Page 29 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

"So, Knox," Kym's voice breaks the quiet after about ten minutes. "We missed you last night. When we woke up, everyone was gone."

"Imagine that," he says flatly.

"Is there something going on?" Mia asks, her tone suggestive. "Between you and her?"

I can't help the sharp laugh that escapes me. "Seriously? After what you did?"

"Hey," Knox cuts in suddenly, his voice brightening with obviously fake enthusiasm. "Will you look at that? There's some mistletoe growing over there."

I follow his gaze to snow-covered bushes, confusion washing through me. I'm unsure what it is, but that's definitely not mistletoe, yet Kym and Mia hurry forward immediately.

"They say it brings luck if you gather it in winter," Knox continues. "The scent is incredible, too—unique to each person who touches it. Want to try?"

The girls practically trip over themselves, heading for the plants. I watch in disbelief as they strip off their gloves, breaking off branches and—oh my God—actually rubbing them on their skin.

"Can you smell it?" Kym asks breathily, pressing the leaves to her neck. Knox's hand finds mine, squeezing gently as I watch the girls being so dramatic, batting their eyes at Knox. He's already strolling forward and past them, me at his side.

We've been walking for at least half an hour, and my calves are burning from the descent, but I wouldn't dream of complaining—not when Knox keeps finding excuses to steady me with those ridiculously sexy and huge hands of his. Who even has hands that big? Every time he touches my elbow or lower back to guide me around a sketchy section of trail, my skin practically sizzles.

Behind us, the bitches are whispering to each other and scratching while still carrying those damn twigs they snapped off the bush. They are so desperate to please Knox, they'll do anything he says. Not that I'm paying them any attention. I learned my lesson. Let them stew in their bitchy juice. I've got better things to focus on, like how Knox somehow makes hiking feel like a walk in the park.

"Careful here," he murmurs, and I swear his voice has dropped an octave since we started down the mountain. The sun's doing this unfair thing where it catches his jaw just right, highlighting a day's worth of light stubble that makes my fingers itch to touch it. He towers over me like some mountain god, all broad shoulders and quiet strength. Yeah, I totally get why Omegas lose their minds around him. I'm not exactly keeping my sanity intact, either.

"See that peak?" He points to a jagged monster of a mountain piercing through the clouds. His sleeve rides up, revealing a forearm that belongs in a rock-climbing calendar. "That's where I had my worst accident. Broke my leg in three places last year."

I almost trip over my own feet. "Three places? Jesus, Knox. Were you trying to wrestle a mountain lion up there or something?"

His laugh rumbles through the air between us, and I swear I feel it in my chest.

"Nothing that exciting. Just got cocky, didn't respect the mountain. Spent six weeks laid up, reading every climbing manual I could find. Nothing like a broken leg to teach you humility."

More furious scratching from behind us, followed by what sounds suspiciously like cursing. Knox's fingers find mine as we navigate a steep section of rocks and snow, and my heart does this embarrassing flutter-skip thing. His hand practically engulfs mine, and it's way too distracting for someone trying not to faceplant on a mountain trail.

Kym makes this weird, strangled sound behind us, and I glance back to see her clawing at her wrists, which are turning an angry shade of red. She catches me looking and turns away so fast, I'm surprised she doesn't give herself whiplash. Whatever. If she wants to be over the top, that's her business. I've got a gorgeous view ahead of me—and the mountains aren't bad, either.

Knox is moving again, those long legs of his eating up the trail.

"It's so... tingly," Kym murmurs.

"Tingly, huh? That'll be the urushiol oil." Knox is glancing behind him at the girls, itching like mad now.

"The what?" Mia's already clawing at her wrist.

"From the poison oak you're currently covering yourselves in."

The silence that follows is absolutely beautiful.

"Poison... what?" Kym stares at the branches in her hands like they might bite her.

"Oak," Knox says helpfully. "Causes quite a nasty rash. Especially when you rub it directly on your skin like that."

The branches hit the snow as both girls start frantically wiping at their necks and arms. But it's too late—red patches are already blooming across their skin.

"You told us it was mistletoe!" Mia shrieks, scratching frantically.

"Did I?" Knox's voice is all innocent confusion. "Pretty sure I just pointed out some interesting plants. Not my fault you didn't check what you were grabbing and went to the wrong shrubs."

"We need help!" Kym's voice rises hysterically as the rash spreads up her arm as she pulls her sleeve up. "Call the rescue team back!"

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