Page 3 of Knot your Good Girl

There’s no point in telling her the truth.

Despite the unhappiness I feel at being alone at Christmas, I can’t stop my parents from having what they want. They gave me a good life and I won’t stop them from having one too.

Being an omega, Mom and Dad sacrificed enough for me and their family. I went to the Omega College and got a wonderful education. They could have pushed me toward picking a pack, like a lot of my omega friends had to do.

But after everything I went through, they wanted me to choose my future and only do what I wanted to when I felt the time was right.

Honestly, that time has never come, and I don’t think it ever will. I came to New York on a whim, thinking I would find what I was looking for.

An alpha of my own.

I never thought it would be so hard.

“I’ll go to Freya’s.” It’s a lie. Despite my sadness, I can’t spoil my parents’ dream of their first vacation in years by having them worry about me.

The air chills my face and I’m ready to feel the warmth of the office, but I stop for a moment, staring at the building on the opposite side of the road.Omega Heaven.

It’s where omegas and alphas sign up for whatever they choose. Most of the time, it’s for taking an omega through her heat.

Sometimes it is purely to relieve pent-up urges.

One day, I’ll have enough money, and I’m going to buy what I need.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Mom says, taking me out of my musings.

I smile as I set off for work again.

Unfortunately, my strides don’t take as long as I would’ve liked when I see my office ahead, just behind the gaudy blow up Santa Claus that takes up too much space on the sidewalk..

The doors slide open the moment I reach them. I take a deep breath as I feel a comforting warmth glide over my icy face.

I step inside the building.

“I’m at work, Mom. I have to go, but have a wonderful vacation and I’ll see you next year.” I don’t feel as happy as my words sound.

Mom sighs as I walk through the reception area and to the bank of elevators, ready to go to work.

I hate my job. My boss is a Grinch, but after Mom’s news and the way I’m feeling, there’s going to be two of them in the office today.

“I’m sorry, darling.”

I swallow back the lump forming in my throat. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I can look after myself.”

“I thought you said you were going to Freya’s,” she says.

After stopping at the elevator, I thump the up arrow on the panel. “I have to ask her first.”

I tuck the coffee cup under my arm and haul my bag over my shoulder while I wait for the doors to open.

The more I think about it, it’s perfect. After I’ve done what I need to, I can stay in my cozy sweater and pajama bottoms all day, and eat and drink while I watch the television.

I’ll have the apartment to myself because my housemates are leaving for the holidays.

And I’m not leaving with any of them.

The doors open. I grin as I step inside the elevator, pressing for floor number twenty-nine, and wait for the doors to close. “I have to go, Mom. Love you, send my love to Dad.”

“Love you too. I’ll call you Christmas morning,” she says. I detect a regretful tone in her voice.

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