Page 194 of Knot Happening Again

I'm drifting in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness when a persistent buzzing pulls me back to consciousness. Groaning softly, I reach for my phone on the nightstand, squinting at the bright screen in the darkness.

Natalie's name flashes across the display, along with a string of missed calls and unread texts. My brow furrows as I scroll through the notifications.

What could be so urgent at this hour?

I open one of the texts, and my eyes widen as I see a blurry photo of Troy and Leon at the Scent Bar. Confusion washes over me. What are they doing there in the middle of the night?

And why is Natalie freaking out about it?

Before I can read any more, my phone buzzes again with another incoming call from Natalie. I carefully extract myselffrom the tangle of limbs, slipping out of bed without waking the others. Padding softly down the hallway, I answer the call.

"Nat?" I whisper, closing the bedroom door behind me. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Her voice comes through the speaker, choked with sobs. "Oh, Effy... I'm so sorry. I had to tell you right away."

Something about her tone sets me on edge. It sounds... off. Different from her usual crying. But maybe it's just the late hour and my sleep-addled brain playing tricks on me.

"Tell me what?" I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "What's going on?"

"I saw them, Effy," Natalie says, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Troy and Leon. They were at the Scent Bar, trying to pick up another omega. When I confronted them about it, they... they threatened me."

Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water, shocking me fully awake. But even as my heart races, a deep, instinctive part of me rejects what she's saying.

It doesn't make sense.

It can't be true.

And it's not just logically. It doesn't make sense deep within my core. Within that space I didn't even know existed until the bond formed between all six of us.

"What?" I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "Nat, that doesn't... Are you sure what you say?"

"Of course I'm sure!" she snaps, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "Who are you going to believe, Effy? Your best friend or the alpha who abandoned you and one you barely know?"

I open my mouth to respond, but the words die on my lips as I hear a car pulling up outside. Footsteps on the gravel driveway, then the sound of a key in the lock. Leon and Troy's scents driftup the stairs, mingling with the lingering traces of the rest of our pack.

Ourpack.

I realize now that's exactly what we've become. Not just because of the marks. Not just in name. It's a soul-deep feeling I wasn't fully aware of until this very moment, when my doubt should be plaguing me more than ever.

"Effy?" Natalie's voice crackles through the phone. "Are you still there?"

I'm silent for a long moment, my mind racing. The pieces aren't fitting together. Something is very, very wrong here.

But I know what my heart is telling me.

"Why?" I finally ask, my voice low and steady.

"Why what?" Natalie sounds confused, almost flustered.

"Why are you lying to me, Nat?"

There's a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. "I'm not lying! How could you even think that?"

But I can hear it now, clear as day. The slight quiver in her voice, the one that's always been there when she stretches the truth. How did I never notice it before?

"You are," I say softly. "You always have a little tremor in your voice when you lie. But even if you didn't... I know Leon and Troy wouldn't betray me like that."

"Effy, please," Natalie pleads. "You have to believe me. I'm your best friend!"

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