Page 134 of Trick Knot Treat

“If you take one more step, I’m going to take this shoe off and throw it so hard at your head that people will see the sole of my Louboutin’s out of your nostril cavity.”

“That,” I say to Holly, “is creepy and incredibly graphic.”

“I’m just trying to understand the logic here. Alpha. Alpha. Omega. Omega. And you are here with me? Why?”

I scowl. “I agreed to move here for a new life and…”

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” Holly roars at me. “You found your scent matches.”

“They are all leaving.”

“They are not. You idiot. No one can go and just leave their scent match. Get your ass back to that town before I break your leg, drag you back, and dump you there.”

This best friend of mine is terrifying. Truly terrifying. I need to replace her with a nice one.

I sniff. “You are supposed to be supportive.”

“This is supportive. We’re in the tough love phase.”

“Why?” I stare at her, and something flickers on her face. My problems fade as I catch something on her face that makes me really concerned. “Holly?”

She sniffs. “Why can’t I find someone to love? Instead, I find psychos.”

Aww. I rush to the couch and sit down, pulling her into my arms.

“What happened?”

“Kerri walked into the ice cream store and met her scent match. She came back all excited and packed her things and bailed. She didn’t even cry, and I don’t blame her. I would be so excited. I would do it, too. She just left.”

“There, there. You will find someone.”

“How? We live in the middle of nowhere? This town is smaller than Sunshine.”

“Come back home.”

“No, I want to stay here. I like my job.”

I scowl and stroke her hair. There is something else, something she’s not saying. “Fine,” I say to buy myself time while I try to figure out how to get her to spill.

“Do you have to pat me like I’m a dog?”

I abruptly stop and sit back, looking at her. “I’m sorry. So, you won’t come back with me? Even for a day?”

“No, but you most certainly are going to turn your ass around, take that house of yours off the market, go beg that pack’s forgiveness, and live happily ever after.”

“Holls?” I murmur, watching her closely. “Why aren’t you sleeping? Why is there a bat near the front door? When did you get security cameras?”

“Don’t do that. Don’t make me cry any more than I already am. It’s nothing. It’s fucking nothing!” she screams, and that means that whatever it is, it’s not nothing, is something huge.

I stand up and go to her drawers and start yanking them over, searching.

“Clint! Stop! Please!” Holly stands in the middle of the room, looking smaller than I’ve ever seen her.

“Tell me,” I growl.

“I slept with someone weeks ago. It was a one-night thing, she was strange, and her scent made me feel ill.”

“And?”