Page 47 of Knot Happening

“I’ll explain, if you get in the car,” he says, as he looks away from me, scanning the parking lot.

“Don’t want to be seen with me?” I scoff.

“Get in the car, or I’ll put you in the car.” He grins at me like he didn’t just basically threaten me.

“Where will you take me?” I ask, and he shrugs.

“Wherever you want.”

“Fine, I need a ride home and answers,” I grumble, climbing into the buttery soft tan leather seat. He shuts the door and gets in on his side. The Omega in me can’t help but relish the comfort of the seat and the scent of bergamot clinging to the interior.

The second he shuts his door, I turn to stare at him.

“Start talking, Alpha,” I demand, trying to sound like I’m confident in my ability to boss around an Alpha, and not a super submissive Omega.

“Declan is my twin, and yes, it was me in the office two days ago.”

“Great, and ‘Pretty Gift?’” I glare at him, and watch his lips twitch the tiniest bit.

“Tell me why you were crying,” he says instead of answering me.

“I dropped my mother off this morning, and I was feeling like the worst daughter in the world for it. Your turn. Fess up,” I say, and when we pull up to the first light we need to turn down to get to my house, I lift my hand to direct him… My mouth falls shut when he takes the turn before I can say a word. “Okay, while you’re at it, why don’t you explain how you know where I live.”

“I’m a part owner of the club. Your address is in your file. Yes, my name is Kodiak.” The half smirk on his face tells me he knows exactly what he’s withholding.

“Uh huh. Pretty Gift?”

“Hmm, you’ll have to be more specific. What was that in reference to?”

Oh, he wants to play dirty? Fine, I can play that game too.

“Well, I came on your lap after grinding against your hard cock, and you said thank you for that pretty gift.” His scent changes, a spicy heaviness in the air between us, and I smirk.

“Awfully mouthy for an inexperienced, shy Omega.” He lifts his brow, glancing at me briefly, before turning back to the road. He’s got me there.

“So is that my new nickname then?”

“I certainly like it.”

It’s a short drive to my apartment from the facility. He pulls into a spot outside my apartment building’s door and parks.

Now that we’re here, I swallow thickly. I’ll be alone in there from now on. I don’t like the dark, or being alone in a quiet room. I’ve always slept fine, because I knew Mom was just outside my door or down the hall. But now?

“What just happened? Why do you look so sad?” Kodiak’s tone is gentle. Not pushy or prying, just curious.

“I’ve never lived alone. It’s going to be empty and so quiet in there. I don’t know if I can face it,” I say honestly, and Kodiak nods like he understands. Maybe he does.

“You could come live with me,” he says in a teasing tone, and I snort a laugh. But it worked. His words got me out of the doom and gloom of the moment. “I’m serious. I’m considering taking you there now. My brothers would love it,” I giggle, rolling my eyes, as I turn to look at him. He’s seriously handsome, but when all my attention is on him, he shakes his head a little until his hair falls into his face in a way that hides his scar.

Before I can think better of it, I’m reaching up and tucking the hair back. I graze the lower half of the scar with my thumb. It looks like it was bad. He shivers, but doesn’t move to stop me.

“You have more than one brother?” I want to know the story of how Kodiak got this scar, but I won't press.

“Declan is my twin, as I said.” I give him a look that I hope lets him know that much is obvious, and there’s no need to say it a second time. “We have a younger half brother.”

“I wish I had siblings.” I smile sadly. I’m all fucking alone, though. It’s probably why I’m letting this man, that's basically astranger, see me so vulnerable. I don’t know him. Not really. If he leaves me, it won’t feel like a shard of ice in my sad, lonely heart. Maybe it’s stupid. Reckless, even, but I lean forward and kiss him.

I don’t want to feel so alone right now. Just for a second. One beautiful, heartbreaking second.

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