Page 3 of Trick Knot Treat

He’s popular and mysterious, and he owns an art gallery. He’s everything I want to be.

So, when he looks at me, of course, I look down, or away, or melt into the crowd and hope he doesn’t notice little old me.

“Khione?”

“Mmm?” I ask, glancing up at him.

“I don’t want to do this.”

My chest clenches, and I want more than anything to just tell him to throw caution to the wind and walk away with me forever, but I can’t.

“One more? For me? Then, I promise I will stop asking. I have a really good feeling about this one.”

He growls, but I know I’ve won, even when I wish I hadn’t.

I walk up the steps of the Sol house, feeling Zaire melt away, his and Spectre’s eyes watch me intently as I go out of their reach. I knock on the door and wait. I feel like a grubby child on the steps of their greatness. Like maybe I should have dressed up? Instead, I’m here in loose shorts, a pair of flip flops, a shirt I need to keep pulling up because it's five sizes too large, a baseball cap that hides my face and hair, and the oversized but familiar jacket.

Where are they? I knock again.

And wait.

I lift my fist to knock again when it’s yanked open.

He’s tall, his body is slim, like those rock stars I love to watch so much. I never notice the colour of his eyes, I always intend to, but I forget when I see how intently he looks into a person. He’s got a gaze that sees more than skin. It sees secrets and truths you want to keep hidden. He reaches up with long fingers and brushes that caramel hair away, but it falls right on back over his eyes.

“Felix,” I whisper, swallowing hard.

He lifts a hand, and for one wild moment, a moment when my heart tries to explode out of my chest, I think he’s going to reach for me, drag me to him, kiss me with those lush lips, whisper my name—except the door yanks open, and Asher appears, looking me up and down.

Whatever daydream I was thrust into pops, leaving me with the cruel slap of reality.

She turns her back on me, stepping between us. My cheeks burn, I look down, humiliated. She didn’t even speak to me. Neither of them did.

She grabs Felix and drags him off. They don’t look back.

I rub the spot on my chest where the hurt has bloomed. It’s not like I would ever have a chance with Felix Sol. He’s an omega, same as me, and even worse—a Sol. It’s just…when I look at him, I want him to see me.

“Kylie!”

I force a smile. “Hello, Omega Sol.”

“Call me Lorelei.”

I would, but you can’t even remember my name, so….

“Follow me and show me what you’ve got.”

I follow her into the kitchen, finding Sofia and her alphas gathered around a plate. Lorelei ignores them all, but I watch with curiosity as Sofia pokes it. The mound that looks like mashed potatoes wobbles like jelly.

“Did it wash up on a beach?” Mack asks dubiously, stepping back from it.

“No, it did not!” Sofia growls.

“Look, babe, I think perhaps cooking just isn’t your thing.” Elijah yelps and jumps away from her.

Now, I really want to know what it is.

“Ignore them,” Lorelei says, and I refocus my attention on her, but Sebastian, Katsu, and Fox walk in, Cordie over Seb’s shoulders howling about the injustice and cruel natures of alphas.