Page 4 of Knot Mine

Zale

Idon’t know why, but looking at Shiloh Vos makes me feel…uncomfortable. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s like a tugging beneath my skin. Is it the way he seems to see straight through me, as if I’m worth nothing? Or how he looks so much like Millie…but also not?

After the lecture, the brash beta packs his bag and leaves without so much as a backwards glance, and I feel as though I can breathe a little easier. He wouldn’t be such an easy target if he just learned to smile a little more. Maybe be friendlier instead of glaring or pretending we don’t exist. I don’t know.

A buzz in my pocket reminds me I still haven’t replied to her text. It’s not that I’m ignoring her. Millie is…perfect. Beautiful and smart. But she can also be a little intense and today I was already running late for class when she wanted me to call her. A flurry of texts came through and instead of replying, I found myself ignoring them. I just needed a little breathing room, that was all. I’d call her after training tonight. She’d make me grovel, but I didn’t really mind that.

“God, I don’t know why he even keeps coming to class. I woulddieof shame.” Sadie chuckles as we leave the lecture theater and walk to one of the coffee shops on campus beforeafternoon classes. “Maybe he should drop out. Save his family any more embarrassment.”

“Isn’t Millie your friend?” Blake, one of my teammates, asks, glaring at Sadie. I know he doesn’t like her attitude or the way she tears down others, but usually he’s pretty good at keeping his feelings to himself.

Sadie lifts a brow, nudging another omega, Sage, as they share a look. “And?”

“That’s her brother.” Blake frowns as we reach the coffee shop and enter. It’s busy today, the aroma of coffee strong as we huddle together by the counter waiting to order.

“I don’t say these things to her.” Sadie tosses her hair and gives him a look. “Duh.”

A burst of her sickly-sweet scent surrounds us, an edge of bitterness making me clench my jaw. She’s trying to use her pheromones and omega nature to calm Blake, but I’m not sure it’s working as he grimaces.

“Yeah, my girl knows better than that.” Evans, another teammate, chimes in, wrapping an arm around her waist, inhaling deeply as he presses his nose against her hair.

They’re not exclusive…yet. But if Sadie gets her way, she’ll have a Claiming mark before we graduate. Especially since Evans plans to join his family’s real estate firm. Evans gives Blake a wink and a smirk. “Besides, Blakey boy, why’re you defending the little beta. I thought you were meeting up with that cute omega from Charleston.”

“It’s not like that…” The pink blush on Blake’s cheekbones seems to say otherwise.

Does he like Shiloh? For some reason, that thought makes my gut clench. He’s Millie’s brother. And he’s a beta. Why would he like him?

I mean, he wasn’t ugly. He had this tortured poet look, as if he’d been staying up late into the night writing sonnets aboutsunbeams or some shit. And he did have nice eyes, a mossy kind of green. But he was…well, he was Shiloh Vos. He was just as likely to bite your hand off as he was to ignore you completely. Those seemed to be his two default settings.

With a low growl, I push past them both and place my order with the barista. “Let’s just talk about something else.”

“Look at who’s defending his girlfriend's family again. The perfect little knight in shining armor, aren’t you?” Sadie teases, nudging me with a coy smile as I pretend to watch my coffee being made intently, as if I’m trying to memorize the process. “Does this mean Millie is your Chosen Mate?”

Chosen Mates.

That’s what they call it when you bind yourself to an omega who isn’t your Fated Mate. Fated Mates are incredibly rare, but I know she’s hoping that during her next heat, I’ll suddenly realize that she’s my destined partner, but I already know in my bones that she isn’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t like her. I think I could even love her, maybe one day in the future at least…

I’m not rushing to Claim a partner—I think my fathers would kill me if I did. Evans isn't the only one expected to go into the family business after graduation. The only difference is Evans is happy to fall in line behind his parents…me, less so.

“Are you ready for training later?” Blake asks, changing the subject as we collect our drinks and find an empty table.

“Ready? Always.” I grin at Blake, ignoring Sadie’s little pout because I haven’t confirmed nor denied exactly what Millie is to me.

Playing football has always been my release, my dose of fun amongst the future mapped out for me. A way to blow off steam that brings me benefits at university like grants and partial scholarships, but my parents have always treated it like a hobby rather than the foot in the door it could be for me.

I do everything they ask, take the course modules they approve of, watch how much I drink in public and when I attend our weekly Wednesday night dinner, I give them updates on everything else. I thought I could last four years and then freedom would be within my grasp, but every day, I feel the noose of responsibility tightening around my throat.

Be whotheywant.

Do whattheywant.

“You okay, man?” Blake taps his sneaker against mine and I realize I’d zoned out.

Lifting the corner of my mouth into a wide grin, I let the mask slide back into place. “Yeah, just thinking about whether we’ll be doing drills or strength training later.”

Rubbing his stomach, Blake groans before taking a sip of his iced Americano. “I think Coach said we were doing drills, but I don’t really care. I just need to work off the burger I ate last night.”

Evans taps him round the back of the head before joining us at the table with Sadie and Sage in tow, clutching their sugary coffees with the whipped cream. “I told you the carbs were going to make you sluggish today.”

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