Page 147 of Knot Happening Again

That I love her?

That it means everything that she came?

"Leon!" Maddox's voice cuts through the moment. He strides over, Rhys and Troy in tow. "Helluva fight, champ!"

I force a smile, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. So close to... what? Another apology? A declaration?

I don't even know.

Rhys claps me on the back, his touch grounding. "You had us worried for a minute there."

"Yeah, well," I shrug, "gotta keep things interesting, right?"

Troy snorts. "Interesting? That's what you call nearly getting your ass handed to you?"

I glance over my shoulder, always feeling a deep, primal need to keep track of Ophelia.

So I can't lose her again.

When I see her and Mace sharing a moment, embracing as she giggles at whatever the big, burly alpha just whispered in her ear, I feel a familiar ache.

A special kind of torture.

It’s grown as natural as breathing.

I open my mouth to shoot something right back at Troy, but Maddox cuts in. "Hate to break up the love fest, boys, but the adoring public awaits." He jerks his thumb toward the exit. "Press is chomping at the bit to get a few lines from the champ."

I grunt reluctantly.

The last thing I want is to leave Ophelia's side.

But she's clearly distracted at the moment.

"Go on," Rhys says, catching my hesitation. "We'll be waiting."

I nod, stealing one last glance at Ophelia. She looks up, to my surprise, and gives me a slight wave.

That’s enough to propel me forward.

The press room is a circus, cameras flashing, reporters shouting over each other. I paste on my media smile, settling into the familiar rhythm of post-fight interviews.

"Leon! How does it feel to defend your title?"

"What was going through your mind during that comeback?"

I field the questions on autopilot, mind half on the woman waiting backstage.

Then…

"Is it true your pack has a new omega?"

The question catches me off guard. I blink, thrown off my game. "Uh, what?"

Another reporter jumps in before I can gather my thoughts. "Sources say you've been seen with an unclaimed omega. Care to comment?"

My hackles rise.

How the hell did they find out about Ophelia?

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