Page 53 of Knot Forever

“I feel like I just saw you,” he drawls. “Missing me already?”

Rolling my eyes, I tap my pen. “Nova’s parents owe money to the Williams pack.”

I can feel his anger even down the phone. “They were going to sell her to pay off their debt?”

“Seems that way. Fix it.”

After the call ends, I spend a few minutes making arrangements before I head home. My restlessness is familiar, and I need to speak with Nova.

It seems I’m in the mood for a hunt.

Chapter twenty-two – Nova

AsIdigmyhands into the flour, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Melia and I have been texting, swapping tidbits about packs and heats.

It feels so normal, and so fucking good that my cheeks almost hurt as I rub the little cubes of butter together to make a shortcrust. Marcus asked if I would make cherry bakewell for him today, and I can’t wait for him to try it.

My phone vibrates again, this time not stopping at it buzzes against me, so I brush my hands off and rinse them quickly before pulling it out.

Just like that, my happy bubble bursts. Bracing myself, I hit the answer button with a swallow.

“Hello, mother.”

“Nova!” Wincing, I hold the phone a little further away from my ear. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”

I slide onto a stool. “I know. I’ve been… busy.”

She tuts. “Did you receive my note?”

“I did,” I say softly. “But I don’t think I’m going to be able to do that. I… I like this pack, mother. They’re good to me. We fit. And since I’m no longer on suppressants, it looks like my heat will be starting soon.”

My mother sucks in a breath. “You cannot mate with them, Nova.”

I close my eyes. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, mother. But I’ve made my choice. I will not go back to the Williams pack. I’ve told you this already, many times. Please listen to me.”

“Ungrateful,” my mother hisses. “After everything we’ve done for you, you spoiled, ungrateful little girl.”

Anger is a red hot sensation in my chest. “I have always done everything you asked of me. Even when I didn’t agree with it. But I’ve found a pack who treat me well, mother. They paid five million dollars for me at the auction. You can hardly complain that the King pack is somehow less.”

There’s movement in the hallway, and Seth slides into view. He winces apologetically and moves to turn around, but I wave him over, forcing the tears back.

She will never change. She’ll never listen.

But I’m the one who’s changed. I’m not going to roll over and fold to her commands anymore.

My mother is still sputtering in fury when I cut her off. “I’m done, mother. No more.”

“You’re not twenty-five,” she shouts. “You haven’t reached your majority, Nova. You do not have our permission to mate with this pack.”

My eyes slide shut. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

How the hell did I forget about that?

Strong arms wrap around my waist, and I turn, burying my face into Seth’s chest. He gently takes my phone, shutting off my mother’s squawking by hanging up on her.

“That’ll really piss her off,” I mutter, trying to swallow back the tears.

Seth wraps his arms around me, rocking me gently. “Tell me what’s wrong, Nova.”

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