Page 19 of Knot That Difficult

Hopefully Skylar has some advice.

“So, something else happened,” I add, and Skylar’s smile falls slightly as we pull into the café parking lot. “And Ben says it’s not a big deal, but I think it is.”

“What happened?”

“I called him ‘Alpha,’ more than once.” I swallow, bracing for my friend’s reaction.

Skylar parks the car, turns off the engine, and frowns. “Hmm.”

I let out a breath. “What does that mean?”

“It was during your Heat, right?” Skylar turns to me, her rich blue eyes soft. “That’s natural, Dev. Did it bother Ben?”

I shake my head. “It didn’t. He wants me to have a pack.”

Skylar searches my gaze. “Andyouwant a pack,” she says.

I swallow. We’ve had this conversation before, and the last time we did, I burst into tears. “What if I lose him?” I ask quietly. “Ben—he’s my?—”

“Your family,” Skylar finishes.

I nod. “I don’t want to risk anything. What if something goes wrong? What if it makes us grow distant?” I fidget in my seat, ashamed of the tears that pool in my eyes.

Skylar nods and leans back in the seat. She lets out a deep sigh, then drums her fingers on the steering wheel. “Your family doesn’t just leave you like that, Dev,” she says softly. “Not your chosen family.”

There’s a distant look in Skylar’s eyes, and I’m reminded of what Skylar’s been through.

Skylar chose her own family after her biological parents treated her terribly. She considers Tammy her mother and April her sister.

Part of me wishes I could be like Skylar. She has her pack, along with her bonus mother and sibling.

I have Ben, and that’s it. Ben’s parents like me, but I don’t know them well enough to consider us close.

Skylar and April are my best friends, and Tammy is a great mentor.

But I’m no one’s emergency contact. I’m not their family.

I stuff the longing down. I have a lot to be thankful for. I have great people in my life, and some people don’t haveanything.

“I know,” I say quietly.

“Maybe you should take a chance, and trust Ben.” Skylar turns toward me. “And if things go badly—trust that he’ll be there to support you.”

I swallow and nod. “Maybe.”

Skylar’s eyes soften, then she grins. “April told me that a certain coffee guy is coming in today.”

My face burns, and my heart beats rapidly. “Really?”

My inner Omega does a backflip.

I know exactly who she’s talking about.

Connor, the owner ofCon Coffee.

He’s so handsome I can’t stand it.

He’s polite and sweet, and he smells like dark chocolate and coffee, the perfect combination.

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