Page 77 of Knot Your Baby

“What do I tell him, Harlow?”

“That he is Stone’s dad.”

“Oh my god, he hates me already. He thinks I stalked him. If I tell him that, he’ll have me declared insane.”

“You’re overreacting, Freya. Just tell him. It might change everything.”

“Harlow, I can’t just blurt it out that Stone is his.” I pace the bedroom, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. “Hey, remember that night at Club Midnight? Surprise! You’re a daddy!”

“Better than him finding out another way.” Harlow’s voice crackles through the phone. “What if Stone starts looking like him?”

“I’ve got a while to worry about that.” I halt by the window, staring out at the ocean, and inhale deeply as I turn back to the bed.

“What I want to know is why he can’t smell you? Your scent should drive him wild like it does the others.”

“Because I’m still using inhibitors and he is sure the perfume that he can smell on me is a fake perfume.” I resume pacing, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. “And to be honest, Harlow, he just genuinely dislikes me so much that he’s fighting against everything.”

“But Zane and Miller clearly aren’t immune to you.”

“They’re his pack, Harlow.” My voice cracks. “When push comes to shove, they’ll choose him over me. Every time.”

“That’s not how it works. Alphas want omegas. Especially one who is a scent match. It’s biology.”

“I wish that was true.” I sink onto the bed, clutching a pillow to my chest. “But not in the case of this one. He wants someone called Maya. And I’ve just found out they work together.”

“What? How do you know?”

Tears burn my eyes. “Because that night at Club Midnight, when I was in heat.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, he called me Maya. He thought I was her the whole time. The only saving grace is that Miller and Zane don’t like Maya.”

“Oh! He wants someone else. Why the hell did you keep all this to yourself, Freya? You should have spoken to me months ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too. I hate this for you. But their pack is at a crossroads because they want different omegas.” Harlow pauses. “Oh Freya, I’m so sorry. Maybe he’ll come around when he realizes.”

“He won’t. And I don’t even know if I want him anymore.” I wipe my eyes. “The way he looks at me, like I’m nothing...it hurts too much. But how do I get to keep Miller and Zane?”

Later that day, I place a slice of my latest creation in front of each alpha and stand back as they look at the almond and honey slice with the white chocolate buttercream frosting.

“This one is sweeter, but this one might be too different for the bakery.” I place a rosemary and strawberry slice next to the other and twist my apron in my hands as I wait.

Miller smells both cakes before he digs his fork into the herby slice, lifting it to his mouth. My eyes wait as his lips close around the fork. His eyes round. “Holy shit.”

Zane dives in next, practically inhaling his piece. “The strawberry hits first, then the herbs come through...”

I hold my breath as Thorne lifts his fork. His expression stays neutral as he tastes it. Not that I expected anything else.

“I was thinking of new but different bakery items when I reopen,” I say, shifting my weight. “Something unique to draw people back.”

“Oh my god, I’m in love with you Freya. I’m going to whisk you away to a desert island where nobody can have you but me.” Miller licks his fork clean.

I laugh, relaxing a little. “You’d get bored with me. Plus, no electricity means no mixer. How would I bake the goodies that would keep you with me?”

“I’d never get bored with you.” Miller pulls me onto his lap. “We’ll figure the cakes out, but I quite like the thought of taking you to a remote island.”

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