Page 7 of Knot Their Boo
“Funnel cake. Obviously,” I scoff, pretending to give her a judgmental look. I don’t mind pie, but nothing beats caramel apple funnel cake. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.I take a deep breath, just trying to get a whiff of it. “Oh no…” I whisper when a familiar scent hits me instead, and I stumble to a stop. Rhian, I was ready for. But this? Fuck, I don’t think I can handle this.
“What? What’s wrong?” Plum looks around for signs of danger, probably mentally prepping her daggers for stabbing, and instead spots the alpha who is causing my internal panic at the same time my eyes land on him. “Ohhhhh. Well fuck.” She winces, glancing back at me. “He still pissed?” she wrinkles her nose at me, and I cringe.
“Well. I haven’t seen him in six years, so, no? There’s no way he’s still upset, right?” I ask, clinging desperately to Plum’s arm. All that fake confidence gets snatched right out from under me.
“Uhh. Hard to say. He was pretty hurt when you left.” Plum tries to land the blow gently, but I know she’s right.
‘I could make you happy, Sable. Just give me a chance.’
I flinch at the memory. “We were just kids back then. He’s probably got a mate now. A whole family–”
“Nope. Still single.” Plum cuts me off before I can even finish the thought, and I groan.
“Okay, whatever. Fuck it. I’ll just say hello. What’s the worst he can say?” I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I hold onto Plum for dear life.
“Eat shit and die?” Plum offers, and I glare.
“Very helpful.”
“You asked.”
“It was rhetorical.”
“Ah, my bad.” She snorts, tugging me closer to my doom. Is it hot out here, or am I breaking into an anxiety sweat? Fuck, I didn’t wear any scent blockers. He’ll not only scent me, but he’ll scent my anxiety. How nervous just the sight of him has made me.
“Happy hour starts at nine tonight! Costumes are welcome all month long!” Taron announces as he passes out neon flyers to everyone entering the pumpkin patch. There are so many scents surrounding us, but when frosted pine, bourbon, and autumn leaves hit me, there’s no hiding from it. Fuck, he smells like omega catnip.
He’s so fucking hot. He always has been. But right now, in his ripped-up band t-shirt that shows off the entirety of both his biceps and the sides of his abdomen and ribs, combined with his black jeans and work boots? Hells, my scent spikes immediately.
There are only three bars in town, and Taron owns the dive bar. It’s popular with the younger crowd, and even though I’ve never gone in, I’ve seen pictures online. It’s nice. Not that I stalked him on the internet or anything. I was just curious when Plum said he renovated the place a few years ago.
Plum yanks me along beside her, and the closer we get, the more of him I can see, and the more nervous I am.
My cheeks burn red because I know Plum can smell the change, and there's only one obvious explanation.
“Don't say anything,” I hiss at her as we make our way closer. My scent might be flooded with anxiety, but there’s just a sliver of something sweeter. My desire.
“Who me? I would NEVER point out that it's been six years, but your instincts still react to him like it was only yesterday, so how can we assume that Taron isn't still holding grudges like it was only yesterday that you wounded him?” Plum bats her eyelashes at me, and I glare back.
“Thanks for that.”
We're only about six feet from him now, behind a large family that won’t hide me or my scent for much longer. His black hair is shaggy, about ear length, and curled up at the ends. When he turns, I see the tattoos on his neck that he never used to have. Thorny-looking brambles creep across the skin, disappearingunder the fabric. Fuck, he’s…damn. If his scent is catnip, then he looks like sweet oblivion.
‘Take me, alpha, tell me what a good omega I am for you…’
I swallow thickly.
“You would eat him alive,” Plum whispers in my ear, chuckling.
“Would I, though?” I grumble, trying to hide as long as possible, but the moment I see him frown, I know it's over. I’ve been caught. He's scented me.
“No fucking way…” he growls, hazel eyes narrowing, searching the crowd for me, and the second our eyes lock, it all comes rushing back in.
The way he made me feel alive. The way I broke his heart and ran away. The way I cried myself to sleep for weeks in a new city, all alone. So fucking alone. And it was all my fault.
‘Damn,’ he scoffs. ‘Never thought you’d be the one breaking my heart, Sable. Or should I call you Ghost, since this is going to haunt me?’
The memories bang around my mind, forcing a dull ache in my chest to ignite. “Taron! Hey, nice to see you!” I try to be cheerful, but even I can hear my voice trembling. I just hope Plum doesn’t let me go, or I might fall apart right here.
