Page 20 of Knot Happening

"Once you're fully in the throes of your heat, you won't be able to fight them off," he said, an edge of satisfaction creeping into his voice."You'll be the obedient omega you're meant to be, and you'll finally have a place and a pack.Doesn’t that sound lovely?"

The drug was doing its work, my body growing heavier by the second.A warmth was spreading through me, a warmth that had nothing to do with comfort and everything to do with primal need.My cheeks flamed beneath my foundation, the heat of my skin threatening to melt the makeup from my face.

Panic set in, a wild animal trapped in a snare.Just as darkness began to creep into the edges of my vision, the lights flickered and died.Instinct took over, and I found myself reaching for the pen on my father's desk, the one with the heavy, embossed emblem at its cap.

With a strength born of sheer terror, I drove the pen into Alpha Reyes' throat.His gurgled cry of surprise was lost in the chaos of the darkness.I didn't wait to see the outcome; I turned and ran.

twenty-two

DARCY

My heels clackedagainst the marble floor, the sound echoing in the eerie silence that had fallen over the house.I could hear my father shouting my name, but his voice seemed distant, a mere echo in the fog of my panic.

I burst through the front door, the cool night air hitting me like a slap in the face.My heart was pounding in my ears, a frantic drumbeat that spurred me on.I didn't know where I was going, only that I had to get as far away from that house as possible.

The drug was still working its way through my system, but I couldn't afford to succumb to it now.I had to find help, a safe haven amidst the storm that had become my life.The Omega Underground was my only hope.They had to be warned, and they had to help me.I couldn't do this alone.

I fled the wing of the house that housed my father’s office, the pen still clutched in my hand, its tip wet with Alpha Reyes' blood.My mind raced, the metallic scent of fear mingling with the sweetness of my omega perfume.The darkened hallways of the estate stretched out before me, a labyrinth that seemed to twist and turn with my every step.My heart thumped in my chest, its rapid beats matching the chaotic thoughts swirling in my head.

I had to think, to plan, but my thoughts were as scattered as the leaves in a storm.I could hear my father's voice, a distant roar, as he called for his men.They were like hounds, sniffing out their prey, and I was the quarry they sought.

I slipped through the shadows, my omega instincts honed by years of navigating the treacherous waters of my father's world.I knew the estate better than anyone, and I used that knowledge to my advantage, slipping through hidden doors and narrow passages that were all but forgotten.

The cool night air greeted me as I finally made it outside, the stars above hidden behind a veil of clouds.I paused for a moment, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps.I had no plan, no safe haven to run to.The Omega Underground had promised to help, but in my panic, their contact information was a distant memory, lost in the fog of my fear.

I found myself on the streets of the city, the noise and chaos a stark contrast to the silence of the estate.The cold air did nothing to calm my racing thoughts, and I could feel the weight of my predicament pressing down on me.I was alone, vulnerable, and on the run.

The distant sounds of pursuit reached my ears, a reminder that I was far from safe.My father's men were relentless, and they would not stop until they had me back in their grasp.I ducked into an alley, my body pressed against the rough brick wall as I tried to control my breathing.The shouts of my pursuers grew louder, their footsteps echoing in the night.

I had allowed myself a moment of foolish hope, the belief that I had successfully given them the slip.But as I hurried through the labyrinth of narrow streets, an all-too-familiar sensation began to stir within me—a heat spike, as unpredictable as it was unforgiving.It struck with the ferocity of a summer storm, the intense arousal and abdominal cramps seizing control of my body with an iron grip.A whimper, soft and pained, escaped my lips, only to be devoured by the shadowy confines of the alley where I had sought refuge.

My fingers dug into the rough fabric of my dress, as if by doing so I could anchor myself to reality, to the desperate situation at hand.But the ache within me was relentless, a primal siren call for an alpha's touch—a touch I both craved and feared.It was a need that gnawed at my very core, a hunger that could not be sated by mere willpower.I was an omega on the cusp of a heat, vulnerable and exposed, with the scent of my desire surely tainting the air, a beacon for any nearby alpha to follow.The thought of being caught, of being claimed against my will, sent a shiver of dread coursing through me.Yet, the biological imperative of my omega nature was undeniable, and in that moment, I felt utterly trapped between two warring halves of my being.

I realized then just how much danger I was in.Alone, in heat, and with my father's goons closing in, I knew I had to keep moving.I forced myself to my feet, my legs trembling with the effort.I staggered out of the alley and onto the city streets, the lights and sounds of the city a blur as I searched for somewhere safe.

I needed help, but the heat spike was clouding my thoughts, making it hard to focus on anything but the ache in my core.I moved forward, one step at a time, my mind filled with a single, desperate hope – that I would find the Omega Underground before it was too late.

With trembling hands, I tore at the fabric of my ball gown, the delicate material no match for my determination.The sound of ripping fabric echoed in the alley, a stark and defiant sound in the stillness of the night.I worked swiftly, transforming the voluminous skirt into a more manageable length, the excess fabric pooling at my feet like fallen rose petals.

I then took the remaining fabric and fashioned a makeshift diaper, an improvised solution to contain any slick that might betray my condition.My fingers fumbled with the task, my mind clouded by the relentless ache that throbbed deep within my core.I secured the fabric between my legs, tucking it beneath the waistband of my underwear, praying it would be enough to keep my scent at bay.

I stepped back to assess my handiwork, smoothing down the front of my hastily altered gown.The once elegant dress was now a symbol of my rebellion, a tangible representation of my determination to survive.The makeshift diaper, concealed beneath the shorter skirt, was an unwelcome reminder of my omega nature, but it was a necessary precaution if I were to maintain my freedom.

With the task completed, I took a moment to collect myself.My breath was coming in short, ragged gasps, and I could feel the sticky warmth of slick beginning to pool despite my efforts to control it.I closed my eyes, focusing on the rhythm of my breathing, trying to will away the heat that threatened to consume me.

I opened my eyes, the reality of my situation crashing down upon me once more.I couldn't stay in the alley, frozen in place by fear and desire.I had to move, to keep running, even as my body screamed for respite and the comfort of a nest I didn't have.

twenty-three

DARCY

I doubled over,a soft whimper slipping past my lips as the familiar ache of an impending heat spread through my belly, threatening to drop me to my knees.

I had heard stories of omegas who succumbed to their heat in public, the scent of their slick drawing alphas like moths to a flame, but I refused to become one of those cautionary tales.I fought against the rising tide of desire, my hands clenching into fists at my sides as I willed the heat spike to pass.But it was a losing battle, one that left me dizzy and breathless, my body betraying me at every turn.

It was then that I heard the rustle of movement behind me.I spun around, my heart lodged firmly in my throat, only to find myself staring into a pair of familiar, yet unexpected, brown eyes.Jin Kang, the quiet beta who had always seemed out of place among my father's staff, stood before me, his expression unreadable beneath the dim glow of the streetlights.

"Darcy," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos like a calm, steady anchor."I'm here to help."

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