Page 94 of Knot your Good Girl

My heart drops, sinking like a stone in my chest. I should have seen this coming. His conflicting emotions towards me left me feeling uncertain and confused. His problems with packs. And the way his jealousy flared if I looked at another man. All along, he was comparing me to my sister and his ex.

He never wanted to believe who I am.

He never wanted to know.

Because he doesn’t care.

Does it matter?

Argh!!

I finally answer my father. “He was too old and too jaded for me.” I smile because, if I’m being honest, my father never had high hopes for me finding anyone, never mind my alpha. “But I think I loved him.”

“How much older?”

“Twelve years,” I reply, trying remember what he told Toby that date.

“Then why are you leaving New York? Stay here and fight for him,” Mom says. “Age is just a number.”

The age gap is hardly the problem.

Ten days and then it’s over.

That’s all he needed to get his revenge.

He was more or less right on the timeline.

But I was the wrong sister.

He was never obsessed with me.

I shake my head and walk toward the stairs that lead to the aircraft and to my escape from here. “He doesn’t feel the same way.”

“Sorry darling.” Mom’s voice is gentle as she wraps her arm around me and pulls me to her chest. “I really am.”

“I think he was the closest I could ever get to loving an alpha’s scent. It was so intoxicating I thought he was the one.” I sob, tears sting as they roll down my cheeks. “I thought he was my scented mate.”

“It’s best to not believe in scent matches.” She sighs, pursing her lips when my father groans.

“I thought he felt the same way.” I can’t tell them everything. I don’t want them to find out about Ivy’s private life. I would rather they maintain their belief in her perfection.

“Then he wasn’t the right alpha,” Dad says. “What you had wasn’t a soulmate connection, but a twin flame. You let him enter your life for a reason that you’re not sure of yet. But you’ll work it out.”

My mouth opens. Surprise doesn’t tell you how I feel right now. Because my father doesn’t believe in scent matches, soulmates... he certainly doesn’t believe in twin flames.

I smile at him. “Hopefully.”

“You’ll work it out, Holly.” Mom gently takes my hand and leads me to my seat, buckling me in like I’m still eight years old before giving me the same look she did when she told me about Ivy’s illness. I know I won’t like it.

I shake my head. “Say whatever you need to.”

“Toby is joining us for a few days. He’s on his way.”

“Mom...”

“Darling, you need an alpha. You’re getting old.”

“I’m twenty-three and Toby is not my alpha.”

---