Page 64 of Knot Only For One Night

I couldn’t tell them why I was upset. Not this early. Not before they got a real chance to know my friend and know where her heart is. So I’ll focus on the good things for now, pushing her words to the back of my mind, as much as I can.

Coal’s Diner is my favorite. The cherry-red booths and black-and-white checkered floors. Rock music plays lowkey through the speakers, and the smell of the best burgers ever comes wafting from the kitchen. My color theory textbook lays in my lap as my laptop sits on the table in front of me.

We’re a pretty big Pack. Reed sits next to me on one side of the booth and Asher and Neven sit across from me while Soren sits in a chair at the end of the table that we had pulled up to the booth.

As awkward as study dates can sometimes go, I actually feel comfortable with my… boyfriends? Wow, who would have thought I’d go from barely ever having a boyfriend to having four at the same time?

I’m biting off way more than I can chew for sure. But if this is what the gods destined for me, who am I to question them?

“What are the primary colors?” Asher asks. “And don’t look at that book either.”

“She’s way past that point, bro,” Soren says, looking over the book in my lap.

“Blue, red, and yellow,” I answer.

“So damn smart.” The praise goes straight to my chest, despite him asking me something covered in elementary school, and I nearly puff my chest out like a good little dog.

Ugh.

“Don’t play like you knew that shit.” Reed laughs as he closes his laptop screen. I scrunch my eyebrows, but he only shrugs. “No way I’m getting anything done here.”

I scoff, smiling, as I turn back to my book, but the smell of our food tempts me.

“Focus, Omega.” Neven’s voice makes me freeze. He didn’t use his alpha voice, but still, a bone-deep need to obey covers me like a second skin. I smile as I keep my head in my book.

I can feel his eyes on me. My face heats as I remember the last time his eyes were on me like this. Focused. Concentrated. In my dorm room.

“You okay, Trouble?” Soren asks. He leans over, close to my face. His breath hits my skin and his cinnamon scent makes me dizzy in the best way. I break my gaze away from my book to meet Soren’s brown eyes. They glitter with trouble and his smirk does nothing to make my situation better.

“Don’t distract her.” Neven yanks Soren back into his chair so he isn’t leaning over me and Soren bursts out laughing, the sound soothing my omega. She relaxes in my head, and as our lunch study date goes on, my argument with Penny fades away from my mind.

I’ll make up with her later.

“Let me see that.” Asher holds out his hand for my textbook. He smiles and, god, his smile is perfect. His light brown skin simmers in my eyes, and his light hazel eyes hold as much mischief as Soren’s does.

I can’t help but look to Neven, my… lead alpha. That’s not quite something I’ve ever seen before, as my mom doesn’t have a lead. But I’ve heard of them.

All he does is smirk and I feel as if this is a test.

A test if I’ll be a good girl or not.

Listen to Neven and seriously get some studying done, or play Asher’s games.

My gaze moves to Reed who watches me intently. His brown eyes peer into mine, a small smile on his lips as I think.

I can’t make the decision. I stare at Reed until he gets what I’m trying to say to him.

Choose.

Our table gets quiet. The ambient sounds of the diner overtake our table as I wait for Reed. He appears almost magical, his tan skin is backlit with the sunshine from the window.

My omega partner.

Gratitude washes over me to have someone who understands the parts of me even I don’t, whose nature and mine are parallel.

His eyes flicker to Asher, and the choice is made.

Closing my heavy textbook, I lock eyes with Neven, who only smirks as I lift the book from my lap and hand it to Asher.