Page 76 of Knotty Lessons

“Pack your things, Scarlett. You’re coming home,” she repeats.

Her call drops, and I stare at the screen in shock and fear. I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I feel as if I will die at any second.

Warm arms wrap around me, scooping me up. Adrian spins with me, strutting toward the couch. He squishes in between Leo and Jonah, and a moment later, I’m engulfed in the weight of my alphas’ bodies as they try to hug away everything negative rolling through me.

“Oh, Scarlett, listen to me,” Adrian says, pinching my chin and getting me to meet his gaze. “No one is taking you anywhere. I promise. I’m going to call in some favors tonight. We’re eloping immediately.”

I blink a few times, trying to comprehend his words.

It’s as if my mom stabbed me in the soul, and I stand frozen, bleeding out. It feels as if no one can save me now. Not my alphas. Not Pack Clearwater. Not myself.

All I know is that I’d rather die than leave them. Is it dramatic? Not to me. They are my life, and I am theirs.

“Scarlett, did you hear me?” Adrian asks, getting into my face so he’s the only thing I can see. “You’re ours. The world will know it.”

If only I thought the world would care.

If only I had the same hope as he did.

Right now, I’m hopeless.

All feels lost.

27

Dominic

Confrontation

“Paul,comeon.Howlong have we known each other? Do you truly think I’m an idiot? You’re the Pack Miller leader. I don’t understand why you’re doing this. You have a family. You have everything you could want. Why even humor the idea of taking Scarlett?” I stand outside the city office, clenching my fingers into fists. “Let’s discuss this. Please call me back.”

I growl and stare at the security guard, monitoring the entrance. All I wanted was to have a civilized conversation with Paul. It’s unbelievable that he could’ve initiated all this bullshit with Pack Steele. Unfortunately, the bastard’s assistant said he wasn’t here. I tried to argue that his car was parked in the garage, and then security gave me trouble and asked me to leave.

If Paul thinks he can avoid me, he has another thing coming to him. I know where he lives. I know where his vacation homes are. I know the residency of his three sons and his daughter. I’m not going to just act as if none of this is happening. He will fix this even if it means me risking my reputation and good standing. I will not allow Scarlett to go through this sort of stress and torment, all because of greed and personal vendettas.

My phone beeps and I look at it, hoping it’s Paul.

Unknown: Leave my uncle alone, old man. This has nothing to do with him.

My muscles tense as I read the text message from the unknown number. I know it’s Chaz. This is the first time the fucker reached out since he attacked Jonah and Scarlett.

I ignore the text message, screenshotting and sending it to my pack mates. They need to know and plan accordingly.

I turn back to the office building, watching as the security guard strolls away, the shift change finally happening. The new guy won’t know that I’ve already tried to reach out to Paul. I’m not falling for his personal assistant’s lie. I know he’s in this building. He can’t hide like the coward he is. He obviously knows something has gone down.

I push open the door, my phone vibrating in my hand.

Unknown: You’re making a mistake.

Me: Fuck off.

I pull out my Clearwater University identification card and flash it at the new security guard. “The meeting on the third floor with Paul Miller. He’s expecting me. I just got off the phone with him.” I hold up my phone log, showing that I had called him.

The security guard nods his head, takes my phone, wallet, and keys, and waves me through the metal detector. I thank him and tell him to have a good day, acting as if I belong. No one is going to stop me now.

I stride to the elevator, hitting the call button. I wait for it to come down and smile at the man in a suit exiting. I haven’t been in the city office in years, but nothing has changed. It’s like those in power refuse to do anything to improve things, freezing the place’s décor during the height of their careers.

They can easily forget the world outside progresses and moves forward, even if they try to remain stagnant within this time capsule of a building.

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