Page 48 of Knot All is Forgiven

"Jordan, please! We're meant to be together. Even your Alpha. He's pack, Jordan!"

Her retreating form stops, but she doesn't turn around to look at me. Instead, she directs her words to the Alpha blocking the doorway. "Is that true, Vick?"

He takes a deep breath and scrubs his hand down his face. Briefly, I wonder if he will lie to her and say no.

But he doesn't.

Because clearly, this Vick is a man of honor. Everything he's done so far has proven he's worthy of Jordan.

The man I couldn't be for her.

"I think so," he says softly. His eyes harden as he stares me down. "But that doesn't matter to me one fucking bit."

"Leave me alone, Simon." I'm unsure if I've ever heard Jordan's voice so sharp. Her shoulders are tense, her hands fisted at her side. "Quit sending me gifts. You three made me question my mind. You made me feel like I was insane."

Of course, I knew it was going to hurt her. I knew it was going to break her heart. But I didn't think it would hurt her like that. I didn't know she'd question her sanity.

"Jordan, please. Just call me. We can work this out," I beg. "My number is at the bottom of the box the necklace came in. Please, peaches, let me explain."

She shakes her head, silent tears brimming in her eyes. But she's too strong to let them fall. "Simon, if you ever cared about me, leave me alone. This is too hard for me. It's not fair."

Vick steps backward and shakes his head, closing the door in my face.

I wonder if, inside the condo, they can hear my heart shattering.

Chapter nineteen

Simon is late fordinner. He's the one who implemented the pack dinner rule, and he's late.

I feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin lately. I'm not sure if it's the strained pack bond, moving to a new home, or the knowledge that my Omega is out there on her own in the world, but I am always so uncomfortable. I know I'm taking it out on my packmates, but I can't help it.

Nothing about this situation is right. Nothing about this is normal.

I hear his bike rumble up to the curb as I drain my glass of whiskey. "About time," I mutter to Rafe.

"Don't be an ass," he replies. "It's not a big deal."

But it's very clearly a big deal when Simon stumbles into the front door, blood crusted on his face, his eyes bloodshot from the tears that are still streaming down his face.

He doesn't notice us as he collapses on the couch, pulling his legs up to his chest as he sobs loudly into his knees.

Rafe and I exchange strange glances before the other Alpha jumps to his feet and runs to the couch, gently pulling Simon into his arms. "Slime?" Rafe says softly, rubbing between Simon's shoulder blades. "What's going on, man?"

The broken Alpha doesn't look up as he says, so softly I struggle to hear it, "Jordan rejected me."

My entire body stiffens as I lower myself down next to my packmates. "What do you mean?"

"She doesn't want me."

"You saw her?" Anger and jealousy wind up inside me, threatening to take over. It's unfair to be upset with him over it, but try telling my instincts that. "Did you talk to her?"

It's like my words aren't registering with Simon. "She was missing. Didn't go to work."

"You know where she works?" Rafe interrupts. "How long have you known?"

"Years," he replies. "I've kept tabs on her for years."

I grab him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him to my face. "You kept her from us?"

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