Page 34 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

"Your precious daddy dearest screwed over my family. Left us in ruins while he built his empire on our backs."

She shook her head, struggling to process this new information.

"Well…I didn't even know who my father was until recently." It’s not necessarily a lie. “What do you want me to do about the past? Apologize when I have nothing to do with any of this?”

"Ignorance doesn't absolve you," he snarled. Then his expression shifted, a calculating gleam entering his eyes. "But I'm willing to make a deal. Information about your mother in exchange for... future cooperation."

Serenity's heart skipped a beat.Her mother.The missing piece of her past despite the few instances of joy she ignited from afar.

But could she trust him?

The most realistic answer is no.

"What kind of cooperation?" she asked warily.

Ronan's lips curved into a wicked smirk.

"The kind that'll make you forget all about Castellano. I guarantee I can make you feel better than any Alpha you've ever known."

She scoffed, even as heat pooled low in her belly.

Of course, negotiations would mean heated sex. Just mark me as a walking prostitute for being an Omega.

"Pretty cocky, aren't you?" It’s odd that his obvious desire to step up in this “hunt” gives off a different persona than what he’s trying to project. She tries to think about how to properly absorb this situation because this confrontation wasn’t making much sense to her.

If Ronan was as hungry and desperate as the other Alphas playing this challenge with the intention of winning, he’d be doing everything in his power to kidnap her. Not making conversation as if they’re “friendly” rivals.

Enemies to lovers romance fans anyone?

"Allow me to demonstrate," Ronan purred, suddenly crouching down.

What the…

Serenity's mind went blank, and her body was a riot of sensation and disbelief.

There he was, this dangerous Alpha, dropping to his knees like he was about to make a goddamn worship offering.

Her pulse raced wildly, and a flush crept up her neck. She didn't know what to do, or how to react. The scene was surreal—a man like Ronan, kneeling in front of her, oblivious to everything but her.

The pit of her stomach knotted, a mix of nerves and desire flipping like a damn fish on a line. This confrontation was spinning out of control in the most unexpected way.

Ronan looked up, his eyes locked onto her like a predator with prey and slowly gripped her thighs. His touch sent electric jolts through her, inching dangerously close to where she was already betraying herself with need. She should stop this. She should push him away, damn it.

But the way he closed the space between them, his face inches from her core, made her head spin.

Could she really stop? No…did she want to stop him was the real question.

Even as the thought crossed her mind, her body answered for her, a rush of slick dampening her panties.

Ronan inhaled deeply, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

"Fuck, you smell divine," he growled, his hands like firebrands on her skin. "If I have to keep breathing in how wet you are, I'm going to lose control and fuck you right here." He nuzzled against her, his mouth so close she could feel his breath like a hot brand, and her entire body flared with a fevered need that she couldn't ignore.

"You can't say shit like that," she hissed, face flaming and blood pounding in her ears.Was he serious? All this talk of past betrayal and he was ready to take her here and now, as if the hunt was just some bizarre foreplay?

When she tried to push him away, to assert some control over this explosive situation, he was relentless.

Stepping back proved impossible as he pressed into her, his nose finding its place between her legs, deliberately inhaling. Their eyes locked as he pulled back to speak, and the raw hunger in his voice nearly did her in.

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