Page 59 of Knot All That Glitters: Part 2

Ren’s brows jump as she looks at me. “Obviously, you’ve just thought of something. Care to share with the class?”

I shake my head and press my palm to my forehead. “It’s stupid and it can’t possibly be the reason.” Ren kicks me with a sock covered foot, urging me to spill. “When they told me everything, when they urged me to stay, they said it would only be until they handled my father, until he was neutralized as a threat.”

Ren’s eyes widen as she realizes what I’m getting at. “You think they’re holding off on a ten-year revenge plan in order to have more time with you?”

God, when she says it like that, it makes me sound self-centered. I shake my head. “No. I don’t think that. No. I know that’s not the reason.”

“Oh, it’s totally the reason,” she says smugly. “And it’s kinda sweet if you think about it.”

“It’s not sweet! They’re intentionally dragging this out to keep me in a place I don’t want to be, to force me to interact with them, to forgive them.”

Ren straightens and looks around the house that I’ve come to love more than I care to admit. “You don’t want to be here? Really? In a house with a pack who clearly adores you, who wants to keep you safe, who caters to your every need or want. This is every omega’s dream, Haves.”

I scowl at her. “You’re forgetting that they also lied to me, manipulated me. They recorded everything we did together, turned my body into a game. You’re forgetting that what every omega actually wants is love and trust and to feel secure with their pack. I don’t feel that!”

“But they’re trying to get you to the point where you do!”

“Hey! Weren’t you just telling me to go to a scent clinic? To find another pack?”

“Well, that was before I knew they were trying so damn hard to keep you, babe.” She settles against the headboard again and folds her arms over her chest. “Think about it, Haven. Really think about it. They’ve been working toward this for years, and they’ve put their plans on hold for you. To spend time with you. It’s so fucking sweet it could give me a toothache.”

My scowl only grows. “You don’t see this as another manipulation?”

She shifts. “Nope. But it’s obvious that you do.” Another sigh. “I think they might just give up on it all together if it means they get to spend more time with you.”

That has my skin prickling. I don’t want that. Not at all.

My father can’t be free to roam, to force his views and opinions on people who don’t know better. He can’t be allowed to just live as he has been. He can’t be given the chance to continue to hurt omegas the way he hurt Janie, me, Ren. He needs to be taken down.

A little growl rumbles from my chest, unbidden at the thought. Ren looks at me with wide eyes, and I stare back at her, just as shocked. I’m not sure that I’ve ever actually growled. Unless you count during my heat, but we’re not counting that. I wasn’t in my right mind then.

“I take it you don’t like the idea of that,” Ren says wryly.

I grit my teeth and shake my head. “They deserve to have revenge. Janie deserves it. And Frederick Bell doesn’t deserve to get away with everything he’s done.”

Ren gives me a small smile and leans forward, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Then I think you’re going to have to consider giving them a second chance, babe.”

Fuck, I think she’s right, and I hate that. So much.

I wilt into the blankets, shaking my head. “That’s so shitty.”

“I never said it wasn’t,” she chuckles. “But I think in the long run you won’t regret it.”

I hum, and turn my attention back to the TV screen, done with this line of thinking. Ren nudges me with her foot. “Hey, you don’t have to decide what to do with this information today or anything. You have time. They aren’t going anywhere and neither are you.”

I hum my agreement again. She’s right. For all intents and purposes, the Calloway pack isn’t planning on letting me go anytime soon.

“I think,” she adds, nudging me with her foot again. “You should take advantage of all the alpha dick while you can.”

My head whips toward her so fast, I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash. “What?”

She smirks. “Oh, please, like I can’t tell that you’ve been recently… pleasured.” Her nose wrinkles at the word. “No, gross. Why did I say that? It’s what I get for trying to be delicate. Look, you’ve obviously had sex recently. I don’t know with who and I don’t want to know, because yuck. But a few orgasms are honestly the least they can do. So I say ride those dicks to O-Town, and just see how you’re feeling after.”

She’s probably right. Sex with these alphas has always been good, so good. Creed made me remember just what it felt like to be worshipped by them, to feel wanted and so sexy. Even without the actual fucking Ren seems to think occurred.

“And,” my best friend continues, snaking her hand under my pillow. I tense, knowing exactly what she’s going to find under there. My cheeks flare bright red as she drags out a small bundle of clothing that doesn’t belong to me. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t scent them?”

I make a grab for the bundle of fabric and she doesn’t fight me on it, laughing as I snatch them and stuff them under the pillow on my side of the bed.

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