Page 50 of Knot Your Baby

“I’ve never seen you so flustered over an alpha before.”

“I’ve never felt like this before. Even when I smelled who I thought was my scent match years ago. I never felt him like I feel Zane. But he’s twenty-one years old, Harlow. And I nearly fucked him.”

She laughs. “He’s an alpha. A man. And you’re hardly old. He obviously likes you. I mean, he broke into your apartment.”

“Massive red flag, by the way. I should be hiding from him, not wondering where he’s been for the past three days.”

“I’m sure it’s called work.” Harlow’s voice echoes from the speaker. “What’s the matter are so desperate you’re going to beg him to fuck you again.”

“I never begged him.”

She laughs hard down the phone.

“I need to go. I need some fresh air.”

“Okay. Speak to you later.”

I hang up and strap Stone against my body. My thoughts drift to Zane as I lock my apartment door. I haven’t seen him in days. Maybe I scared him off with my desperate plea for his knot.

God, what was I thinking?

Six flights of stairs later, my legs burn, and my breath comes in short gasps. Stone coos against my chest, completely unbothered by our descent.

I push through the lobby doors and freeze.

Zane stands by my car, hands in his pockets. His platinum hair looks disheveled today and his stubble looks like he hasn’t shaved in days. But he still looks like every fantasy I’ve ever had.

“What are you doing here?” My voice comes out breathier than intended as I stand in front of him.

“I came to see you and my son.” His eyes fix on Stone. “Just working up the energy to climb those stairs after my shift.”

“Tell me about it.” I laugh. “And I’m taking yoursonfor some fresh air and exercise.” I pop the trunk, reaching for the stroller I keep there. “Can’t exactly keep it upstairs with the elevator broken.”

“Let me help with that.” He unfolds the stroller with a quick flick of his wrist, and then he takes Stone from my arms and straps him into the stroller like he’s done it a thousand times before.

We walk side by side toward the park, our shoulders occasionally brushing. The contact sends sparks through my body.

“Listen,” he says as we reach the entrance. “I’ve been thinking. Until they fix the elevator, you could stay with my pack. We’re right by the beach. It’s lovely and quiet with plenty of fresh air for Stone.”

My heart skips a beat.

“Have you discussed it with your pack mates?”

“I’ve mentioned you and Stone to them.”

My heart skips another beat.

I want to call Harlow right now and scream down the phone that I’m so close to having my own pack.

Calm down, Freya. He never said his pack wanted you.

The sun is high when we reach the park. It casts its warmth and a golden glow over the grass as Zane takes Stone from the stroller and settles onto a swing, gently swaying back and forth. The sight of him holding my son tight makes my heart flip-flop again. He keeps doing that to me.

“Has this little guy met his grandparents?” he asks as he pushes his feet off the floor to ascend again.

“My family?”

“Yeah.”

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