Page 1 of Knot Happening Again

CHAPTER 1

OPHELIA

Another drunk alpha staggers toward me, his gaze fixed on my chest. The stench of cheap bourbon and stale cigarettes makes my nose wrinkle. His pupils dilate as he catches my scent, even through the pheromone inhibitors pumping through the vents.

"How much?" His words slur together.

I turn away, letting my hair fall like a curtain between us. "More than you can afford."

The rejection rolls off my tongue with practiced ease. Five years of working at Scent Bar has taught me which clients are worth my time. This one isn't.

My eyes scan the dimly lit room, cataloging potential marks. Three politicians huddle in the VIP corner, their expensive suits and carefully maintained appearances screaming "discretion required." A cluster of mafia alphas dominate the center tables, their scents aggressive even through the dampeners.

A beta at the bar keeps glancing my way, his shoulders tense with false bravado. He'll spend the whole night trying to prove he belongs here, dropping cash he can't afford to spend.

"Rough crowd tonight." Natalie slides up beside me, her red hair catching the low light. "Nothing but cheapskates and creeps."

"When isn't it?" I adjust my high collar, making sure the half-formed mark on the right side of my neck stays hidden. One look at that mark, and they know another alpha has already discarded me like yesterday's trash.

"You're extra cynical today." Natalie bumps my shoulder. "Heat coming up?"

The question hits like a punch to the gut. My fingers curl around my glass, knuckles whitening. The incomplete mark makes everything worse, my body crying out for someone who abandoned me years ago. "You know I don't go into heat."

She cocks her head in confusion. "I thought your doctor said you can't take those suppressants anymore. It's been, what, seven years?"

"About that," I mumble into my drink. What's another month?

If there's one benefit to working in this place, it's that at least I don't have to worry about some random alpha throwing me into heat even through the drugs.

The air is thick with pheromone inhibitors, a necessary evil in a place like this. Can't have any accidental bondings, after all.

That would be bad for business.

Natalie's expression quickly turns serious. "This is serious, Ophelia. You need to go into heat at least once every quarter or you could get really sick."

I avoid her gaze, focusing instead on a particularly desperate-looking alpha across the room. The thought of being with another alpha during that vulnerable time, when all I can think about is Leon Whitaker even now, all these years later... it's unbearable.

"I'm fine, Nat," I insist, plastering on a fake smile. "Don't worry about me."

But Natalie, bless her naive heart, isn't letting it go. She rummages in her pocket, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. "I heard about something that might help," she says, smoothing out the paper and handing it to me.

I look down at the glossy brochure, my eyebrows shooting up as I read the title. "Temporary Bonds? What the hell is this?"

Natalie leans in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's this new agency that matches unmated omegas with compatible alphas or packs for short-term arrangements. You know, to help with heats and stuff."

I scoff, sliding the brochure back at her. "And how exactly is that different from what we do here?"

"No, no, it's not like that," she says, holding up her hand. "It's all above board, very professional. My cousin tried it. You know, the one with the difficult heats who hasn't found a pack yet? She says it's great. No complaints at all."

I roll my eyes. "Please. I have my pick of alphas right here if I want them. And they pay me for the privilege."

As if on cue, a well-dressed alpha approaches us, his eyes locked on me. He's handsome in that generic, alpha way—strong jaw, broad shoulders, an air of confidence bordering on arrogance.

"Can I buy you ladies a drink?" he asks, his voice a low rumble that I'm sure is meant to be enticing.

I paste on my most alluring smile, ignoring the way my stomach turns. "Why, that's very kind of you," I purr, leaning in slightly.

Natalie smirks, catching my eye. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted," she says, slipping away with a wink.

---