Page 35 of Knot Happening

My mother couldn’t help the way she reacted to her mate’s death. Omegas are dependent on their Alphas, especially once they become bonded.

“We’ll get you into ABO Care, I promise mom. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

My vow doesn’t even cause her to blink as I pull the blanket up over her shoulders, before taking one last look at her.

It’s an odd feeling, missing someone that's sitting right in front of you. Missing the person she used to be. Before everything.

Helping me get ready before school. Doing my hair, picking out my clothes. Making me pancakes on the weekends. Dancing in the rain with me. Arts and crafts, and movie nights. Baking cookies, and reading books before bedtime. She’s practically a ghost now. The shell of a woman that once existed.

There’s a facility for men and women like my mother. There are several, actually. I’ve done a lot of research on these in the last year, but over the last three months things have gotten really bad. She needs full-time care, and I just can’t be that person for her. She needs more help than I can give her.

Which is how I ended up working at Haze Instincts. How I ended up in that sex shop where I met Declan. What a mess I’ve made for myself.

“Thanks, Meg,” I say, waving to her as I slip out the door, and she murmurs a soft goodbye.

I head outside, and when I make it downstairs, that's when I remember my fucking bike…

Then I see him. He’s waiting for me, smiling like the fucking bastard that he is.

Motherfucker. Hayden never gave it back after he forced me to accept a ride from him. He put it in his truck bed...

I growl, stomping past his truck. No. Fuck him. I’ll walk, even though I could use a ride right now.

“Get in the truck, Starlight. You’re late,”

I growl again, at his use of the nickname he once gave me.

“You’re as beautiful as the night sky. My very own Starlight.”

“Gah!” I snap, before jerking the door of his truck open and climbing in. I want to pound my fists against his chest, but instead, I buckle up and refuse to look at him.

His scent is so strong in this small space, and I can’t resist taking a deep breath. Fuck, he’s intoxicating.

I nearly release a purr of satisfaction. That would have been mortifying. Thoughts of climbing into his lap and demanding he pull his cock out flood my mind, and before I know it, his truck smells like a blueberry bomb went off.

“Fuuuuck me, Tatum.” Hayden snaps his head, assessing me with a furrowed brow that I can see from his reflection in the window. “Aren’t you on suppressants?” he asks, and now I spin on him.

“How the fuck would you know that?” I demand, and his eyebrows jump to his hairline.

“I’m the go-between with Declan’s new supplier,” he says, but something about the way his statement sounds like a question makes alarm bells go off in my mind.

I ignore every instinct I have when his scent spikes with anxiety. Being an Omega is frustrating when your Alpha ex is trying to get you back, and all you want is for him to fuck off.

Despite my refusal to soothe him with my words or my touch, my scent shifts. The calming blueberry and vanilla ice cream fills the small space of his truck, and Hayden grunts.

“Damn, I missed your scent. Do you remember the first time you perfumed? Nearly cleared out history class it was so strong,” he chuckles, and I groan, remembering that horrifying moment.“I thought it was the most delicious thing I’d ever smelled. Most of the class agreed.” His voice drops to a growl with his last words. When my eyes unwillingly meet his blue ones, the desire that spikes through me contradicts the piercing pain in my heart.

“Thank you for that walk down memory lane, I just love remembering how horrifying it was to have my history teacher choke on my scent before fleeing the room, abandoning me to face horny teenagers alone,” I snarl, shooting him a very pointed glare.

“You weren’t alone. I was there to protect you. Only Billy Black lost his fucking mind. I easily kicked his ass.” Hayden shrugs, and I sigh heavily.

“Hayden?”

“Yes, Starlight?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Yes, Omega.”

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