Page 39 of In Knots

Chapter 11

“Time to go home, princess,” Ryan tells me, when they’ve pulled me to my feet and shimmied my dress back up my body.

“I don’t want to go,” I whine.

Buzz nods. “That’s a big decision, baby. Are you sure?”

I nibble on my lip, called out finally by these men. If I don’t go home tonight, if my parents find out I stayed away all night, there will be hell to pay. I shudder just thinking about it.

“It’s alright,” Buzz says, taking my hand and leading me back through the dizzying trees, past the now dying fire and out to the car park, only one or two vehicles left. “That’s not a decision you need to make tonight.”

Bear and Cam lean against their bikes, arms crossed over their bodies, talking together quietly. They turn to look at us as we come closer.

“I wondered where you’d disappeared off to,” Bear says, his eyes taking me in. I squeeze Buzz’s hand harder and look away to the road. “Is she coming home with us?”

“Not this time,” Ryan says, fetching his jacket from his bike and slinging it over my shoulders. “I’m taking her home.” Buzz twists to stand in front of me, running his hand along my jaw and kissing my lips.

“Sweet dreams, baby.”

“Want us to ride with you?” Cam asks Ryan, but he shakes his head.

“I think she’s had enough of alphas for one night.” He kisses the end of my nose and slips the helmet over my head.

He hops on the bike and this time I don’t ask for my invitation, I climb up behind him, twining my arms tightly around his waist and leaning into him.

Soon we’re sailing through the trees again, along the empty expanse of road. And I don’t want to go home, back to the city.

I really don’t.

* * *

Sunlight hits my eyelids late the next morning. I blink my eyes open, squinting, and my mother bounces down on the end of my bed, pinching my toes.

“Rise and shine sleepy head. It’s gone 9 o’clock.”

I yawn, stretching my arms over my head, and shuffle up my pillow.

“It must have been a good night, then,” she says, with a little smile playing on her lips and excitement shining in her eyes. Inwardly, I groan. She thinks we’ve finally found my match, the perfect alpha mate. I’m about to shatter that illusion.

“It was OK,” I say coolly.

She laughs. “Only OK? You were out half the night. That’s my definition of a very good date.”

“It didn’t exactly go how I would have liked.” I take a deep inhale.

“Well, your expectations have always been sky high, Alexa. I doubt anyone could actually meet them in reality.” Her eyes wander up to the bruise on my forehead, a frown flickers across her face, and then she darts her gaze away.

I shake my head. “I don’t think he’s the alpha we think he is.”

My mother laughs again. “Whatever could that mean? Honestly, you can be so cryptic. Of course, he’s the alpha we think he is.”

“He got angry with me, he–”

“Alexa,” my mother says seriously, leaning closer. “Alphas are passionate beings, we both know that, and controlling those passions when they’re with an omega, especially an omega like you …” She smiles at me fondly and a mixture of emotions I can’t decipher swirl in my stomach.

“An omega like me?”

She leans forward and strokes my cheek. “You’re beautiful, darling. Truly beautiful. Inside and out. I wish you could see it.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “You are such a catch, and I am very proud of you.”

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