Page 14 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

Her pout melts into a soft smile. “I adore you too, Haven. And I love our time together, but I loveyoumore. If you need to use me as an excuse to date a hot pack, then by all means do it. Once you’re packed up and bonded and away from your father, we’ll have more time together.”

My heart clenches at that. I want it. Want the freedom to see my best friend whenever I want, to be my true self. The only way that will ever happen is if I bond with a pack. Bonded omegas have a greater tolerance for alpha commands that aren’t given by their bonded alphas. Hence, my father could try to command me, but it likely wouldn’t work. Or if it did, all my bonded alpha would need to do is give me an alternative command and it would be overwritten. The need to obey them would be stronger.

The trick is finding a pack that wouldn’t abuse their power, and I’m not sure I’ll ever find one. My experience with alphas so far has been pretty dismal.

Same with Florence. While we were at the academy, we met with plenty of packs, sniffed their scents, found ones that wouldbe compatible. But when they found out that Ren wanted to have a career and who my father was, not one of them stuck around. Instead, they went for omegas with far less baggage.

I lean against the door and shake my head. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

My best friend glances at me as she pulls the car into the road again. “About what?”

“That they’ll stick around. And this isn’t a proper date. I don’t even know if I like them.”

Ren laughs. “Itisa proper date and youdolike them. Otherwise, you wouldn’t waste your time.”

She’s not wrong. They are the first pack that I’ve shown any genuine interest in since AOA. But I think that has more to do with protecting myself from disappointment when they eventually leave me.

“I’m trying not to.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I don’t know them. I don’t know what they want from me. What if they want something from my father and they see me as a way to ingratiate themselves with me?” I wouldn’t voice this fear with anyone else but Florence Karlin. She is my safe place. The only safe place I have in this world.

She nods. “That might be that case.”

Bitch.

“You’re supposed to tell me, of course, that’s not what’s happening! You’re supposed to make me feel better about this.”

Ren shakes her head, her mouth twitching into a rueful smile. “I won’t do you any favors sugar coating shit for you, babe. You know that. They might want something from your father. We have ample evidence that proves this to be the case.”

“I wouldn’t sayample.”

“But it’s also possible that they are interested inyou. Why wouldn’t they be? You’re sexy and smart and funny and can be goofy and have fun.”

Every word she says should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. “They haven’t seen any of that, though. They’ve seen my father’s perfect princess. Quiet, obedient, demure.”

Ren reaches over and squeezes my hand. “And tonight you’re going to show them the real you. The one you’re able to be with just me. Maybe going forward you’ll get to be yourself with them too.”

It’s insane how much I want that.

I’m in deep trouble.

Two conversations with two of the Calloway pack members, and I already feel hopelessly invested in them. Like it might hurt if this goes south. Hurtbadly. But if it doesn’t, if they turn out the way my heart is hoping… well, they could be the answer to everything.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” I mutter to myself.

Ren squeezes, then pats my hand. “That’s the spirit!”

I chuckle and shake my head at her bubbly, positive attitude. It never falters. She is by far the nicest person I’ve ever met, if a little on the wild side. “Tell me about Giles and what he’s done now,” I urge her. Tonight she needs to vent about her choreographer and I want to give her a chance to do that before we meet up with my prospective pack.

She blows out a breath, puffing her cheeks as she does, before she launches into the newest round of complaints. Its seems that he offered her a larger part in the ballet—the ballerina who was cast had an accident and broke her ankle—but he propositioned her at the same time, only to backtrack quickly when she threatened to take it up with the director.

“That asshole!”

“I know!” She pulls into a parking spot, knuckles white with her frustration. “Thankfully, this is the last performance I’m contracted with them for, so I can look for other companies to move to. I’ve been doing research and there’s one in Alver City that doesn’t discriminate against omegas. So I might audition for them.”

“But that’s three hours away.” I hate that my voice is small, the protest weak. I hate that I protested at all. This is Ren’s dream. She deserves it. If being a principal dancer means she moves three hours away from me, then that’s what it means. She’ll still be my best friend, still be my safe space. “Sorry, I didn’t mean-”

---