Page 51 of Knot Your Baby

Silence stretches between us.

“I called my mom,” I finally admit, staring at the ground. I bite my lip, memories of the conversation flood back. I can still hear my mother’s voice on the phone from one week ago, her shock ringing through the line when I told her about her grandchild. “I’ve told her I had the baby.”

“Did she not know you were pregnant before then?” he asks.

I shake my head. “She only knew about the wellness center. I never told her what I was doing.”

“Or your fathers?”

“They would have told her and—”

“What did she say when you let her know?” His brow furrows, concern etched across his face.

“I thought she’d be annoyed, but she was more surprised that I did it. That I was bringing a child up without a pack.” My throat tightens. “But she gave me some advice—said to tell everyone the alpha father died.” Tears prick at my eyes as I remember her words. “She said if the real information got out, the authorities would take my baby away. I think it was more because it wouldn’t look good for her.”

“Are you sure?” Zane asks.

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“That’s strangely uncaring for an omega.” He slides off the swing and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his warmth.

My breath catches as tears spill down my cheeks. “Her fame is more important than her family.”

“Freya...” His voice softens.

I wipe them away with a shaky hand. “Tequila.”

Zane blinks at me in confusion.

“The last scent I smell on you,” I say with a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood even though it feels impossible. “We never got to it.”

“Can I ask you why you decided to take scent blockers again after having Stone?” His eyes search mine. “Was it so you didn’t smell me or so I couldn’t smell you?”

“Both.” I nod. “It’s easier that way. And I’m not taking scent blockers, just they’re inhibitors. They don’t block my perfume entirely, just mute some of it. I still want Stone to be able to smell me.”

“But not me?”

I let my gaze drop to the ground. “I love your scent, Zane, but I’ve smelled the person I thought was my scent match before. I got it wrong. He rejected me. He made me feel—” My heart pounds as I meet his eyes again. “And then you come along and you smell the same. And you’re—” I gesture over his face and body. “A gorgeous alpha and when you realize you are, you’ll reject me, too.”

“Freya—” He holds my gaze as hope flickers inside me. “Stop doing that.”

“I’m just saying that you’re twenty-one and gorgeous,” I whisper. “You don’t want a twenty-eight-year-old omega with a baby.” I take a deep breath. “And I’m sorry for diving on you the other day. It was really inappropriate.”

“I’m not,” he says. “Freya, look at me.” His alpha tone makes me want to lift my chin and present my neck to him right here in the park. He holds my cheek with his hand, making me look into his eyes. “If I touch you, I’ll never go back. Once I touch you, I own you. I’ll never let you go.”

My breath catches as heat pools between my legs, and I can feel the slick coating my thighs. “You can own me.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. “I’d give you my neck right now.”

He laughs. The deep sound sends shivers down my spine.

I clap my hand over my mouth. “Oh god, I sound so fucking desperate. Yet, I’m not anymore—I used to be. Now I know I’ll never find anyone like you.”

“I like you telling me how it is. It’s what I want to hear.”

I keep how wet I am right now to myself. I don’t know why I care anymore about my thoughts rolling off my tongue. I want him and I want him to want me, too.

His eyes darken as he shifts Stone to one arm.

I reach up, trailing my fingertips over the burns on his cheek. He stills under my touch, his breath catching.

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