Page 88 of Knot So Social

Her floral scent floats around me. Hints of the alpha’s basil notes linger on her, but it’s not fresh enough to be from the last two days. She just hasn’t used a scent scrubbing product.

I sip on my lemonade, fighting a smile while studying her. “What things do you like? Besides dogs.”

She chuckles and leans down to ruffle her pet’s ears. “Not all dogs. Just this champ. We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we, baby?”

Mr Shares huffs up at her, and rests one paw on her leg. Even in this heat, she’s wearing a pantsuit. So much mystery. I want to peel all her walls down and see what lies at her core.

She glances up and our eyes meet. Beautiful, sky-blue eyes, sparkling with love. “Feels like an oddly difficult question.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it to be.”

Willow shakes her head. “I like helping people. Omegas especially, so they don’t have to be so reliant on their packs.”

She eyes me, searching for traces of disapproval.

I understand why, but I’m not that kind of man. “A worthy endeavor,” I say, reaching for my drink and clasping the glass to let it cool my hands. “We’d see a whole lot less abuse if omegas were taught more life skills.”

The omega’s quiet a while. “I wish more alphas thought like you.”

I frown, trying to read between the lines. “You get alphas who are upset with your beliefs?”

Willow stares out across the lawn. “Yeah. They say I should leave well enough alone and not force omegas to be masculine.”

I growl softly and she twitches to look at me.

“Sorry.” I press one hand to my throat. “It’s not “manly” simply to defend yourself or be independent.”

She sighs happily and I lose sense of where I am.

“Right? Most omegas present in early teens, at such a vulnerable time in our lives. In the morass of hormones, we think anyone showing us a spot of kindness are heroes. Sometimes we forget to . . . protect ourselves.”

She says “we” but she’s talking about herself.

“We drop out of school, don’t even get our own bank accounts, and if those alphas decide they’ve had enough? Well, the omega’s dropped like a steaming pile of shit into a world she knows nothing about.”

As if realizing what she’s admitted, the omega straightens and clears her throat. “Well, that’s the scenario I’d like to prevent, anyway.”

I can’t stop myself from reaching out to cover her pale hand with mine. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”

Her eyes widen with alarm. “I never said it happened to me.”

The words didn’t come out through her mouth, but her eyes spoke them. “I’m really sorry that happened to you,” I repeat. “It was cruel and inhuman.”

Her jaw ticks and she yanks her hand back, holding it tight to her chest.

I should’ve kept my mouth shut, but I can’t shake the feeling she needed to hear what I said.

The omega sips from her glass, sets it down, and deflates. “Thank you. You’re right. It shouldn’t have happened. I guess I’m just nursing my pride.” She throws me a lopsided smile. “But I have a feeling that doesn’t matter to you.”

Her smile, her scent, and her vulnerability in this moment; everything draws me in.

I get out of my chair and squat down by her feet. “You matter to me, Willow.”

Her expression wavers, and she offers me her hand. I clasp it between both of mine, feeling how smooth her skin is under my work-roughened palms.

“I want to be someone to you, Willow.”

She sucks in a deep breath and her lips press together. “I’m sorry, Alessandro. I . . . I don’t think I can ever trust alphas again in that kind of relationship.”