Page 18 of Knot What She Seems
Do I even dare to say anything?
Ridge will freak, Luka will probably insist that we have no contact with her, and Colt…
Who the fuck knows what he will do?
No, maybe it’s best I keep this to myself, at least until I can figure out who she is, where she came from, and how to claim her.
Baby, if you think this is a Cinderella story, you’re so, so wrong. I won’t be the Prince Charming in your story.
I’ll be the monster who swallows you whole.
7
BRYLEE
If nervous puking was a class,I’d get a solid A. I think I’ve thrown up at least five times tonight.
After this evening’s class on pleasing alphas riled me up, I’ve been abuzz with utterly terrified nervous energy for hours because I’ve been counting down to D-Day. Caran’s been calling it A-Day in our texts, but to me, storming the beaches of Normandy is what it feels like.
I’m literally putting myself in enemy territory.
A solid cement room with a single long fluorescent tube light bashes into my conscious thoughts.
My stomach gurgles.
I battle to knock that room away by snatching up my phone and tossing on a song, turning the music up high.
Blaring sound rips away my ability to think as I load up a toothbrush with some striped toothpaste and tap my foot, trying to focus on how much I hate this stupid remake.
Annoyance is easier to deal with than my trepidation over the past or the future.
One petulant thought brings about another—recalling today’s instruction at Darling has me flaring my nostrils and rolling my eyes. We had to practice greeting our alphas at the door by kneeling and sitting back on our heels in order to look even more adorable—more fucking subservient, they mean. Why can’t I just go up and greet my alphas with a kiss? Or—revelation—let them come greet me? Or…just never have any at all?
I swear though, I feel like the only person in this entire academy who doesn’t get butterflies of delight at the thought of repeating our “time-honored traditions.” And the fact that I’m alone in my skepticism makes me feel more than a little bit broken.
Once upon a time, I believed all the lies too.
But those days are long gone.
As I brush my teeth for the sixth time today and foamy mint fills my mouth, I turn my head to stare at my backpack, which is propped up against the foot of my bed. The green pack looms there, filled to the brim with all the promises I’ve made.
Even if I’m a faulty omega, I can try to be the perfect alpha for Ted.
A terrified shiver travels up my spine as reality hits me like a two by four. Tonight’s the night. I’m going to have to sneak off campus because I need to go check into Teddie’s dorm. Then—my stomach twists anxiously again—I want to sneak back to sleep here, because there’s no way I’ll be able to sleep surrounded by alphas.
I mean, what if my scent suppressor wears off in the middle of the night? What if my roommate is into stupid guy pranks and discovers I’m wearing a bodysuit? Or what if—nope, don’t even want to think anything worse into existence.
The worst-case scenarios have been running on endless replay through my mind for the past hour. Hence my stomach issues. I’ll have to calm down if I’m going to make it through the night.
Spitting toothpaste into the sink, I stare at my reflection in the mirror and realize how pale I am. I look like I could audition for the part of Casper the Terrified-Out-of-His-Mind Ghost.
Hopefully, they think Teddie’s just on the mend from an injury. I do have that ankle brace, so maybe I can play that up. Perhaps that will get people to leave me alone.
I just have to do it. Just have to rip off the Band-Aid.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I take one final, calming breath. Then I swipe a towel over my lips and stride out of the bathroom.
I’ve got my backpack on, cape covering me, one leg is over the sill, and I’m wriggling, struggling to fit out the window?—
