Page 88 of Hard Knot

I send and pause in typing what my heart is begging for.

“Maybe by then, I can prove to be a worthy enough Omega so I can see my Dad again for Thanksgiving?”

Even if it’s temporary, if it allowed me to visit him and be around the family just for that event, that would make my entire year.

I know I’ll miss Christmas, but if I get to see him for Thanksgiving, that would mean the world to me.

I try not to admit it, but I’ve missed him. You don’t realize how much of a good Father you have until you’re stuck away from him for X amount of years. I wasn’t really one who was bratty or a bitch when their Dad said you can’t do this and that because I appreciated my Dad’s involvement in my life.

I realized in school that many had absent Fathers, and the few that did pressure them to go towards careers that didn’t align with their true desires. Either way, I always recognized my Dad was a rarity, despite him having his hand soaked deep in blood and chaos.

Yes, he was a sinner like any of us, but he did it to ensure I could be protected, fed, and given a chance at a future, despite being an Omega.

The typing bubble appears and lingers, Carter composing his response carefully. I'm so focused on the screen, walking aimlessly while I anxiously wait for Carter’s reply, that I don't notice the person in front of me until we collide.

Shit!

The impact sends me stumbling backward, but strong hands catch me before I can fall. I look up, ready to apologize, when familiar bright blue eyes lock with mine.

"Eli?"

The nickname hits me like a physical blow.

Only one person has ever called me that.

Ever dared get close enough to me that we were on nickname level.

"James?"

He whistles low, a grin spreading across his face as he steadies me.

“My rival ghost,” he whispers almost in awe, while he takes me in, appreciatively. "Damn, never thought I'd find you at Knot Academy of all places."

Me neither.

James Reed Morrison — Harvard's golden boy and my former dance partner. His blonde hair is shorter now, styled in that carefully messy way that probably took an hour to perfect, but those blue eyes are exactly as I remember them.

Sharp, intelligent, always analyzing, and yet so dangerously cunning.

When they rack your body, you can never tell whether he’s undressing you or plotting your demise. I usually aimed for the second option, but between us, when we were “something”, I felt he was peeling off the layers of my clothes in his mind.

Layer by layer…wishing to kiss and touch me all bare and vulnerable for just him…

"I could say the same thing, Mr. Harvard," I manage, taking a step back to put some distance between us. I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea, especially if James is a new student and has a pack of his own. He wouldn’t be here unless he had a pack, which probably meant he was here to find an Omega of his own.

I try to ignore his carried scent that wrapped around my senses like a forbidden promise — smoked black tea and dark amber mingled with the spice of cardamom and cinnamon, laced with whispers of sage and vetiver, a maddening blend of temptation and dominance that made my pulse quicken instantly.

It had been years since I’d picked up his scent, but compared to the very light touch of tea and sage, I could grasp every singledetail thanks to my Omega traits, which were currently yearning for me to surrender.

"What happened to your track to becoming the youngest professor in Harvard's history?"

His smile falters slightly.

"Things changed after you disappeared. I tried calling?—"

"My phone was disconnected," I cut him off, the words coming out sharper than intended. I mean, it’s not a lie. Father disconnected it, so I’m just stating the obvious fact.

"For five years?" He arches an eyebrow, his expression turning serious. I’m not expecting him to be willing to confront this situation here and now, but then again, he’s not the same twenty-year-old I left behind.Did he miss the accelerated teen who did everything to try to beat him on the academic board?"Your entire family vanished, Eli. No forwarding address, and no way to contact you. Even your social media went dark."

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