Page 38 of Hard Knot

~FELIX~

"Ithink I just found our Omega."

Those words from Carter keep replaying in my mind as I trail them from a safe distance, my drone providing an aerial view of their path across campus.

In the five years of being Carter’s second pair of eyes, I've never heard that tone in his voice – something between desperation and certainty.

This should be interesting.

The girl – Elizabeth Abercrombie, I've gathered from their conversation through the phone tap and additional research – walks with a slight favoring of her feet.

Dance injuries, from what I've pieced together.

Her platinum blonde hair catches the fading sunlight, making her easy to track even without the drone's assistance. Adding the blazer that’s casually resting upon her shoulders which I’m positive is Carter’s only further draws my attention to her lean frame that’s more than just attractive.

She has an athletic build, but has a bit of curves, making every stride look far too tempting to admit. Despite her injury,it’s clear she walks with confidence regardless, giving anyone a glimpse of trouble and temptation.

This usually means Carter is either walking into some sort of trap or he’s found some sort of goldmine in this specific Omega.

Our purpose is to locate an Omega who can play along with this stupid game of cat and mouse we’ve wound ourselves into, but one look at this Abercrombie girl and I know she’s not going to be the submissive Omega down the block.

I could do a deep dive into her background, and pull up everything from her dental records to her kindergarten report cards. That's usually my first move – knowing everything about a target before they become relevant — but Carter's urgent request to clear the locker room had caught me off guard.

Carter Giovanni, thrown off balance by an Omega.

Never thought I'd see the day.

Their path takes them through what feels like a museum of social decline.

We started in the pristine southern quarter of campus, all manicured lawns and gleaming architecture. But with each step, the surroundings degrade like a time-lapse of urban decay.

Through my earpiece, I catch fragments of their conversation, carried by the microphone in Carter's phone.

"You really don't have to walk me all the way," Elizabeth is saying, her voice carrying notes of both amusement and concern. "This isn't exactly the tourist-friendly part of campus."

"I noticed," Carter replies dryly. "Mind explaining why Knot Academy looks like a case study in socioeconomic disparity?"

A harsh laugh from Elizabeth.

"That's actually pretty accurate. The campus layout is deliberate. Goes from luxury to basically the dumps on purpose. It's part of their 'behavioral modification' program."

Behavioral Modification Program…

That’s the first time I’ve heard of anything so deliberately manufactured.

"To penalize unclaimed Omegas," Carter says.

It's not a question.

Through my drone's camera, I watch him take in their surroundings.

The buildings here are crumbling, graffiti covering walls that haven't seen maintenance in years. Windows are broken or boarded up, and the few streetlights that aren't shattered cast sickly yellow pools on cracked pavement.

Other Alphas lurk in doorways and alleyways, their attention sharp and predatory as Carter and Elizabeth pass. But Carter maintains that casual, almost bored demeanor that's made him legendary in our circles – one hand in his pocket, the other holding Elizabeth's like they're taking a stroll through a park.

But I know him better than that.

I can see the tension in his shoulders; the way his eyes constantly scan their surroundings. He's cataloging threats, mapping escape routes, preparing for the violence that seems to hover in the air like smoke.

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