Page 22 of Knot Only For One Night

CHAPTER 8

NEVEN

I’ve never been part of a heat. So when I got the text from Esper that hers had started, my heart dropped to my ass with nerves. So much nerves.

My experience with women is quite limited. I’ve had a few beta girlfriends here and there, but honestly, I was waiting for my scent match.

My parents are scent matches. That connection between two people, between a Pack, is unbeatable. The way my father looks at my mother, like she holds the key to his world, the oxygen in his lungs, made casual dating feel like such a joke. With every person I was with, I wanted what they had, and when it never happened, I left.

A bit toxic, in all honesty. Eventually, I put myself and my poor partners out of all our misery and stopped dating the last two years.

But then I got… lonely. I ended up closing myself off entirely, and there was no way I was gonna find my scent match that way either.

And, yes, also I was horny.

While going through this existential crisis, I figured I’d at least go on Heat Seekers and get that need taken care of.

Now that it’s time to do just that, though… I’m nervous as fuck.

I have no idea what I was thinking. Though the idea of Esper in pain has me storming past the nerves, completely focused on being with her.

I assume an omega’s heat is like an alpha’s rut, but maybe more intense?

Fuck, I’ve only met the woman once. If my anxiety is this high, how is hers? Is she gonna be okay? Comfortable?

What if I mess shit up?

My boots hitting the low-pile carpet is the only sound in this dorm hallway. The blue walls and light brown doors don’t calm the rage of nerves sitting in the base of my throat. Esper said she had a private room. I only hope the privacy extends to the amount needed for a heat. Soundproof, air controlled…

Shit, I don’t even know what else she might need! My research could only take me so far. Every article basically ended with each omega being different.

Gee, thanks, I thought they were all identical clones.

I have a bag full of chocolate chip-flavored protein bars, bottles of spring water, and a few of my worn t-shirts. The internet said that would help, but I wasn’t banking on it.

I couldn’t not bring it after reading it might help.

I stop right outside her door. 103. Taking a deep breath, my fist hovers in front of her door.

You got this.

“How the fuck do you know Esper?”

I nearly jump out of my damn skin as Red’s voice barks from behind me.

“How do you?” I volley back. I saw his name in the group chat but didn’t have time to dissect that as I was throwing together my very suddenly needed Heat Bag.

Red huffs, eyes narrowed, waiting. Shit, he’s gonna make a good Prez someday.

I cross my arms. “I met her recently.”

“What are you doing on Heat Seekers?” As if I shouldn’t have been on the app in the first place, let alone matching with the sweetest omega fucking ever. As if he hadn’t clearly met her through the app, too.

“What are you doing⁠—”

“I’m an omega. I can do what the fuck I want.”

I know this fucker didn’t just pull the omega card on me. He’s the least omega omega I’ve met. Suppressing himself 24/7. That shit can’t be healthy.