Page 25 of Knot Your Kismet

I hate that my eyes water. I hate that he makes me want to cry. I don’t owe him an explanation, and I especially don’t want to give him the truth. I hate everything about my order. I know even that is affecting him right now. Because he’s affecting me too.

How can I need air when I’m standing with a blowing breeze around me? How could I be suffocating?

“I’m sorry, Jensen. I don’t want to have this conversation right now.” I cross my arms, hugging myself.

“Right now? You never want to have it.” Jensen reaches for me, but I step back. “Please, butterfly. Please, talk to me. Don’t leave.”

“I can’t do this.” Inhaling a deep breath, I spin around and stride toward the walkway, heading toward the bow of the yacht. If I stay here with Jensen, I might lose control of my emotions. Tonight was supposed to be fun. We’re supposed to just hang out and have a good time, and then he went and made things messy. I’m mentally unavailable, and I can’t even truly explain to him why. Because I don’t have all of the answers. I just have my past and how my mother did everything she could so that I wouldn’t be like her. Yet here I am…

“Cali, please. Don’t go,” Jensen begs, his voice remaining low to not draw attention.

I ignore him and continue making my way toward the music, following the sound as it grows louder and louder. I only slow down when belting laughter bellows through the air, and an array of scents assault me. There are a lot of alphas and betas on the deck, hanging out near a bar. There’s not a single omega here, and I wonder if I stumbled upon some sort of meeting.

Composing myself, I waltz to the empty bar, only giving a single smile to the group of men sitting around a circular table full of empty glasses. I have to be cordial, especially because this is an event. What I really want to do is flip them off and tell them to stop staring. I’m not, nor will I ever be, interested in them.

“May I please have a glass of champagne?” I ask the bartender, sliding into the empty bar stool.

The guy flat-out ignores me, keeping himself busy by stacking tumblers. Great. I should have known better than to think I could just do anything I wanted freely.

“He’s not allowed to serve single omegas. What would you like me to order for you?” The voice comes from beside me, and I catch the fragrance of an alpha who’s not much taller than me as I sit on the bar stool. He reeks of alcohol and something else, and I bring Jensen’s jacket sleeve to my nose.

“Champagne, please and thanks. I’ve been dying for a drink.” I want to drown my thoughts away. I’m a giggly drunk and not a depressed sap. I really need something to lighten my mood after that whirlwind of a conversation with Jensen. Peering around, I look for him, but he didn’t follow me. I should be relieved. My emotions give me whiplash, because I kind of wish he was beside me instead of this alpha.

“The lady will have a cranberry vodka on the rocks,” the alpha says, ignoring the fact that I asked for champagne.

The bartender nods his head and pours the splash of cranberry juice over a glass of vodka. Great. I fucking hate vodka.

Oh, well. A drink is a drink right now. I shouldn’t be picky.

Tilting my chin down, I finally meet the alpha’s gaze, giving him a look of annoyance. He laughs and holds up the glass, not letting me take it. He’s really going to make me drink it from his hand. At least I haven’t taken my eyes off it, because with the way he’s acting, I’m a bit nervous he would spike the drink.

“Cheers,” I say, pressing my lips to the glass until he pours it into my mouth. He doesn’t let me pull away until the glass is empty, and he slams it on the bar.

The heat of the alcohol burns my throat and sloshes in my stomach. I should’ve just denied him. What was I thinking? I’m such a fool. Always a fool.

“Such a good girl. Whose pack do you belong to? I haven’t seen you on the yacht until now.” The alpha takes another glass from the bartender and hands it to me, the deep burgundy liquid swirling with his movements. He grabs a shot glass next and downs it in a single gulp. Shaking his head, he sends his mop of blond strands flying around.

“That depends. Are you a pack leader? Which pack do you belong to?”

Tipping his head back, the alpha laughs, his voice bellowing over the music. He looks to the group of guys sitting around the table, most of them betas, and one of them another alpha. Everyone on the small deck stares at us. Heat blooms up my neck under the attention. I hate being under this much scrutiny. It’s different when I choose to be the center of an alpha’s gaze at the Omega Resort compared to now. This is free entertainment for them. Ivy would have never allowed such a thing without a price.

“I’m Alexander. This is the rest of Pack Loomis.” Alexander motions to the others. “Their names aren’t important. You can just call them all jackass, and they’ll respond.” He grins again like he’s the funniest man alive.

I force myself to giggle. “Oh, I see. Well, it’s nice to meet all of you jackasses.”

The group of men all howl with laughter. “She’s a winner, Alexander! Bring her over.”

Before I have a chance to react, Alexander slides his arm around my back and scoops me up. I gasp in surprise and shove my hand against his chest, but he doesn’t even react. I think he’s too drunk to consider what an inappropriate move this is.

He sits down and holds me, inhaling a deep breath against my throat. “You still smell good, despite wearing that jacket. I’d recognize a Kismet anywhere.”

His recognition of Jensen’s scent strikes me to my core and fear rolls over me. Why am I so surprised? Something about his change in tone frightens me, like it’s a bad thing that I’m part of Pack Kismet.

“Alexander, you fuckhead. You know she’s here with Jensen Kismet, the second-best loser.” This comes from the other alpha sitting at the table. “You need to let her go.”

“Whatever. They’re not bonded. I don’t see a mark. He obviously can’t compare to Henry and is about to lose everything. She needs someone who can handle his shit. Plus, I’m here to have a good time, and she—”

I elbow Alexander in the throat, my panic taking control. I don’t want any part of this situation. He knows about Pack Kismet, which means he’s aware of the power shift. There are too many people who would take advantage of the situation. “Let me go. You’re a creep. My bonding is none of your damn business. Who’s to say we’re not planning a wedding?”