Page 19 of Knot the Stray

“Then let me go.” My grip on the steering wheel loosens a fraction.

“I want to make you a deal.” Jake crosses his arms over his broad chest. “You have a three-month contract with the clinic. Turn the engine off and stay to finish it. Do your job. Earn your paycheck.”

A skeptical frown takes over my face. “And in exchange?”

“You let us court you.” Jake points back toward Edward and Nolan. “You give us three months to prove we aren’t a trap. We want to show you what staying in Willowside looks like. You keep your space. You sleep in your own bed whenever you want. And no claiming bites unless you ask for them.”

My breath hitches. A courtship without a bite is unheard of for a scent match.

“You guys are insane.” A disbelieving scoff leaves my throat. “Alphas don’t just hold off on claiming an Omega for three months. It goes against your nature.”

“We’ll deal with our nature.” Jake’s eyes burn with a fierce, stubborn determination. “Earning your trust matters way more than a bonding mark. Give us these three months. Let us cook for you, take you out, and show you we respect your hustle.”

Staring at the dashboard, my mind races. Three months of steady work means a huge paycheck. Three months of having a pack take care of me without the threat of a permanent bond sounds like a dangerous, addictive fantasy.

“What happens at the end of the contract?” Looking back at him, the question hangs in the air.

“If the ninety days run out and you still want to bail?” Jake holds my gaze, his voice dead serious. “We’ll pack this van for you. We’ll top off your gas tank, shake your hand, and watch you drive across the state line without a single argument. You hold all the cards, Jessie.”

Glancing past Jake, Edward and Nolan watch us from the edge of the gravel. They nod, confirming the deal. They look terrifying and gorgeous in the morning light.

Exhaustion sinks deep into my bones. The thought of driving away from them hurts in a way that defies logic. Seeing if they can keep their promise offers a reason to stay.

A long, shaky breath escapes my lips. Reaching forward, a twist of the key kills the engine, plunging the parking lot into silence.

Jake lets out a deep exhale, a triumphant spark lighting up his dark eyes. He steps up to the door and rests his large hand on the window frame.

Jake tilts his head. “Deal?”

“Deal.” Pulling the keys from the ignition seals the bargain. “ You have three months.”

90 days

Jake

Silence hits the parking lot. My heart still hammers a fast beat against my ribs. We get three months to prove we aren’t a threat.

“Grab her stuff.” My voice stays level.

Edward offers a tight nod. He walks around the back of the van and pulls the side panel open. He grabs the thick strap of her suitcase. Nolan opens the passenger door. He reaches in to unbuckle the plastic carrier. Winston the tuxedo cat glares at him through the metal grate.

“We’ve got your things.” I offer Jessie a steady look. “Let’s get you back inside.”

Jessie steps out of the driver’s seat. The loose gravel crunches under her boots. Exhaustion radiates from her tight shoulders. Dark hair falls in tangled strands around her face. She shuts the van door and walks toward the back entrance of the clinic.

Edward and Nolan fall in step beside her. We box her in. Edward walks on her street side to block the view. Nolan takes her right. I stay behind them to watch her back.

Jessie grabs the handle of the back door. It swings open. We walk past the empty waiting room chairs. Her ring of clinic keys sits right next to the computer monitor. Seeing them there hits me hard. Quitting her job and disappearing was her game plan. A hard knot forms in my chest. I keep my mouth shut.

The wooden stairs creak under our boots as the group climbs to the second floor. The place smells like dust and old wood. Each step takes us closer to her apartment.

The studio looks different in the morning light. The crazy, desperate energy from yesterday is gone. The layout offers no privacy. The unmade bed sits shoved into the far corner. The living area and the kitchen blend together in one open space. The bathroom stands as the single room. Her toasted sugar and vanilla scent still hangs in the air. The frantic edge is gone.

Edward sets her suitcase down next to the front door. Nolan pops the metal grate open on the carrier. Winston bolts out of the box. His tail puffs up. He darts under the floral sofa to hide.

Jessie stops near the entrance. She kicks her work boots off, leaving them on the woven rug by the door. “I need a minute.” She crosses her arms over her chest, rubbing her hands up and down her sleeves. “I need to wash my face.”

“Take your time.” I gesture toward the bathroom across the open room. “We’ll be out here.”