Page 27 of Knotting else Matters

“Shut up.” I hissed, shoving him toward the bathroom. “You need to hide.”

He arched a dark brow, crossing his arms over his chest. “Hide? In my own hotel?”

“Oh, come on. Do you really want to explain to thebride-to-bethat you spent the night… mounting her sister?”

His lips twitched, that dangerous, smug smile threatening to resurface. “Mounting?”

“You know what I mean!” I whispered, frantically running my fingers through my wet hair, trying to look even remotely put together. “And besides, take advantage of screwing a Zeta. We don’t get that post-Alpha glow, so no one will know I’ve been with you all night.”

“Is that so?” His smile widened, and I hated how it made my stomach twist. “Should I be offended?”

“Are you going to argue with me, or are you going to hide?”

Another knock, a little more frantic this time.“Liv? Are you okay?”

“Coming!” I called, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

Adrian sighed, shaking his head, but a faint, amused smile tugged at his lips as he stepped back toward the bathroom. “Fine. But you owe me.”

“Oh, I owe you?” I hissed, yanking a hair tie off the nightstand and pulling my damp hair into a messy bun. “Please. Consider this your payment for all those snide comments you love so much.”

His grin didn’t fade. “You know, you should really wipe that smile off your face before you open the door. People might get suspicious if they seeyouhappy.”

I shot him a glare, but my heart was pounding too hard to think of a decent comeback. The bathroom door clicked shut, and I took one last deep breath before yanking the main door open.

Sophie stood there, a bright, worried smile on her face, her hair perfectly curled, her pastel sundress making her look like she’d just stepped out of a magazine.

“There you are! I was starting to think you overslept.”

“Me? Oversleep?” I forced a laugh, leaning casually against the doorframe. “I was just… uh… freshening up.”

“Perfect! I figured we could grab lunch, maybe do a little shopping before the rehearsal dinner. Unless you’re too tired?”

“No, no. I’m… wide awake.”

Her gaze swept over me, and for a second, I worried she could see right through me. But then she smiled, looping her arm through mine.

“Great! Let’s go.”

I cast one last glance over my shoulder as she pulled me out into the hallway, the faintest smile tugging at my lips.

Adrian’s words echoed in my mind.

Wipe that smile off your face. People might get suspicious if they see you happy.

Well, it was too late for that.

CHAPTER 8

Olivia

As we stepped into the elevator, Sophie’s arm still linked with mine, her bright smile wavered, a faint crease forming between her brows.

“I’m really sorry about Mom last night,” she murmured, her voice soft, apologetic. “I tried to steer the conversation away, but…”

“You don’t have to do that.” I leaned back against the cool elevator wall, letting out a slow breath. “Sophie, you don’t have to keep apologizing for her. She has a mouth. She has a voice. She should be the one saying those words, not you.”

“I know.” Sophie’s gaze dropped to the shiny marble floor, her fingers fidgeting with the delicate strap of her purse. “But it’s just… I hate that she makes you feel like that. And I hate that I put you in that position last night.”

---