Page 66 of Knot Happening Again

The word almost feels like a joke, considering I haven't sculpted or painted anything in years. Those feel like the privileged hobbies of another lifetime. The girl who spent hours holed up in her studio, perfecting everything she put to kiln and canvas might as well be another person.

The possibility of going back to that is both thrilling and terrifying. I've spent so long protecting myself, building walls to keep everyone out. The thought of letting those walls down, of allowing myself to be vulnerable again... it's almost too much.

"I can't..." I start, then shake my head. "I'm going to take it one thing at a time. First, I need to tell them the truth. Then... we'll see what happens."

Natalie nods, understanding in her eyes. "That's fair," she says. "Now, come on. Let's find you a killer dress to wear whileyou drop this bomb on them. They'll be so distracted by your T&A, they won't even be able to take it in."

I burst out in laughter for the first time in weeks. "That would be one hell of a dress."

We leave the dressing room, diving back into the racks of dresses. As we search, Natalie keeps up a steady stream of chatter, filling me in on the latest gossip from work and her latest MatingMatch hookup app disaster. I'm grateful for the distraction, but I can tell she's holding something back.

Finally, as we're flipping through a rack of cocktail dresses, she turns to me with a serious expression. "Ophelia," she says, her voice low, “are you sure the meeting with the alphas is all that's on your mind?”

I freeze, my hand still on a hanger. For a moment, I consider lying, brushing off her concern with a casual excuse. But Natalie deserves better than that. She's always been honest with me, even when it wasn't easy.

Taking a deep breath, I meet her gaze. "Something happened," I admit. "Something I haven't told anyone about. I guess I'm still kind of processing it myself."

Natalie's eyes widen with concern. She grabs my arm, pulling me into a quiet corner of the store. "What is it? Are you okay?"

I nod, then shake my head, then nod again. "I'm fine but… Leon showed up at the Scent Bar. On your day off."

"Leon?" Natalie repeats, confusion clear on her face. Then realization dawns, and her jaw drops. "Wait, you meantheLeon? The one who...?"

"The one who marked me and left, yeah," I finish for her, my hand unconsciously moving to the scar on my neck.

Natalie pulls me into a tight hug, her arms wrapping around me protectively. "Oh, Ophelia," she breathes. "Are you okay? What did he want?"

I lean into her embrace, drawing comfort from her familiar scent and warmth. "He said he wanted to apologize," I mumble into her shoulder. "To make things right."

Natalie pulls back, holding me at arm's length. Her eyes search my face, concern etched in every line. "Do you think he was genuine?" she asks carefully.

I shrug, feeling the weight of years of pain and anger pressing down on me. "I don't know," I admit. "And honestly? I don't care. I want nothing to do with him."

Natalie nods, understanding and support clear in her expression. "That's fair," she says. "You don't owe him anything. But... are you sure you're okay?"

I force a smile, trying to inject some lightness into my voice. "I'm fine, really."

I can tell she doesn't really believe me, but she drops it. "Yeah. Let's forget about that asshole and focus on your amazing new pack instead."

"Potentialnew pack," I correct quickly, but Natalie just rolls her eyes.

"Please," she scoffs. "From everything you've told me, those alphas are already head over heels for you. This dinner is just a formality."

Before I can argue, Natalie's eyes light up. She reaches past me, pulling a dress off the rack with a triumphant cry. “A-HA! This is the one," she declares, holding it up for me to see. “It’s perfect. You have to try it on."

I eye the dress skeptically. It's a deep sapphire blue, with a sweetheart neckline and a flowing skirt that falls just above the knee. The bodice is covered in delicate lace, adding a touch of elegance to the otherwise simple design.

"I don't know," I hedge. "It's pretty, but..."

"No buts," Natalie insists, pushing me toward the dressing room. "Trust me on this one."

With a sigh, I allow myself to be herded back into the small cubicle. I slip into the dress, surprised by how easily it glides over my curves. The fabric is soft against my skin, cool and light.

As I zip it up, I can't help but gasp. The dress fits like it was made for me, hugging my waist and flowing out over my hips. The color makes my pale skin glow, bringing out the blue in my eyes.

"Well?" Natalie calls impatiently. "Let me see!"

I step out of the dressing room, suddenly feeling shy. Natalie's eyes widen as she takes me in, a slow smile spreading across her face.

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