Page 16 of Knot So Sweet

How had I let that happen? Fuck if I knew.

I hadn’t even noticed the connection before he pointed it out. Would he believe me if I said it was just a coincidence?

I bit my lip as I tried to come up with an answer that would appease him, but everything sounded like an excuse in my book. So, I shrugged, the awkwardness from earlier resurfacing and making me uncomfortable as hell.

"Please, let’s not fight. I have a lot I need to do before the Den reopens," I said, hoping to shift the focus away from my tattoo and the tension between us.

His fresh peeled orange scent, once comforting, now twisted my gut as Benson’s gaze swept over my curves. He took a step toward me, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Okay, let’s not fight. Maybe we could... unwind after this. Just like old times." His hand landed on my shoulder, sliding down my arm with a softness that made my pulse quicken.

But not in the way it used to.

Once, I had found him endearing, and I still found his presence comforting. A beta felt safe, but now? Compared to how Viper and Ghost made me feel, it felt like an empty promise. I looked away, focusing on the tattoo instead of the way his words made me feel. There was a time when I might have taken him up on that offer, but now it felt wrong, like I was betraying something—or maybe someone.

Two someones.

"Ben, I…" I started, my voice trailing off as I searched for the right words. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t pretend anymore, couldn’t force myself to feel something that wasn’t there. "I can’t. Not tonight. I have too much going on right now."

I cringed at the 'it’s not you, it’s me' speech I was unintentionally giving. But the truth was, we just weren’t in the same place anymore.

He stiffened, the easygoing smile fading from his face. "Is it because ofthem?" he asked, his tone sharp and accusing. "The Steel Serpents alphas?"

I flinched at the MC's name, at the way it rolled off his tongue with disdain. Benson had never been a fan of the MC, and he made no secret of it. "It’s not like that, Ben. I just... I’ve got a lot on my mind right now. The Den’s reopening, and I need to focus on that."

His eyes narrowed, studying me with a mix of frustration and something else—something that looked a lot like jealousy. "You’ve changed, Candi. You’re not the same since they showed up. Sinceheshowed up."

I didn’t need to ask who he meant. Viper. The alpha who had taken up too much space in my thoughts, who had ignited a fire in me that I couldn’t control.

"I’m still me," I said softly, though the words felt like a lie.

Benson shook his head, his jaw tight. "Maybe. But just remember, you can always come to me. I’m not like them, Candi. I won’t hurt you."

The words hung between us, heavy with unspoken meaning. I wanted to believe him, wanted to find comfort in his promise. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple.

Not anymore.

Before I could respond, Benson’s hand slid up from my knee to my thigh, his grip tightening as he leaned in closer. His lips brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "I can make you forget them," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

The sudden intimacy caught me off guard. My body tensed as he moved to capture my lips with his. The kiss was forceful, his desperation palpable as he tried to rekindle something that had long since faded.

I pulled back, my breath catching in my throat as I stared into his earnest eyes. "Ben, stop," I said. "I can’t do this."

He recoiled, hurt flashing across his face, and I felt a pang of guilt. But there was no way I could be like that with him again. With one last, lingering look, I turned and headed for the door. I had to face the deal I made tonight, and I needed to do it with a clear head.

I just hoped Benson wouldn't hate me.

As I left the tattoo parlor, the cool night air hit me, but it did little to clear the fog swirling in my mind. Benson had been right—I had changed. And whether that change was for the better or worse, only time would reveal. My steps echoed on the pavement as I walked through the city streets, the hum of the city around me usually a comforting backdrop. Tonight though, it only amplified the noise in my head.

Benson’s words kept ricocheting in my mind, his tone filled with accusation and something heavier.You’re not the same since they showed up. Since he showed up.

Viper. Just the thought of him sent a chill through my body, a mix of fear and something darker, something I wasn’t ready to admit to myself yet. The plan had been simple—go to the Steel Serpents’ clubhouse, secure the protection I needed for The Omega Den, and get out. No strings, no complications. But now? After the tattoo session, Benson’s warning, and the ever-present thoughts of Viper… I wasn’t so sure I could keep my distance.

What the hell am I doing?

I had sworn off alphas. After everything I had been through, I’d promised myself never again. Never again would I let anyone have that kind of power over me, that kind of control. But Viper… he was different. He didn’t just want control—he demanded it. And the terrifying part? A sick, twisted part of me wanted to give it to him.

No, I told myself, shaking my head as if I could dislodge the thoughts. I couldn’t afford to be weak now. The Den had to be my priority. It was my freedom, my control, and I would protect it at any cost. With tensions rising in the city and so many dangerous eyes watching us, I needed Viper’s men for security. The cost to my pride, or even my sanity, was a small price to pay.

What I knew of Owen’s deal with the Cromwells felt like a ticking time bomb, a power play that could easily explode in our faces. They were playing with fire, and I couldn’t let my family burn in the fallout. The Cromwells were power-hungry andunpredictable, and trusting them was like leaning over the edge of a cliff, hoping the wind didn’t blow too hard.

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