to my… my body…” Swallowing hard, I take a shaky breath.

“For months, I couldn’t stand to be alone. The dark reminded me of the cell he kept me in. He was waiting for my heat so he could claim me. But he didn’t wait for my heat to use me. He claimed it was love. That we were meant to be together. He was delusional – still is.”

“Do you remember seeing him the night we met you? I don’t think we’ve talked about that night,” Noah asks through gritted teeth, his rage palpable.

“No,” I say, opening my eyes and staring up at him, eyes wide. “That night is a complete blank in my memory. I remember getting to the party and then nothing.”

Noah nods. “Corey said you had a faint chemical smell, like you’d been drugged. That might have been Luke, or it could have happened at the party. Either way, he found you in that alley. I don’t even want to think about what couldhave happened if your scent didn’t reach us on the breeze.” He shudders and I follow suit. I did not know Luke had found me then.

“Thank you,” I whisper, even more grateful now that they’d found me when they did. And to think I’d climbed out their freaking window?!

“We’ll make sure he’s locked away for longer this time, Pumpkin. He should never have been released.”

I smile softly, relaxing back in the water and closing my eyes again. Noah might genuinely mean that, but I knew Luke, and catching him again would be no easy feat. Luke had avoided the Police for weeks last time. He’d do the same now.

There’s only one way he’ll come out of hiding. To get me. He’s likely lying in wait. For the first moment I’m alone and vulnerable. My spine stiffens as I realise what I need to do.

“Is there any update on his whereabouts?” I ask quietly as Noah’s hands work their way through my hair, massaging my scalp and untangling the long strands.

“Corey’s on the phone with Sargent Hudson now.” A click from the nest outside signals the door opening. “Speak of the devil.”

“Hey, Pumpkin,” Corey says as I open my eyes and glance toward the door. He’s leaning against the frame, hisblonde curls bobbing around his face, green eyes locked on me. “You alright.”

“I’m good,” I say with a smile.

“Yeah, she’s refreshed and at home,” Noah pipes in, and my smile falters for just a moment before I force it back on my face. I did say that, and I meant it, but I know what I need to do, and they won’t be happy about it. “Any news on Luke?”

“They’ve tracked him out of town. Hudson said they have guards stationed at Saylor’s apartment in case he returns, and they’ll send a few extra to the Halloween party on campus tonight—if you want to go, Pumpkin?”

This is it, the opening I need.

“Yes, let's do it. I love Halloween.”

Chapter Sixteen

There is no fighting the grin plastered across my face tonight, especially not as Saylor dons her slutty pumpkin costume. How she had the foresight to pack it while rushing around her apartment in pre-heat, I’ll never know. But fuck, I’m glad she did.

As shitty as it was to come across her in the way we did, that night will always hold a special place in myheart. The way her scent blew to us on the wind had to be the work of fate.

“How do I look?” Saylor asks, spinning in a circle in front of where I’m sitting on the edge of the bed.

“You look like I don’t want to let you out of this house,” I growl, grasping her wrist and pulling her down into my lap. “Want to keep you all to myself.”

Dipping my head, I place a kiss on her lips. She responds instantly, melting into my body and kissing me back softly. Sweetly. There are so many sides to our sassy omega that I need to see more of.

“I won’t though,” I say, pulling away, the both of us a little breathless. “You look amazing, and I know you’re looking forward to this party.”

She smiles at me, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. My brow furrows as she stands up, dancing back to the mirror to finish her makeup. Somethings off.

“Are you alright, Saylor?”

“Yeah. Of course,” she says a little too quickly. “I just need to let go of some of this stress. Hopefully a dance will help.”

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