Page 1 of Knot Forever

Chapter one – Nova

“Nova!”

My hand wavers over the tub of minty goodness in front of me, my eyes darting between the door and my prize as I debate making my escape before my mother appears.

Desperation for just one more little scoop of mint chocolate chip overtakes me, and I grab the tub before I slide towards the kitchen door, mentally sending up a prayer to the gods of omegas and ice cream – who I have determined are probably one and the same - that I can get away before she appears.

Clearly, the gods fucking hate me, because just as my hand wraps around the door handle my mother flings herself through the main doors, her chest puffing up in her satin gown as she glares at me.

“Nova,” she snaps.

Maybe I can pretend I’ve lost my hearing. Maybe I could actually stab myself in the ear? That feels like a great idea right now.

Just the thought of her reaction if I run makes me wince. Ignoring Lara Chevnik is never, ever a good idea. My father could confirm, but he seems to have retreated to his study. As usual.

“Mother.” I turn and try to smile, but the false expression could barely pass for a grimace. “How was the gala?”

I suppress a gulp at her face. My back presses against the door as she advances, her pointed finger jabbing the air for added effect.

“I have never,” she hisses. “Ever, been so humiliated in my life. We are a laughing stock, Nova. Even Dorothy Winters turned up her nose at me -Dorothy Winters!”

I have no idea who Dorothy Winters is, but I nod sympathetically, trying to hide the ice cream behind my back.

“I’m sorry, Mother,” I offer when she continues to glare at me.

She huffs. “I just don’t understand why you won’t go back to the Williams pack, Nova. Adam is a strong alpha. His pack is one of the richest in the city! You couldn’t possibly do any better.”

Her disparaging tone makes it very clear, once again, what a disappointment I am. As a daughter, and as an omega. But her words draw a lick of fire from my spine as I straighten.

“I told you what he did,” I say firmly. “And I’m sorry if this makes things difficult for you, mother. But surely you’d rather this than me go back to his pack?”

My mother at least has the decency to look a little uncomfortable.

“Of course I don’t want you to be with a pack that mistreats you, Nova.” She scoffs a little. “But I still find it very difficult to believe that the Williams pack would act that way. This feels more like a misunderstanding to me. I’m sure that if you just spoke to Adam—“

“No.”

My voice is cold. I’m resolute. There is no way in hell that I will ever willingly be in a room with anyone from that pack, ever again.

I trusted Adam once. I won’t make the same mistake again.

My mother sighs. “He cares for you, Nova. Why, when I spoke to him tonight he couldn’t stop talking about you!”

I stare at her, betrayal a sinking stone in my stomach. “You spoke to him?”

She tosses her hair back, a hint of red coloring her cheeks as she avoids my eyes.

“I’m trying to save our reputation. Someone in this family has to.” Her voice shrills as I blink at her rapidly.

My eyes start to burn and I swallow it down.

I know my mother. I don’t know why I expected anything different.

“I’m going to bed,” I say dully, holding up my hand when she opens her mouth. “If you care for me at all, you’ll stop talking now. Better yet, you’ll respect my decision to break away from the Williams pack and not humiliate me even more by talking to the packwho hurt me.”

My mother’s mouth flops like a fish as she flounders for words. Turning my back on her, I summon up my last shred of dignity and begin to walk out of the kitchen, the ice cream in my hands melting into an icy mess.

Not unlike my own heart, actually.

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