Page 74 of Knot So Social

Jeremy smiles and slips his wrist loose, turning until he holds my hand. “I promised I wouldn’t go anywhere without your permission, remember?”

Right. He’s not taking my nest away, not leaving as he pleases. Jeremy’s not that sort of person.

He rises without releasing me, lifting me to my feet. My body fits so nicely against his.

“Open up,” he orders, resting a savory muffin against my lips.

The scent of melted cheese and onion makes my tummy grumble. Baked dough, peas, and carrots join the symphony on my tongue, and I moan with appreciation.

“When did you have time to cook?” I mutter, leaning my weight on his broad chest.

Jeremy supports my weight, rubbing my back as I chew. “While you were sleeping. I let Mr Shares out as well.”

Everything’s taken care of. I close my eyes, and the rush of relief saps more of my strength.

Jeremy catches me and lifts me up against his chest. As he carries me across the room, I form a mental image of him living in my house, catering to my every whim and filling the house with the scent of baked goods.

“That’s a pretty smile,” he muses as he sets me down on the rim of the spa bath. Tapping my nose tip, he adds, “Thinking of something good?”

“Mmhmm.” I chew and swallow and as the food slips through my throat, reality runs with it. Whatever I’m dreaming of is impossible. Jeremy isn’t here because he wants to be with me—he’s here because of a contract.

I press my hand to my stomach, feeling thin and hungrier than ever.

“Another?”

I nod and he passes me a tray with fruit juice, two more muffins, and some sliced oranges.

He runs the water while I eat, adding rose-scented bath gel and scattering flower petals over the surface. The bubbles form under the tap and grow upward and out, covering the tub.

Jeremy takes my temperature and types the outcome into his tablet, before helping me into the bath, not releasing my hand until I’m sitting. So attentive. So far removed from anything I’ve ever received from a man who wasn’t a medical professional.

I close my eyes and sink down, the water slowly rising to cover my body. Voices from the past whisper in my ears, their words a harsh contrast to Jeremy’s actions.

“Why’s this taking so long? We’ve got limits too, you know, Willow? Fuck.” Drew stands with his arms crossed over his bare chest. “Do you think we’re studs to be ramming our knots inside you every time you get a bit warm?”

Phil scoffs, zipping his pants closed and wiping his nose on his sleeve. “Game little shit, isn’t she? Sponging off us and then asking for more. I’ve got things to do, so I’m out. Just leave her to it, if you can’t be bothered anymore. Plenty of omegas go through heats on their own.”

“If you suck my dick and beg, I’ll think about giving you a knot.” Drew taunts me, the words shattering my heat-sick heart.

“No.” They all turn to look at Bryson, and I flinch, knowing whatever’s coming won’t be good. Something thumps on the bedcovers beside me. “She’ll do the rest herself. Pick it up, Willow.”

A dildo, the one I bought with prize money won from a magazine competition. When things started souring between us, I'd foolishly thought the guys might think it was fun. But Bryson took it the wrong way. The box of toys lived on my bookcase, but it disappeared when they started emptying out my room. When I stopped deserving my own furnishings.

“Pick it up, omega.”

The alpha bark in his voice leaves me no choice. The bond stings with their malice as their chuckles ring out.

“Now put it in your pussy. Finish your heat on your own.”

"But," I whimper. "It doesn't have a knot."

Their steps echoed up the stairs until the door slammed, shutting me in silence with a fever threatening to devour me.

I gasp and my chest caves. Water quivers around me as I blink away tears. High school was a horrible time. The omega hormones arrived late, right when puberty was already kicking my ass and turning my skin into acne moon rock.

Drew, Phil, and Bryson, the popular guys, the ones all the other girls were chasing turned their attention my way. The looks, the compliments, made me feel special. Less awkward. What I thought was love became a trap as I dropped classes in favor of hanging with them, every joy ride making me feel powerful and in control.

Little did I know I was trading my freedom for hell. Oh, it was lovely at first. Until it wasn’t. Until I’d given up everything, willingly shackled myself to them. Once I’d cut ties with my family and all my friends, then the Ilvine pack’s true colors surfaced.