Page 125 of Seen Knot Heard

I stand frozen, staring at the space where Chloe disappeared, my mind reeling.

How could she do this to us? Tome? After all our talks about taking risks, after the kisses, the night we spent together. I thought we had something real, something unbreakable.

But now, as the silence settles around me like a suffocating shroud, doubts creep in, insidious whispers that constrict my chest. Did my initial resistance ultimately convince her she wasn’t wanted? Did I push her away with my gruff exterior? Was I too focused on the resort project, always on my phone, never fully present?

I replay every interaction, searching for clues, for moments where I could have done something differently. The way her pink eyes sparkled when I brought her flowers, the softness of her body pressed against mine… I thought it meant something. But maybe I was fooling myself into seeing what I wanted to see.

Pain digs a hole in my chest, and a roar rips from my throat, all of my precious self-restraint shattering. I grab the nearest dining chair, the smooth wood splintering under my fingers, and hurl it across the room. It explodes on the side of the stone fireplace, raining splinters onto the hearth.

My chest heaves, anger and anguish twisting inside me. I clench my fists, the ring on my finger biting into my skin, and punch the wall with a sickening crunch. Pain lances through my knuckles, but I welcome it, letting it distract me from the agony carving my heart to ribbons.

How could I let this happen? I glare at the dent in the drywall, furious with myself. I knew, I fuckingknewthe timing was wrong. That it was too soon to let an Omega, even one as sweet as Chloe, into our pack when things were such a mess.

But I let myself grow attached, anyway. Let myself imagine that the universe had finally thrown me a bone. That she could be mine. Worse, I let Blake convince me to listen to my damn Alpha instincts howling at me that she was theone.

I grip the edge of the dining table, the wood groaning under my hands as I struggle to rein in my temper, my despair. Chloe’s sweet scent still lingers in the air, mocking me. Reminding me of everything I lost.

Of everything I can never have again.

The thunder of footsteps rushing down the stairs brings my head up as Dominic races down, his brow furrowed and gray eyes sharp with concern. “What the hell, Nat? What’s going on?”

I suck in a ragged breath, the words like ashes on my tongue. “Chloe left.”

Dominic blinks, clearly taken aback. He glances around as if expecting to see her pop out of the kitchen, a muffin in hand. “Left? Like, for a walk? Why didn’t you go with her? We still don’t know if it’s safe for her to be out there alone.”

A harsh laugh rips from my throat. If only it were that simple.

“No, Dom. Sheleft. The pack. Misty Pines. Everything.” I gesture toward the door, flinging droplets of blood from my split knuckles. “She’sgone.”

Dominic stares at me, shock and disbelief warring across his chiseled features. “What? Why? I thought things were good between you two. More than good, if the way the bond was humming a few days ago was anything to go by.”

I flinch at the reminder. “Yeah, well, apparently I misread the situation. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Did she…” Dominic runs a hand over his hair, gripping the braid. “Did she say why? Was it… Did she leave because ofme?”

Frustration surges through me, hot and choking. “I don’t fucking know, okay? She said she couldn’t do this and hoped we’d find a new Omega.”

I stalk over to the window, staring out at the forest that no longer feels like a home. “Leave it alone, Dom. She made her choice.”

Even as I say it, everything inside me rebels. Chloe belongs here. With the pack. Withme. The primal, possessive part of my psyche roars in denial, demanding I go after her. Claim what’s mine.

But I can’t force her to love me, and I won’t beg her to change her mind.

Dominic’s jaw clenches tight, the muscles in his neck straining against the fabric of his fitted T-shirt. “We have to do something. We can’t just stand here and let her leave.”

“We can’t force her to stay,” I grit out.

“The fuck we can’t. Something’s not right, and it hasn’t been for days. We—Youat least deserve a reason for this decision.” Dominic strides toward the door and pauses with his hand on the knob, looking back at me. “Nathaniel, we need to go.Now.”

I shake my head. “She wanted to leave.”

Dominic’s lip curls in a snarl. “Is that what your Alpha is telling you?”

I turn my face from him, my jaw working in frustration.

“Fuck this.” The door slams shut behind Dominic, the sound echoing through the empty room like a gunshot.

For a moment, I stand frozen, once again left behind.

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