Page 108 of Hard Knot

That time has passed so swiftly…to lead us to this moment that feels like a typical day back then when we walked through the locker-filled halls with determined hopes and dreams.

Neither of us knew our lives were going to change.

Me…becoming an Omega…

And I guess him…ending up being an Alpha.

"You'll see," he replies, his voice carrying that familiar tone of amused confidence I remember so well from our Harvard days. "If you trust me, you won't panic about it."

I frown at that, though I can't deny the truth.

I do trust him.

Could be proven stupid, but I don’t see him betraying me. He could have back there, but instead, he saved me from my inevitable demise.

Even after five years…after everything that's happened, some part of me still instinctively knows James won't lead me into danger. It's the same part that recognized his scent earlier and felt a sense of peace despite the turmoil brewing at the surface.

The suite he leads me into takes my breath away.

It's not just nice —it's spectacular.

The space opens into a living area that would make five-star hotels jealous. Cream-colored walls adorned with abstract art in muted golds and blues, create an atmosphere of refined luxury. The ceiling features subtle recessed lighting that bathes everything in a warm, welcoming glow.

A massive L-shaped sofa in rich navy leather dominates one corner, accented with pillows in various textures that look soft enough to sink into. Beside it, a hand-knotted Persian rug in deep blues and golds anchors the space, its intricate patterns drawing the eye.

The air itself feels different here — cleaner, fresher, with subtle notes of sandalwood and vanilla. They must filter this atmosphere to match the prestige appearance that make any commoner feel like they entered another country.

It's such a stark contrast to the musty staleness of my dorm that it almost makes me dizzy.

Through an archway, I catch glimpses of what must be the bedroom. The king-sized bed is a masterpiece of luxury, dressed in what looks like Egyptian cotton in a deep charcoal gray.

Above it, a crystal chandelier casts prismatic patterns across the walls.

How can this exist in Knot Academy? How have I never known about these spaces?

My mind spins as I try to process not just this hidden luxury, but everything that's happened this morning.

The confrontation in Phillips's office feels almost surreal now, like something out of a fever dream. The past few days have been overwhelming enough with Carter, Felix, and Holmes entering my life, but now with James's sudden appearance and the revelation of his true power in this grand society...

It's all too much.

Everything feels like it's moving too fast, events spiraling beyond my control. The James I knew at Harvard was ambitious, yes, but this version of him, this powerful, dangerous Alpha who can make administrators tremble with a look and acknowledgment of his surname, make me feel like meeting a stranger wearing a familiar face.

A stranger who still makes my heart race when he looks at me.

"Sit," he instructs, guiding me toward the sofa. The leather is butter-soft against my skin, and I sink into it before I can stop myself.

Wow. This has to be imported because there’s no way it was made here.

"If this is your way of sweetening me up," I say, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy despite how the room seems to be slowly tilting, "it's kind of working."

His smirk is achingly familiar as he disappears into what must be the bathroom - all marble and chrome from what I glimpse — returning moments later with a cold towel.

“Do you take heat suppressants?” His question is random, but then again, with everything that happened, maybe it’s a reasonable question.

“Yes,” I admit, trying to think of when I last took my dose. It’s a daily thing, which means I should have took it today…and yesterday…

Yet, I can’t recall when the last day I took it was.

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