Page 36 of Knot Only For One Night

The air around us freezes. Esper turns to stone, cookie nearly falling from her lax grip as she stares at the dead fucker.

Yeah, this date is done.

“The fuck did you say?” I spit, stepping closer, knocking into the table as I do. Mike stands too. About an inch shorter than me. I take petty joy in that. He growls this time and I’m more than ready to show him this omega doesn't back down.

“Um, as much as I would love to see this”—A worker, Taylor, based on her nametag, says in a flat affect—“I do have to ask you to take this outside.”

I don’t hesitate. “Let’s go.” I mean it too, but Neven grabs the back of my collar.

Mike has the gall—or lacks the brain cells that warn him of impending danger—to scoff. “Yeah, get your damn omegas under control.”

One silent beat. A second. Neven lets my collar go.

I yank Mike from his seat by his stupid fucking polo shirt, dragging him toward the door. He fights, ripping his shoulder from my grip, yelling profanities, talking about how I’ll regret this and who his daddy is like I give a fuck. We don’t even make it outside before I can't take the bitching anymore.

I swing, and my knuckles crack across his jaw. My fist burns as it makes contact, but I’m more than ready to land another hit. I would have if he didn’t go flying to the damn ground holding his jaw.

Esper watches, eyes wide, Neven’s arms wrapped around her as a screaming Mike spouts gibberish, like his mouth won’t form the words he’s looking for.

Honestly, it’s an improvement from before.

Just as I’m tossing him out onto the sidewalk, an ambulance pulls up.

“I did have to call the police… His jaw looked gnarly,” Taylor from earlier says, and I nod.

I’d deal with that later.

I step halfway back through the door and find Neven, who is barely holding back his smile for Esper’s sake. “Take her out of here.”

She stands in front of me, her brows scrunched and her mouth agape. She grabs my red hand gently and as much as it stings I let her. Loving the feel of her touch more than anything right at this moment.

“That was a bit dramatic, don't you think?” She lightly kisses my hand.

“Worth it.” I shrug and she glares at me.

“Now my date is ruined.”

“He wasn’t the one.” Neven butts in, and I nod my head in agreement.

“What if...what if he was my only option?”

Neven takes her free hand in his. “Even if he was, we’d make it work without him.” With my other hand, the one not beaming red, I cup her cheek and bring her face close to mine.

“I hope you really hear me when I say this, Princess.” Her eyes are locked on mine, her brown beauties melting something in my chest I can't identify. “You deserve so much more than that scumbag, than us, and I’m going to help you find it.”

“Promise?” Her words drop like the first rainfall in a drought. A promise I made to her before she even knew.

“I promise.”

Neven clears his throat. “Now let's go before the cops get here. You know his ass is pressing charges.”

With a quick kiss to my cheek, she’s gone, the two of them heading for Neven’s bike. I sigh as they go and stand to wait outside Juni’s as the paramedics swarm a mewling Mike behind me.

I’d call that a successful date.

CHAPTER 13

ESPER