Page 171 of Knot So Social

She chuckles darkly.

“I love you, Mammina. I need to get going with my day now.”

“I love you, my son. Thank you for the good news.”

“Mamminas, huh?” I whisper to the dogs as I hang up. Still, I’m grateful to have her in my life.

Jeremy glances up from the dining table where he’s studying in his pajama pants, and pops one finger to his lips.

“Willow’s filming.” he whispers. “Is everything okay? I thought I heard shouting outside.”

“Oh.” I snort and shake my head. “I was just saying hello to my mother.”

His brows rise.

Perhaps our conversation got a bit heated.

I tiptoe down the hall to find Willow. She’s in the bathroom, the faint noises suggesting she’s putting on her makeup. Even though she’s stunning in her natural skin, the omega almost never leaves her bedroom without a full face of cosmetics.

I lean on the wall, letting my breath settle as I listen to her voice.

“Have you ever walked into a room where some women just draw your eye, and you don’t know why? People listen when they speak, they aren’t fighting for attention because it flows comes naturally. What if I told you it’s not because they’re beautiful, but because they’ve crafted their image of personal power. It’s something old money teaches their daughters but will never talk about. Like a secret code, and if you don’t know the key, you’ll be left on the fringes, competing in a race you don’t even know the rules for.”

Willow pauses for a breath, and her cosmetic bag rattles.

“But my darling omegalings, I don’t want that for you, so I’m going to crack the code. Here are the seven ways to command a room. Are you ready? The first is perfecting the entrance. I was at a corporate event last week and . . .”

I frown. Willow’s been here in the house. By my understanding, she hasn’t left this building in five years or more. In the aftermath of the storm, I learned about how much the lightning strikes stole from her, so it makes sense she wouldn’t want to go out there.

But why lie about being housebound?

When her voice stops, I enter her bedroom and cautiously peek into the bathroom.

“Good morning,” Willow says, her eyes lighting up as she spots me in the mirror.

“Good morning, cara mia. Are you done? I didn’t want to disturb.”

She waves her phone. “All done. Good run?”

I hug her from behind, dropping a kiss on her shoulder. “Yes, perfect morning for it. Jock managed three miles today.”

She grins and picks up her lipstick. “Sounds like he’s doing well.”

“Yes, if we don’t count almost tearing my arm off every time he smells something.”

Willow grimaces and makes a small noise with her tongue.

I nuzzle the back of her neck, my mind still churning. “My omega, I have a question.”

“Yeah?” She grabs the tube of mascara and unwinds the lid.

I breathe in her scent for courage. “Why do you tell your viewers you go on outings?”

She stiffens.

I hold her, hoping my question isn’t causing pain. “I only want to understand.”

Willow sighs and sets the tube down, leaning both hands on the vanity.