Page 78 of In Knots

“I won’t stand for such an attitude when we’re married.”

“We’re not getting married,” I hiss, unable to keep the words in.

He smirks at me. “Oh, we are. Your parents and mine are already set on it.”

“I don’t care about our parents,” I say, nausea bubbling in my stomach, because he’s right, isn’t he? They’ve already made up their minds. “I don’t want to marry you.”

“And you think you have a choice in this?” His shoulders shake as he laughs at me. I try to step around him a second time, but he pushes his body right up against mine. “You know running only sparks that alpha instinct inside me to chase you, Omega.”

I push against his shoulders with both my hands, but he doesn’t budge, only laughs louder. “Just be a good girl, and come and sit with me outside, show all our friends that we’re the perfect couple, the most beautiful people at this party.”

“I don’t want to sit with you!”

“It’s something you’re going to have to get used to.”

I spin around and race away from him in the other direction, deeper into the house.

“Alexa!” he barks at me, but I keep running, pushing through doors at the back of the house where I can hear murmured voices and the clank of crockery. The kitchen.

I’m gasping as I step through into the gleaming space and several pairs of eyes turn towards me.

An older woman with a tea towel draped over her shoulder, points back towards the door.

“The bathrooms back down the hallway, Madam.”

“I know, I just …” I take another step inside, peering over my shoulder. “I just needed some air.”

My fingers scratch at my throat and I think I might be shaking.

The older woman comes closer, gripping my elbow and leading me through the busy kitchen to a quiet spot at the back where shelves line the walls stacked with tins and packets.

“You alright, dear?” she asks me. “You look like you had a shock.”

“I just …”

“You want me to fetch anyone?”

“No!” I say, grabbing her hand to stop her from going. “Can I just catch my breath here a minute?”

The older woman squeezes my hand. “Don’t tell me, boy trouble.” She frowns and I nod. She makes a disgruntled noise. “Sure you don’t want me to find Mr Brown? I think he’s in his study staying out of the way.”

“No, no. It’s just a silly misunderstanding.”

She raises her eyebrow, her gaze falling to the fingernails scraping my throat, and then she leaves me to it.

When she’s gone, I lean against the shelf, the back of my head knocking against the cool metal of a can.

I’m not going to marry him. I can’t. He makes my skin crawl and my stomach turn.

I know it will kill my parents. I know they will be disappointed. But this is my life, my future, and I don’t want to spend it tied to a man like that.

I’m going to tell them when they get back from their trip. Make it damn clear.

I’m not marrying Simon Stanford.

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