Page 2 of Knot Stepping Down
There’s no way he sees me like that, right? Now, I’m the one who’s projecting. It doesn’t matter. Tonight, I’ll figure out how he feels about me.
“Avery, ride? You keep getting lost in that adorable head of yours.” Fingers pinch my chin, pulling me out of my thoughts and my eyes widen when I find myself inches from Declan.
I scramble from his hold and shake my head furiously. There’s no way I’m going to suffer in a small space with Declan untilafterthe auction. I can’t trust myself not to blurt out something embarrassing. The Winter Alpha Auction is my shot, my one night to see what it’s like to have him, even if it’s just for show. I can’t risk blowing it by getting all heart-eyes while I’m wrapped around him on his motorcycle.
“Thanks, but I’m good,” I say, forcing a smile. “I’ll just drive.”
Declan raises an eyebrow, seeing right through my charade but he just shrugs. “Sure, whatever. See you in a bit, Aves.” He disappears out the front door and I let myself breathe a sigh of relief before immediately tensing again as my father steps inside.
He looks back at the entrance and then at me, a half-eaten protein bar in my hand. “Everything alright, kiddo?”
“Yeah, why?”
My father’s gaze drops a little and then returns to my face. I don’t understand at first and then look down realizing that I’m still in my pajamas, an overgrown sweatshirt hanging past my hips and my boxers just peeking out from under it. Paired with my favorite duck slippers, my cheeks burn even hotter.
Declan saw me like this.
A squeal tears from my throat as I rush back upstairs to change. “Yep! Totally fine! Just, uh, gonna be late for the auction!”
declan
Itugoffmysweatshirt and toss it onto the bench, revealing the dress shirt I swiped from my dorm just a few moments ago. Unlike most of the other sports teams at Knotlocke, our uniform is a branded sweatsuit that’s comfortable as fuck. Strangling the sports department into giving us a few color options means I rarely have to think about what I’m wearing day to day.
Unfortunately, tonight, I’ve got to look the part. Knotlocke’s big on tradition and this scandalous night where Alphas get bid on for a “date” is the team’s ticket to new gear, equipment, and possibly a bigger practice space. Our esports squad needs updated equipment bad. The Phoenix Hawk 3000 gaming rig, with its slick RGB setup and top-tier processing, is calling my name, but it’s a few thousand bucks we don’t have. Tonight’s bids could change that.
I let out a heavy sigh before reaching into my assigned locker for the night and extracting the suit jacket I’ve had since my freshman year. Mom had it tailored a few months ago and even though she’s not here—thank fuck, I don’t need her squealing about Omegas and grandchildren—I can still hear her in my ear.
“Look professional, Declan,” she said, like I’m not already the bestStarPulseplayer in school. I could look like a haggard mess but as long as I’m considered an athlete, Omegas fawn over me regardless.
Hell, so do the Alphas and Betas.
Ten minutes later, I slide over to the mirror and run a hand through my hair as I stare at my reflection.You clean up well, Dec,I think to myself. The black pinstripe suit brings out the golden tone of my dark skin, the stripes matching the faded highlights through my messy hair. It’s just enough to charm the crowd, the grin sitting on my face sure to bring in a high enough bid to get my entire team what we need.
I’m not even sure how a tradition like this got started or even approved. Knotlocke is the talk of the academic community and yet we still boast some of the highest honors and well-rounded graduates. These auctions might be scandalous but there’s no shortage of jobs when we leave this campus.
I tug on my tie, flattening it against my shirt and tucking it in my jacket. In an hour, I’ll be spending some insane amount of money on dinner with a cute little Omega,hopefully,and then make the trek back home to the cozy mansion Mom married us into. Some Alphas are cool with offering, uh,extrafor the night, but that’s not my deal.
I’m here to secure the bag for the team, not to complicate my life. I don’t care who bids, as long as their money’s green and our squad gets closer to that Phoenix Hawk.
The locker room door swings open, and Jaxon “Jax” Creed struts in, cackling like he’s heard the joke of the century. Even atKnotlocke, it’s the lesser sports that become the targets because there’s no way someone playing ‘video games’ could be cool, right?
“Oh great, the nerds are here,” he jokes, tossing his gym bag onto the bench. His blond hair’s still damp from a shower and he’s already half in his own suit, tie dangling loose. At least,Iclean up well. But he’s one of the hockey players so he doesn’t have to try as hard. Not to mention that he does these auctions with the stipulation that one night with him also comes with his twin.
Every student in this academy seems to want that.
I just laugh, rolling my eyes as I step away from the mirror. “Just worry about yourself, Jax. Not everyone’s cut out forStarPulseglory.” I run both hands down my stomach and double check my belt one last time. I’m hoping for a bid that’s at least $3000, which is a bit high considering that the hockey team found their way into January’s auction. They’re usually in November or December but since Knotlocke gets a percentage of the bid, they gladly let the hockey team have an additional month this year.
Kade pops up around the corner, another one of the esports players, fumbling his cufflinks. “Yo, I overheard Sienna in the hall. She’s got a few thousand to drop on someone tonight. Hope she picks me. God, she’s gorgeous.”
I snort at that, hoping and praying Sienna is going to keep her strange obsession with me locked up tonight. She’s one of the most popular and beautiful Omegas on campus but she also has a bit of a reputation of taking what she wants regardless of the rules. She bids every month, passing Alphas around like candy. Each and every Alpha always holds out hope that she’ll choose them but she never does.
And that kind of drama is not what I need in my life.
She’s also not exactly my type.
“Good luck, man,” I nod toward him. “She’s more drama than you can handle and she’s not looking to settle.”
As chaotic as Kade can be, he’s a sweet Alpha that most overlook. Sienna would rip him apart but hey, maybe he’d like that. “Worth a shot. A night with her? I’d risk it.”
