Page 102 of Tangled in Knots

It’s difficult for me to force the bond closed, and sometimes I can’t do it.How the hell is she doing this?

I want to wrap myself around the little omega, force her to pay attention to me, because I’m the only one who can be under her skin right now. It feels cruel for her to do this, and I decide what my play will be.

I follow the other students inside, noting their reaction to me. Some of the omegas swoon, and fuck me if some of the male alphas do too.

I keep to myself, so I don’t often notice people’s reactions to me. I’ve been in a funk recently, so my facial hair is growing in.Jed told me that I needed to clean it up if I was going to keep the ‘animal growing on my face.’

My oldest brother is an asshole, but he was right. It’s now a well groomedanimalon my face.

Fucker.

I’m wearing what I imagine any college kid would. However, I’m getting so many looks, it’s making me self conscious. Dark wash jeans, a long-sleeved henley shirt, and a black coat thrown over it all feels like a normal outfit. Combat boots on my feet round out what I’m wearing.

Why are they all staring?

Finding a seat in the middle of the room, I plant my ass in it, pulling off my backpack to find my laptop. I can feel her before I see her, and I take my time placing my computer in front of me. Slowly looking up, I take a breath as the little omega gazes around the room to find a seat.

The space is beginning to fill up. Her beautiful, dark brown hair is gleaming in its long braid over her shoulder. Adira is wearing jeans with tall black boots, a pink hooded cable knit sweater, and a deep blue jacket. Fuck if she doesn’t look perfect.

I hear a few omegas near me whimper as I release pheromones, but I can’t fucking help it. Unfortunately, Adira’s head snaps over her shoulder as she’s shrugging off her jacket, and her eyes narrow at me. Giving her an innocent smile, I wave my fingers lazily at her.

It’s not the romantic meet cute I was hoping for, but let’s be honest. I was never going to get that. Raw, needy, animalistic attraction is just as good.

“Why are you here?”she mouths and I shrug as if I can’t understand her.

Patting the open spot next to me, I mouth back, “Come sit with me.”

Shaking her head, she turns and faces the front of the room like the good little omega that she is, just as the teacher walks in.

“If she doesn’t want you, I’d be more than willing to climb you like a tree,” an omega purrs, leaning against me.

Pulling the collar of my shirt to the side, I shake my head. “We’re having a disagreement,” I grunt. “She already marked me as hers. You know omegas are territorial. Would you like your eyes scratched out?”

I don’t even glance at her as I make sure my laptop is on and that I’m connected to the school internet. I would never fuck around on Adira.

Her huge sigh and complaints under her breath are wasted on me as I keep my attention at the front of the room. Once I have the syllabus, lecture notes, and an empty document open for my own personal use, I’m ready.

“Welcome to Biology class,” Professor Royal says warmly as he stands at the front of the class. “This is a fairly straightforward course with a midterm and final. I don’t keep track of attendance, but know that sometimes the things I talk about in the lecture won’t always follow the lectures online. That said, skip class at your own risk. Let’s begin!”

Paying attention as he lectures, I make notes in my open document of things that aren’t on the lecture online. I also rewrite things in ways I’ll better understand them, so it’ll stick with me.

The class is more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and while I don’t think I’ll become a biologist, it’s a good class.

Professor Wilhelm Royal has a way with words, helping me to better understand each slide as he lectures. My eyes move to the little omega quickly packing up her things at the end of class, and I grab my bag and toss everything in. I see a notebook, pencil, and lecture sheets in front of her, but no computer.

I immediately want to give her mine. I close my bag and sling it over my shoulder, watching her in a predatory manner as I slowly begin stalking her down the aisle. I haven’t seen her in two weeks, since just after the auction.

I hardly count that as quality time with my omega.

I know why she doesn’t want to see me, every single reason is valid. I’m tired of her shutting me out. The devil is in the details, and I didn’t have any knowledge of it, until I was standing there watching what Morris and the alphas were doing to her.

We’re all wrecked over how badly things went. The only way she’s going to stop ignoring me is exposure therapy. That’s what I’m telling myself. I know starting over isn’t possible, but I want her to see the ‘me’ who isn’t just my Father’s Demon.

I’m still learning who that is.

My steps are slow as I walk lazily down the stairs on her side of the auditorium, but my long legs and hops take me to her quickly.

“Adira,” I whisper as she struggles to get out of the row where she was sitting. People move for me, but my little omega isn’t as scary as I am.