Page 252 of Knot What I Expected

Recognition.

“Gabby!”

His voice changes.

“Honey Girl, I’m coming in.”

The doorknob turns. He steps inside. His eyes find me immediately.

The Wolf is right there. Gold floods his gaze. His nostrils flare. And Rowan goes completely fucking rigid.

His hand clamps around the doorframe.

Hard.

So hard the wood creaks beneath his fingers.

“Fuck.”

The word is barely audible. I don’t know what he scents. Don’t know what he sees.

But I see him.

Rowan.

My Alpha.

My mate.

His chest rises sharply.

Falls.

Rises again.

He looks like a man fighting himself with everything he has. And despite the raw hunger blazing in his golden eyes, concern is carved into every hard line of his face.

“Honey Girl?”

Another wave of heat crashes through me. I whimper. His eyes squeeze shut.

“Fuck.”

“Rowan.”

His gaze snaps back to mine. I reach for him.

He takes one instinctive step toward me. Then stops.

Actually fucking stops.

“Rowan?”

“Don't.”

The word comes out as a growl. I freeze. My heart twists.

He sees it. Immediately.