Page 12 of Knot So Broken

He can’t believe she is actually real. That the person who completes our soul is sitting right between us.

I don’t think it will ever truly soak in.

We have a mate.

How many times do I have to say it until I believe it? That I am able to go more than a moment without needing to pinch myself to believe it.

I’m shaken out of my stupor as Kennedy rises from her seat. It takes me a moment to come back to reality as the sound of the bell pierces my ears.

I stand abruptly, scaring Kennedy.

I immediately cower, horrified that I made her jump.

“Shit, Kennedy. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

She shakes her head, allowing a smile to curve her mouth but it's forced. “You're fine. I just didn’t expect you to move so quickly.”

She attempts to chuckle but it fades quickly. A breath escapes her lips as she collects her belongings.

“Um, what class do you have now?” I question, making sure to keep my voice as low as possible.

“Maths, I think,” she replies absently.

“Mind if I walk you?”

Her head snaps up with a frown, “That's the second time I have been offered to be walked to class today. I know my way around the school you know?” Her tone is sharp and I can’t help but chuckle.

“I gathered that. It's my first day though so I don’t really know where I’m going. In all honesty, it's moreyouwalkingmeto class.” I scratch my head, unable to hide my cringe. My attempt at acting cool has already failed me. That big bad persona I pride myself on has turned to mush in the face of my Omega.

Kennedy sucks in a sharp breath. Her face drops and a look of horror overcomes her features. “Ledger, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think of that. I was so caught up in myself. I will be more than happy to show you around,” she rushes out, quickly grabbing my arm as she drags me behind her. My body heats at the contact and I have to push down my baser instincts to not take her righthere and now.

My Alpha is riding me right now.

I know she probably wouldn’t appreciate that though. Yet, the need is strong. Stronger than anything I have ever felt before.

The need to have her in my arms.

To protect her. To give her everything she could possibly desire in this world. I want to spoil her.

To be the reason why she wakes up with a smile on her face everyday. I want to see her belly swollen with her pups. My mate mark on her neck. I want to see her sitting beside me when we are old and grey, wrinkles covering our skin. I want to love her.

God, I haven’t even known her for a full day and I am already obsessing over a future with her.

I never realized just how deep the dive was once you met your match. The thought of falling head over heels for someone on sight seemed ridiculous and dramatic, yet here I am. I knew that this was what I could expect if and when the time came. Jax and Theo’s fathers did everything in their power to prepare us for it. That strong need for the one person that is designed to be yours. That when you finally meet that person, everything you thought you knew goes completely out of the window.

I don’t even know her yet but I want to. More than I have ever wanted anything in my

life. I don’t realize that I haven’t responded to Kennedy until her hand drops away from my arm. She's frowning at the offending limb like she didn’t even know she had a hold of me and had pulled me a few feet towards the door.

I grab her hand before she can move too far away from me.

“It’s okay, Kennedy. You don’t need to apologize.” I smile, doing my best to reassure her. I give her hand a tight squeeze.

Her answering smile is meek but I take it for what it is.

I follow closely beside Kennedy as we walk down the halls. Both Jax and Theo come up behind us, creating an almost barrier around our girl.

Huh, our girl. Weird. I like it.

---