Page 27 of Knot Happening

I ran as if the hounds of hell were nipping at my heels, the relentless pounding of my heart echoing in my ears.The city's streets offered no comfort, each shadowed corner a potential trap.

A feral alpha appeared from the gloom like a specter, his eyes wild with the hunt.I could see the primal instinct taking hold, the thin veneer of civilization stripped away to reveal the beast beneath.My breath came in ragged gasps as I pushed my body to its limits, the heat spikes fueling my desperation.

Up ahead, I caught sight of a mall, its neon signs illuminating the encroaching darkness.With a final burst of adrenaline, I dashed across the street, narrowly avoiding the onslaught of traffic.The alpha was close behind, his snarls sending icy tendrils of fear down my spine.

I burst through the doors of a public restroom, slamming and locking the door behind me.My chest heaved as I leaned against the cool metal, the sound of my own heartbeat deafening in the silence.The alpha's snarling was muffled now, a distant storm that threatened to break at any moment.

I could hear him outside the door, his growls of frustration reverberating through the air.He paced back and forth, the heavy thud of his footsteps a grim reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond my sanctuary.I clapped a hand over my mouth, stifling the sobs that threatened to escape my lips.I couldn't afford to give away my location, not when I was so close to safety.

The alpha's rage was palpable, his fists pounding against the door in a fit of animalistic fury.I flinched with each impact, my body trembling with a mixture of fear and exhaustion.But then, as suddenly as he had appeared, the snarls and growls began to recede.The alpha let out one final roar of frustration before his footsteps faded into the night.

I remained frozen, my breath caught in my throat as I listened for any sign of his return.Minutes ticked by, each one stretching into an eternity of suspense.A profound silence engulfed me, serving as a bittersweet reminder of my lonely existence in a world that seemed relentless in its attempts to break me.

With trembling hands, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the burner phone I had managed to keep hidden during my flight.My fingers danced across the screen, typing out a desperate plea for help to the only number I knew, begging with every fiber of my being that she answered this time.

"I'm trapped," I wrote, my words a mere whisper in the vast emptiness of the restroom."Please, I need you."

I hit send and waited, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me like a physical force.The phone felt like a lifeline, a tenuous connection to a world beyond the terrifying reality that surrounded me.I clung to it, the cold plastic of the burner phone seeming to grow warmer in my grasp, as if infused with the desperate hope coursing through my veins.

My gaze fixed on the screen, my heart pounding in my chest, dreading the silence that lingered, suffocating the room.I prayed for a miracle, a sign that I wasn't alone in my struggle, that somewhere out there, someone was coming for me.

thirty

DARCY

The burner phonevibrated in my hand, the sudden movement causing me to jump.I fumbled with the device, my fingers slick with sweat as I brought it to my ear.

"Darcy?"Dr.Parsons' voice was a lifeline in the oppressive silence of the restroom.

I choked out a sob, relief flooding through me at the sound of her voice."Dr.Parsons, I—" My words were cut off by the intensity of my emotions, the reality of my situation crashing down around me.

"Take a deep breath, Darcy," she instructed, her tone steady and reassuring.

I tried to steady my breathing, each inhale a shaky attempt to regain control."I'm trying," I gasped, my voice barely above a whisper, and I was starting to feel lightheaded.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then Dr.Parsons was speaking again, her tone steady and reassuring."Darcy, listen to me.I need you to focus on my voice.Can you do that for me?"

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me, and managed to choke out a feeble "Yes."

"Good.Now, I want you to find something square-shaped.It could be a tile on the floor, a poster on the wall, anything.Once you've found it, I want you to breathe in as you trace your eyes along one edge, then breathe out as you move to the next.Can you do that for me?"

My eyes darted around the cramped restroom, landing on a bar of soap on the sink.I followed her instructions, my breath hitching as I inhaled deeply, held it, and then exhaled slowly as my gaze moved from one corner of the soap to the next.I repeated the process, the simple act of breathing guiding me back from the brink of hysteria.

"Good, Darcy," Dr.Parsons praised, her voice a gentle encouragement."Now, listen carefully.We have safe houses set up for situations like this.I'm going to give you the addresses.You need to get to one of them before your heat hits."

I pulled the phone away from my ear just long enough to open the notes app, my fingers shaking as I typed out the information she recited.Each address was a beacon of hope, a potential sanctuary from the storm that was brewing inside me.

"Remember, you're not alone," Dr.Parsons reminded me, her words a comforting presence in my mind."We're here for you, Darcy.We'll do everything we can to help you through this."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me, a solitary tear tracing a path down my cheek."Thank you," I murmured, the words inadequate to express the depth of my gratitude.

We ended the call with a promise to stay in touch, and I was left once again in the quiet solitude of the restroom.I took a moment to collect myself, to steel my nerves for the journey ahead.I had a destination now, a goal to focus on amidst the chaos that had become my life.

I tucked the burner phone safely in my bra and took one last look at the soap sitting innocently on the counter.It had been my anchor in a moment of despair, a simple object that had helped me find my center when I thought all was lost.

With a newfound sense of determination, I pushed open the restroom door and stepped out into the night.

My breaths came in short, ragged gasps as I navigated the city streets, the cool night air stinging my lungs with each desperate step.The addresses Dr.Parsons had given me were etched into my mind, a mantra of safety that propelled me forward.I had managed to evade my father's men and the unwanted attention of rogue alphas, but I knew it was only a matter of time before my heat made me too vulnerable to continue alone.

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