Page 153 of Hard Knot

"Speaking of those Alphas...they're your pack now, ya? The ones in the video?"

I sort another envelope into the growing 'scholarship offers' pile, which has somehow become a daily occurrence.

"Yeah, they are. There's James – you remember him from Harvard?"

"The Morrison boy? Of course! Always liked him."

"Well, he's even more insufferable now," I say fondly, moving into the kitchen to grab some water. "Then there's Carter. He's the one who did the hip-hop portion with me. Total show-off but incredibly talented. Could probably kill someone with his pinky finger but spends most of his time making terrible jokes."

"Sounds charming," Dad chuckles. “Anyone who can make my baby girl laugh is a good one.”

"Felix is the quiet one…well, quieter than the others. Brilliant with computers, probably knows everyone's secrets but is too polite to use them unless provoked." I pause at a particularly fancy envelope, adding it to the scholarship pile. "And then there's Holmes..."

"The one who arranged the IACDE visit?" I had told him my suspicions that he had to be the culprit in that.

Heat rises to my cheeks at the reminder.

"Yeah, that's him. He's...complicated. But in a good way, I think. Definitely more than he appears at first glance."

"Mmm," Dad hums knowingly. "That's the one who kissed you at the end of the video, right?"

"Dad!" I sputter, nearly dropping the stack of mail I'm sorting. "You weren't supposed to see that part!"

"Sweetheart, the whole world has seen that part. It's all over TikTok with that 'romantic tension' sound playing over it."

I groan, leaning against the counter, because why is it MORE cringe having your old man see that shit with current millennial trends.

Embrassing.

"I'm never going to live this down, am I?"

"Not likely," he says cheerfully. "Oh, and speaking of things you'll never live down, Marissa will be at the family dinner."

A laugh escapes me as I pick up a plain white envelope with no return address.

"Of course she will. Wouldn't be a proper family gathering without my replacement trying to prove how much better she is than the family disappointment."

"Elizabeth," Dad's voice carries that gentle reproach he's perfected over the years. "You know you were never a disappointment. Not to me."

"I know, Dad," I say softly, fingers playing with the envelope's edge. "And honestly? I don't even care about Marissa. Never really did. You know that. Let her play perfect daughter all she wants. Doesn’t get rid of me, especially when I’m alive and kicking.

"That's my girl," he says proudly. A beeping sound carries through the line. "Oh, shoot, that's probably the board calling..."

"Go," I encourage him. "Get those deals rolling in seeing as I’ll be home for Christmas I guess.” I can tell from the way he gleefully makes a noise he’s happy about that. “I've got to get ready anyway. The guys are taking me to some club tonight. Apparently it has an actual fighting ring in the middle or something equally ridiculous."

"Just promise me you'll be careful. Now that you’re a mega famous Omega with nice legs and four groveling Alphas around you, it puts you in the spotlight," he reminds.

“Yes, yes. Don’t worry, Papa. I don’t think anyone is stupid enough to play tricks with me, especially when so many eyes are on me, wondering what’s next for the ‘Forgotten Omega’ at Knot Academy. I swear, might as well make a damn club. ForgottenOmegas only. Initiation is being stuck here for more than two years minimum with no pack in sight.”

“You’re actually thinking of something swell, my dear,” Dad encourages, making me laugh.

“I’ll make it happen, watch!”

“I’ll be waiting,” he says and I can hear the smile in his voice. "And Abbie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm beyond proud of you, sweetheart. Always have been, always will be."

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