Page 29 of Knot Only His

When the city quiets, and Freya’s snores echo from the next room. That’s when my thoughts drift back to New York. To Carver. To our past.

And only now do I see it.

The way Carver’s eyes followed me despite me being Colton’s girlfriend, and how he always seemed to know what I needed before I did.

I miss him more than my sisters, more than the familiar streets of Manhattan. Two years of living together, of morning coffee and shared silence, have left an emptiness I can’t explain.

But I have to forget him.

I have to forget about men who turn my head with their delicious scents. Not only Carver, but the man who took a fist to his face for me.

You’re an alpha, Harlow. Don’t give yourself more heartache.

A knock interrupts my thoughts. “Come in,” I call out.

My boss pokes his head in. “Got a minute?”

“Of course.” I straighten in my chair.

He settles into the seat across from me. “How’re you findingeverything? Are you settling okay?”

“It is great.” I nod, pushing aside thoughts of my dream job - being a sports agent like my old boss. But this administrative role keeps me employed, away from New York, and that’s what matters right now. “Everyone’s been really welcoming.”

“Good to hear.” He pulls out a folder. “I need you to take this itinerary to Coach Parker. It’s for the Vegas game.”

My boss normally deals with the players. I hoped to keep well away from them. Not only hockey players, but alphas too. I get why omegas hide from them.

And I’m glad I agreed when Freya made me an account ofBetasareBetter, because after flicking through hundreds of betas, I finally found someone and agreed to have a date with a beta after work tomorrow night.

“So will you take this to Coach, Harlow?” my boss asks again, bringing me out of my reverie.

“Of course.”

“Don’t let his grumpy attitude put you off. The man has had it rough. Single dad, raising his nephew after his sister passed away in childbirth.”

“That must be hard.”

“Jagger’s a great kid, though. Lights up the whole place when he’s here. He might have finished school and be there when you are.”

I smile at him as I take the paperwork from his outstretched hand, glancing at the top—Travel Itinerary—before I look at my watch. “And Coach will still be in training.”

“He will.”

“He won’t tell me off for bothering him?”

He laughs. “It’s fine. He needs the paperwork and all the details for the Las Vegas game this weekend.”

I groan as I push out my chair. “I have a massage appointment at five today.”

“You should get Ash to fit you in,” he says.

“Ash?”

“The team physiotherapist.” He picks up his phone. “Ash, do you have any appointments left this week? Preferably after four.”

My eyes widen when he asks, "Does five tomorrow work?"

I give a gentle nod.

---