Page 53 of Knot Happening

My mouth pops open because… What a strange thing to say? Why are all the men around me saying the weirdest shit all of a sudden?

I let him take me to the lockers and decide to freshen up. I clean up my makeup, fix my hair, and change into my extra pair of heels that I can actually walk in for the rest of the night. The doors open, and I don’t bother checking who it is. Dream has a distinct rose scent that can’t be replicated.

“Uh, should I be worried?” she asks as she gets closer.

I throw my hands up at her question because honestly? Maybe… Weird things are happening.

“Is it a full moon? Is it feeling radioactive or whatever?”

Dream snorts at my exasperation. “Retrograde. And I have no idea. All I know is Trev from the security team, who rarely shows his face on the floor, is guarding the door…”

I spin around to stare at her. “He’s still out there?!”

“Yep. The only reason he let me in is that I have a cute ass, and he likes my scent.”

I snort at her joke, tilting my head side to side. “You do have a cute ass. But this is excessive! I need to get back to work. I think I’ve been in here long enough.”

Only I don’t make it to the floor. I get stopped at the door. “I can escort you to Declan’s office. Otherwise, you need to stay in there.”

He tips his head behind me, and I turn to look at Dream, who just smirks. “Declan’s office then.”

“Where’s my escort, Trev?” Dream pouts, blinking big eyes at the Alpha.

The man blushes beet-red at Dream’s teasing. She’s gorgeous. And he clearly isn’t immune to her charm.

There are obviously pieces to this puzzle I’m missing.

“Have a good night, Miss Dream,” he murmurs, nodding to me to walk ahead of him, and we head up past VIP toward Declan’s office.

“Thanks.” I murmur.

The Alpha nods as I pass him, heading into the office door he’s holding open for me. I didn’t check the time, but I guess it’s probably only been twenty minutes since I left the private room. The door is being pulled closed behind me, but Declan stops the Alpha.

“You know what to do.” Declan says.

“Yes sir!”

I’m just standing here looking between them. “Want to fill me in?”

He stares at me as I sit across from him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“In the future, if Hayden requests you refrain from dancing for a particular client, please listen.”

I blink. Blink again. He’s not looking at me as he returns to shuffling through the stacks of paper on his desk. As he continues, my eyes are drawn to the shiny bit of metal I can just see at the edge of the desk.

“Beg your finest pardon?”

He sighs like he’s not impressed with my sass. It just came out. I shouldn’t sass Declan. But… It’s been a long damn night. “I believe you heard me clearly, Tatum. That man you letspank youis not simply a customer. He’s dangerous, and if Hayden was less worried about your feelings, you could have avoided the entire ordeal.”

“I didn’tlet himspank me, he spanked me, and then I called for help, just to make that clear. And why would Hayden be the one making such a request? Doesn’t he work in VIP? As a bouncer?”

Declan has always seemed pretty laid back. Like he didn’t have much stress, and most things don’t bother him. He’s a wildly sexy Alpha with a delicious scent. What’s he got to be so bothered about?

“I know Dream informed you that Hayden is my little brother and part owner here.” How the fuck… I shiver, thinking these men might be watching me more closely than I realized.

“How do you know that? When did you talk to Dream? Were you spying on us?”

I have to wonder if I’ve struck a nerve when his jaw clenches. What, he doesn’t appreciate being accused of basically being a stalker? Who would have thought… “You can continue serving. You’ll still be paid for the dance, and if you’re chosen for another one, we’ll be monitoring the customers on our end and rejecting any that are a threat.”

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