Page 9 of Knot Forever

“I’m fine,” she says, but the tremble in her voice tells me that’s not the case.

“Don’t lie to me.”

My words come out much sharper than I intended, and her eyes flick to mine, a hint of fire sparking behind the brilliant blue depths. “I’m very grateful for the help, but I need to go now.”

“Wait.”

She pauses, one delicate, heeled foot out as she looks back to me. Her silky sheet of midnight hair shimmers in the candlelight from the display next to us, and I have to physically restrain myself from stepping forward and touching it, seeing if it could possibly be as soft as it looks.

She raises one eyebrow quizzically, but her face is still pale. “Yes?”

“I… you’re in the auction?”

And if I’m guessing correctly, it’s her the Williams pack are here for tonight. Her mouth thins. “Not if I can help it.”

And then she’s gone. I blink at the space where she was just a second ago before my head catches up, and I stride out, my eyes moving up and down the room.

But there’s no sign of her amongst the hundreds of people now filling the room. Just the smallest trickle of almonds left behind, making my head swim.

I’ve never been particularly attracted to the scent of almonds before. Not until tonight.

My jaw ticks as I retrieve my phone again, this time texting both of my pack brothers.

We have a situation.

Chapter five – Nova

Gasping, I press my back against the cool marble. Trying to catch my breath, I watch as the golden-haired alpha scans the room, full lips twisted into a scowl.

I can stillsmellhim, the clean scent of fresh laundry and soap, like night and day compared to Adam’s oily, metallic tang. The second I touched him, I just wanted to spread my hands out, to trace the muscles in his back, to pull him tighter against me when he pressed me into the wall to hide me from Rick and Eric, two of Adam’s minions.

God. I press the back of my hands to my burning cheeks in mortification.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I don’t have time to be fanning myself over mysterious alphas in dark corners. I have to keep my head clear and avoid the Williams pack and my mother until after the auction has finished. I need tohide.

Tearing my eyes away from the blonde god with the snackable lips and the cute little crease between his brows, I take a hesitant step out from behind the pillar. I spotted what looked like a supply cupboard when we first arrived, and if I can make it, I doubt anyone will find me in time.

I spot my mother, resplendent in purple silk and giving off major irritated-mother vibes. I press myself against the pillar before her eyes can land on me.

Shit.

I’ll need to make a run for it.

Bracing myself, I wait for her to turn away before I dart out. My eyes are focused in the wrong direction, so when I hit something solid, it takes me a second to register the familiar scent of grease and oil.

My stomach turns as Adam grins at me.

“Nova girl,” he purrs. “Fancy seeing you here.”

My breath locks up inside my chest as his pack closes ranks, swallowing me up between them. “Move,” I mutter, trying to push between them, but a hand grabs my arm roughly.

“Where are you going, omega?” Julian leers at me. Nausea rises as he makes a blatant display of looking me up and down, licking his lips as his fingers grip me tightly. “Up to the stage, I hope.”

Pressing my lips together, I keep my eyes on his, even as the urge to drop them, to show him my neck, pulls at me like a rope dragging my head down. “I don’t think so.”

His grin disappears, replaced by a far more familiar look as he steps closer. The pack shifts to hide us, but it’s not likely that anyone will come across us in this corner. Fear, true, undiluted fear pounds at my chest until it feels like my heart will burst out as he leans forward andlicksmy face, his deceptively soft baby powder scent swelling in the small space between us as his tongue drags up the side of my cheek.

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