Page 96 of Knot Only For One Night

“Of course we’re right,” Jewels says.

I can only imagine what Penny would have said at that moment. She’d probably have agreed with Cyclops, not knowing any better.

“Thank you, seriously."

Jewels flips her rainbow hair over her shoulder. “Post-heat omega brain can be kind of a bitch. They are bossy things.”

“Very,” I confirm, realizing we are outside Reed's nest door. “Thank you guys.”

“Give me your phone,” Lacy says and I do. She returns it a moment later. “Now you have our numbers, and we have a group chat. Don’t be a stranger. Even if… things change.”

“You too!” I say, sliding my phone back into my pocket. Real friends, with plans. Plans after our first meeting.

I open the door as they turn around, heading back down to the Bar when a hand slides around my waist and another over my hand on the handle. Pulling Reed’s nest door shut. I’m pulled into another room. If I wasn’t instantly surrounded by cinnamon, I’d be scared.

“Why is your scent burnt, Trouble?” His grumbly voice is right in my ear. The room he pulled me in is dark and small. Like a closet. The door clicks shut in front of me and I try to turn around to face Soren, but his grip around my waist doesn’t let me.

“Nothing, Soren, it's fine.”

“It’s not. Who hurt you? I know it wasn’t Lacy or Jewels. Do I need to go downstairs and find out for myself?”

“No, just a moment of post-heat hormones. I’m fine,” I say but he shakes his head.

I trace my fingertips over his ring on his pointer finger. The texture of the metal band calms me like I hope it does him.

But I can tell it doesn't. No matter how much I push out my scent, he doesn’t relent. He doesn’t loosen his hold on me and his scent carries a sharp edge to it.

“You can't get mad.”

“I can’t make that promise.” My eyes dart straight ahead of me. To the solid wood door in front of me. He doesn’t make promises he can’t keep.

I’d bond you right now, Trouble.

Good to know. That fact soothes my omega and I actually smile.

“I’m not even mad over it anymore.”

Soren hums. “I’ll be mad enough for the both of us.”

“That’s not how it works.”

“That’s how it’ll work between us. Nothing gets to make you upset, not like this, not like anything. You are mine. Which means your love is mine, but so is your anger, your sadness—it’s all mine to comfort or bear as I please.” His lips trail over my neck over my hair. “Now tell me, Trouble, who hurt you.”

“It was something stupid a prospect said,” I say, hoping it's enough.

It’s not, of course.

“Which prospect? What did he say?”

“Just that…” The idea of repeating it makes my stomach lurch but I do it anyway. “That if my mates didn’t bond me during my heat…are they really mine?”

“I’ll kill him.”

“You don't even know who,” I say but it falls on deaf ears as Soren slides from around me faster than I can comprehend, let alone try to stop him. He’s down the hall and I’m tripping over my sweatpant bottoms trying to keep up. I stop by the nest. Banging on the door quickly before following Soren.

“It’s okay,” I say but he doesn't hear me. His wide shoulders are covered in a black t-shirt, and if I wasn’t trying to stop him from beating up someone I'd stop and approach how hot my beta is.

Cyclops makes the dumb decision to approach Soren. They meet in the middle of the bar, on the dance floor, red lights shining down on them. Chest to chest, the two angry men face off and I stop right out of range.