Page 9 of Knot So Broken

Not even when their scents infiltrate my nose.

The pungent odors of my other classmates seem to fade into the abyss as the new scents, alongside Theo’s, creep their way into my senses.

One of the Alphas smells like leather and smoke. A delicious combination mixed together. Dangerous but delicious.

The other smell feels warmer somehow. The scent of rum and sandalwood threatens my mouth to start salivating.

God damnit.

Lost in my stupor of scents and attractive Alphas, I don’t realize I have company. Their scents are stronger this close up.

My back straightens as I feel the burn of their eyes on my skin. It feels like they leave little pin pricks down my body as their gazes travel my flesh. But it's not uncomfortable. Rather the opposite. With one of the men at my back and two on either side of me, I feel an overwhelming feeling of safety.

It's undoubtedly foreign to me.

It’s been years since I have felt a feeling like this. Even then, I don’t know if I had ever felt the way I do right now.

That the apocalypse could come, zombies completely over run the school, but I would still be the safest right where I am.

I take a shallow breath in through my nose but curse myself when I do. Their scents tickle something deep inside of me and I am forced to begin breathing through my mouth. Did these guys not consider wearing scent neutralizing spray to school? Or is that not something they are interested in?

I know some Alphas, mainly my father’s men, who laugh at the idea of the spray. That the more females that are attracted to them the better. They use their scents to lure in unsuspecting females. The rest, I don’t dare to think too far into any more. A raspy voice pulls me from my thoughts, “Hi.”

My head snaps towards the voice and I finally take in my fill of him.

His face is all hard angles but at the same time there’s this softness to them. Like they have been rounded off.

His hair is tied back in a bun off his face. I get a strange need inside of me to see it set free. This insistent need to run my hands through his hair, tangling my fingers in the locks. His eyes are a deep brown,so dark that it's hard to see his irises against the color. But this close, I see gold and green speckles in them. It's hard to not get lost in them. My eyes travel down his body that's turned toward me. Unlike Theo, this guy is a little more unruly. His band shirt is still slightly crumpled from where I’m sure he had it scrunched up in his drawer. His black shorts are tight, hugging his massive thighs. The tattoos that cover both of his arms grab my attention. A light sea theme carries the expanse of one, with the other covered in a darker sea theme. I get lost in an array of pirates, ships and skulls. It's like a yin and yang. The dark versus the light.

He clears his throat and I snap up to see him smiling down at me with a knowing look on his face.

Yep. Good one Kennedy.

“Um, hi,” I finally manage to choke out, feeling my cheeks heat as I attempt to cover my embarrassment with a cough. I bow my head as I take a deep breath, knowing not to risk one through my nose.

He chuckles before sweeping a hand under my curtain of hair. I lift my head just as he tucks the locks behind my ear. His fingers linger there for a moment and as they brush up against the sensitive skin on my neck, a zap of electricity zings through my body.

I gasp as he pulls his hand away. A mixture of shock and adoration brightens his face as he looks from his fingers and back to me.

He clears his throat before shaking his head, like he is trying to snap himself out of whatever thought he had. His gentle smile creeps back on his face. “Sorry, my name is Ledger.”

“Kennedy,” I whisper as I see the teacher walk in from the front of the room. I try to will my gaze away from Ledger but it's like there is an invisible force keeping us locked together. I know this moment willabsolutely get back to my father. If I thought he was going to be irate about speaking to a man for more than a moment in passing, I know having a whole ass staring contest will be more than unpleasant.

I can already feel the sting of his hand. The feeling of his boot as he reinforces the bruises on my mid-section.

Yet none of that seems to even register right now.

“Beautiful,” Ledger whispers in response, sending a wave of goosebumps down my spine.

Fuck. I’m in trouble here.

The teacher's voice shocks me out of the moment, as I whirl my head toward the front of the room.

“Good morning class, I am Mrs. Reed and I will be your teacher for Designations. I know that a lot of this stuff will most likely be common knowledge to you but it is required by the council that we teach you all of this in your final year. They want to ensure that each of you goes into life beyond Ridgeview with a sound understanding of your designation and what your role is in a pack.”

I glance around the room and watch as a few newly formed packs straighten in their seats. Some of the unmated Alphas pop their chests out like they are peacocks showing their feathers off to their potential mates. It seems to work as the unmated Omegas all but drool over them.

While they show off, I curl myself further into my chair, trying to make myself as small as possible.

---