Page 102 of Knot Only His

His omega is the very threat to everything he’s built for Jagger.

If only my omega had awakened sooner.

It doesn’t stop the anger flaring hot in my chest, warring with a deep, crushing pain.What was this all for then? Some elaborate show for social services?

“You were never supposed to reveal,” I say to myself.You were just supposed to keep up the illusion of being in their pack as an alpha…

I swallow a lump in my throat. They never asked me to stay long term, so I don’t know why I have this ache in my heart. It’s not like they lied to me.

But they were going to ask you to sign away your life to their pack.

And I am an omega now. Everything has changed. I can’t live a lie if this is only short term…until this pack gets what they need–not me—Jagger.

Of course, I can still stand up in court and pretend as much as they need me to. I don’t want Jagger losing the man who has brought him up to the stranger who never cared about what happened to him.

But I can’t stay, and I can’t sign away my life to them.

My hands shake as I pull out my phone, dialing for a cab. “Downtown, please.” My voice cracks.

I press my palm against my chest, trying to hold myself together.

“Five minutes,” is what I get in response.

Five minutes and I have left before I walk away from everything I never knew I wanted.

The thought of leaving them - all of them - makes me feel like I’m being torn apart. But I have to.

For Jagger.

For the pack.

And for myself, if I’m going to be honest with myself.

I want a pack who is desperate to claim me, not a pack who holds back.

The cab pulls up outside Freya’s building, and I stare at the meter through blurry eyes. My chest feels hollow, like someone scooped out everything inside me and left nothing but an aching void.

“That’ll be thirty dollars.”

My phone buzzes as I dig out my purse. But I hesitate when I see Colton’s name flashing across the screen.

“Hello,” I say as I hand cash to the driver and fish Freya’s apartment key from my purse.

“How are you?” His voice is soft, careful.

“I’m fine.” The lie tastes like poison on my tongue.

“I’m so sorry, Harlow. I wish I did things differently. I miss you so much. Please come home. I don’t care that we aren’t scent matches—”

“It’s too late.” I shake my head.

He sighs. “Listen to me. Carver’s using you to get back at me. He always swore revenge, and this is how he did it. He set me up with that omega.”

My hand tightens around the phone. “I know.”

“You do? Then please, Harlow, give me another chance. I’ll give you anything you want. I’ll never hurt you again.”

“I can’t do that, Colton. You cheated on me.”

---