Page 33 of Knot Your Ex

I checked it more times than I could count, and my stomach was churning with nerves. She was acting like I was asking her for her heart right now.

Maybe, in a way, I was, but what else could I do?

This omega already had me in a chokehold. She had from the moment I breathed her in, the moment I saw her beautiful face, the moment I heard her laugh.

She’d burned herself into my memories and then tried to leave me behind. There was no way I could let her go, not like this.

As I lay in bed, unable to sleep, tossing and turning in the dark, finally, my phone pinged with a new text.

Tori: Okay.

I blinked down at her answer. After all this, her agreement was so unexpected that I didn’t know what to do. I dropped my phone twice before I was able to tap in the response.

Warren: Okay? We can talk?

Tori: Yes.

Warren: Ask me anything.

Tori: Why haven’t you given up?

Warren: You’re my mate, Tori. I won’t ever give up on you. From that first date with you, I knew I’d never have enough. Kind, gorgeous, smart, fiery… you’re everything.

Tori: I’m nothing special, Warren. Don’t put me on a pedestal, I’ll only break your heart.

Warren: Pushing me away is what’s breaking my heart.

Tori: I’m an omega with no degree, no job, no real future. You don’t want me.

Warren: Quit trying to convince me that you’re a bad idea, Tori. I’ll never believe it.

Tori: You should.

Something in that last text broke me. I didn’t want to break the rules already, but I could sense that she needed more than this, that she needed comfort.

Warren: Can I call you? I just want to hear your voice. You can hang up if it’s too much.

There was another long pause that stretched on for several minutes. It was long enough that I was kicking myself.

Then she finally answered me.

Tori: Okay.

My heart was in my throat as I hit call. It barely rang twice before Tori answered. Her voice was raspy and quiet, like she’d been crying for hours.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice just as quiet as hers in the dark.

“Everything.” She let out a shaky breath, and I had to fight the urge to drive across town right now.

Her bodyguards would have more than a few words about that.

“Baby, I wish you’d let me help.”

“You can’t. I’m not good for you, Warren.”

“Pushing me away is not going to solve anything.”

“It saves me from getting hurt.”

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