Page 124 of Knot What She Seems
The three of us—minus Colter, who’s still primping and preening in his room, in an unexpectedly fantastic mood the last few days—stand just outside of Darling Academy. Ridge holds a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a satiny jewelry case in the other. He couldn’t decide what to give Brylee when we asked her to the ball tonight.
Me? I decided to buy her a cute stuffed animal. I think it’s a husky, but it could be a wolf. Either way, it’s cute and has a little bow tie around his neck. I named him Sir Snuggles-a-Lot. Of course, Brylee can feel free to change the name if she desires.
Kylian Junior has a nice ring to it…
Ridge pauses abruptly and spins around to face us. His expression is similar to the one he wears when he’s leading us into battle—all taut lines and fierce determination, his eyes molten steel. I imagine, in some ways, this is very, very similar.
Tearing down Brylee’s defenses…
I think I’ll have an easier time storming the Nóthos castle.
“Okay, is everyone aware of the plan?” Ridge asks seriously, his gaze sweeping over the two of us.
Luka clears his throat and straightens his tie. The lucky bastard won the coin toss and is going to be the one to verbally ask Brylee to be our pack’s date.
Though Ididconsider cutting out his tongue so I could ask her instead. He would be fine without a tongue, right? And if we put that fucker in a bag of ice, then the doctors could reattach it at a later date. Maybe. Hopefully. Probably. Either way, talking is overrated. At least for him. He’s boring.
“I’ll inquire about Brylee’s availability for the ball tonight?—”
“Dude.” I give my pack brother a droll look. “Don’t use the wordinquirewhen trying to ask out a girl.”
Luka’s frown deepens, cutting deep grooves into the skin of his cheeks. “Just because I’m not a blatant man whore like you, Kylian, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to ask out a lady.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.” I lift both hands in the air and wave them back and forth. “Let’s rephrase that, shall we?Ex-man whore. Ex. I haven’t been a man whore since I first smelled my sweet little omega.” Honestly, a part of me is ashamed of the way I used to be before I met my scent match. Yeah, yeah, I know retrospect is a bitch and all of that, but a part of me wishes I hadn’t slept around as much as I have. I never settled with anyone, of course, but my history is tainted by senseless hookups, one-night stands, and flings that lasted a couple of weeks at most. I wonder what Brylee would say if she ever discovered my illicit past.
I need my sweet obsession to know that, from now on, I’m a one-woman type of guy. There will be no one else but her. Hell, there hasn’t been anyone else, not since I first smelled her and tried to chase that enticing scent. No one could compare.
Luka’s still chatting away—something about “presenting the offerings,” like Brylee is a goddess we need to pay tithes to—but I tune him out. Movement near the side of Darling Academy captures my attention.
A shadowy silhouette races down the stone steps, something large bouncing against their legs.
What the fuck?
Instantly, I’m alert and ready to pounce. A voice in my head screams, “Threat!”
Is this a Noth? Did one of those bastards break into the school?
Fear for Brylee grips my throat in an iron vise. I’m only belatedly aware I’m moving, my feet carrying me toward the intruder, every one of my senses honed and sharpened and?—
Her scent reaches me first. Sweet. Addictive. Fruity, but not in a way that’s overwhelming or sickly. It’s utter perfection, just like she is.
I instantly relax, my shoulders drooping, before curiosity prickles at my awareness.
What the hell is my little obsession doing sneaking out of Darling Academy the night of the ball? The dance isinsidethe school.
Unless…
Unless she’s meeting someone.
Images of Brock’s smug, smiling face flit through my head. The guy used to be my friend, but now, I want to kill him. Painfully. And with a variety of really sharp weapons.
What other explanation could there be?
Luka and Ridge must notice Brylee too, because they both stop talking and turn in her direction. Ridge takes a single step forward, his gold hair catching in the moonlight snaking through the canopy of tree branches.
“Brylee!” he calls.
She stumbles, and the large bag she’s carrying almost sends her careening onto her face.
