Page 25 of Knot Happening

A woman in a reddish-pink dress that clung to her curves, the hem tattered and frayed, ending just above her shins.She wore a mask over her face, but it did little to conceal the fear in her wide, doe-like eyes.She glanced at me, her gaze flicking over my club vest, taking in the blood that stained my clothes.For a fleeting moment, I saw recognition flash in her eyes, followed quickly by panic.

Instinctively, I reached out, my voice barely above a whisper."Hey, wait?—"

But she was already running, her bare feet slapping against the pavement as she fled.I could've chased her, could've used my alpha strength to catch up to her in no time.But something stopped me—a sharp, searing pain in my side that sent me stumbling backward, a grim reminder of the bullet lodged there.

I gritted my teeth against the agony, my vision blurring for a moment as the pain threatened to overwhelm me.When I finally regained my senses, she was gone, vanished into the city streets.All that remained was her scent, a sweet, intoxicating aroma that clung to the air like a siren's call.

My scent match.And she was going through her heat, in public, surrounded by alphas who would stop at nothing to claim her.The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, and I knew I had to find her, had to protect her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

With a growl of frustration, I pushed off from the wall, forcing myself to move despite the pain.I couldn't let her disappear into the night, not when I knew the hell she was going through.I had to find her, and I had to make sure she was safe.

But as I took a step forward, the world tilted dangerously, a wave of dizziness washing over me.I stumbled, reaching out to brace myself against the wall.The pain in my side flared, a brutal reminder that I was in no condition to be playing the hero.

I cursed under my breath, the taste of defeat sour on my tongue.I had failed Razor by not getting here sooner, and now I was failing this mysterious omega by letting her slip through my fingers.

I took a deep, steadying breath, the scent of my scent-matched omega lingering in the air, a tantalizing promise of what could've been.With a heavy heart, I turned back toward the safe house, knowing that I needed to get my wounds tended to before I could even think about mounting a search.

As I pushed open the door, the sound of Razor's labored breathing greeted me, a reminder of the stakes at play.I might've been injured, might've been struggling with my own demons, but I had a responsibility—to Razor, to The Vultures, and now, to the mysterious omega whose scent had ignited something primal within me.

I would find her.I had to.

twenty-seven

HARLEN

I stood there,the trunk of my car gaping open like a silent scream, my world tilting on its axis.The scent hit me like a physical blow, a fragrance that cut through the metallic tang of the city and the sharp chemical smell of my gear.It was sweet, with underlying notes of something else, something that resonated deep within my core.Coconut and vanilla, an omega's scent, and not just any omega.My scent match.

The realization struck me with the force of a speeding train.I could barely draw breath, my chest tightening as if an invisible hand had wrapped around my heart and squeezed.The odds were astronomical, the universe playing a cruel joke.Of all the cars in the city, they had chosen mine.An omega whose scent was now seared into my memory, had been here, in my trunk, and I had missed them by mere moments.

My mind raced, the implications hitting me one after another.A scent match was a rare and precious thing, a connection that went beyond the physical.It was a bond, a call that spoke of shared paths and entwined fates.And I had failed to answer it.I had been oblivious while my scent match, my potential soulmate, had been within arm's reach.

The scent was tinged with fear and distress and a clear sign of an omega in heat, lost and alone when they should have been safe and cherished.The primal part of me, the part that I kept locked away, roared in frustration and anger.How could this happen?How could I have been so blind?

I leaned against the car, my legs suddenly weak, as the weight of this new knowledge pressed down on me.The world around me faded into insignificance, the sounds of the city becoming a distant hum.All I could focus on was the lingering trace of their scent, a beacon that tugged at something instinctual and desperate within me.

Questions whirled in my mind, each one more troubling than the last.Who were they?Where were they now?Were they in danger?The city was not kind to omegas, especially not those in heat and without protection.The thought of them out there, vulnerable and scared, sent a surge of protective fury through me.

I had to find them.It wasn't just a desire; it was a necessity, as vital as breathing.My scent match needed me, and I had been absent.That realization cut deeper than any blade ever could.I slammed the trunk shut, the sound echoing through the empty street, a declaration of intent.

The moment the call connected, Pietro's voice was a balm to my frayed nerves."Pietro, I need your help," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.I didn't waste time with pleasantries; the situation was too urgent.

I explained everything, from the lingering scent in my car to the gut-wrenching realization that my scent match had been so close, yet so far.There was a pause on the other end, and then Pietro's laughter, rich and full-bodied, came through the speaker."Of course, this would happen to you, Harlen," he said, amusement clear in his tone.

Despite the gravity of the situation, I found myself smirking.Only Pietro could find humor in such a bizarre twist of fate.He instructed me to meet him at his office in the fight club, and I complied, my mind already envisioning our next steps.

When I arrived, Pietro was leaning against the brick wall outside, the picture of calm.But I knew him too well; the slight tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes flicked to the entrance and back to me—he was anxious.I didn't comment on it, instead popping the trunk of my car with the press of a button.

Pietro stepped forward, his brow furrowing as he inhaled deeply.His eyes widened, and for a moment, he was silent.Then he looked at me, and I saw it—the same shock and disbelief that had gripped me earlier."They're mine too," he whispered, the words hanging between us like a guillotine's blade.

A rush of possessiveness surged through me, mingling with a strange sense of relief.Our scent match was out there, scared and alone, but we were in this together now.Without thinking, I reached out, gripping Pietro's tie and pulling him towards me.Our lips crashed together, a fierce, claiming kiss that spoke of the trials ahead and the unbreakable bond that was already forming between us.

I had always known that Pietro was strong, a pillar of resilience amidst the chaos of our lives.But in that moment, as our lips met with an urgency that bordered on desperation, I realized that his strength paled in comparison to the force that now bound us together.Our scent match had irrevocably intertwined our fates, and the relief that washed over me was as potent as the most intoxicating drug.

For years, I had kept my feelings for Pietro buried deep within my chest, a secret garden that I tended to alone, in the quiet hours of the night.I had admired him from afar, watched him rise through the ranks of the Bratva with a mixture of awe and fear.He was like a comet—brilliant and fierce, a fleeting beauty that could scorch the earth if one dared to get too close.

I had always been careful not to smother the flame that Pietro carried within him.Our friendship was a delicate thing, a balance that I had been terrified to disrupt.I had settled for stolen moments, for the warmth of his body next to mine in the darkness, always afraid that he would run if I revealed the depth of my desire.I had been content to play the part of the loyal friend, the confidant who asked for nothing in return, because the alternative—losing him altogether—was unthinkable.

But now, the world had shifted beneath our feet, and the ground upon which we stood was no longer solid.Our scent match was out there, a beacon that called to both of us, and with that call came the promise of a life that I had never dared to dream of.Pietro's lips on mine were a pledge, a silent vow that we would face whatever came next together.

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