Page 93 of Knot Only For One Night

“Would you bond me?”

The question is rocking onto shaky territory. I know how I feel for them. They’ve become an unmovable rock in my chest. I’d kill before letting someone try to remove it.

I fell fast. Which makes sense since they are my scent matches. But life isn't always that simple.

“I’d bond you right now, Trouble,” Soren murmurs, gripping my body tight. My heart soars at the words. I have half a thought to bite the beta right now.

But the way he smiles up at me, he deserves more. Something special. I don’t want any of them to think I bonded them because of my heat. They have to know how much I mean it. How much I want them all.

“I hope you mean that, Soren. Because now, none of you are safe. You’re all mine.”

CHAPTER 32

ESPER

After a few more hours of sleep and a shower, I leave my Packmates in the nest while I sneak downstairs. The Bar is pretty empty, but I spot the rainbow-colored halo of curls and try to quickstep my way to the pretty bartender.

“Jewels?” I ask, hoping and praying I got her name right. We’ve only talked one time. Maybe I'm comfortable, or feeling confident after my heat, because I’d normally never approach someone, but I need some girl time.

Jewels turns around with a smile that rivals the sun. She stops. Seeing her dressed in jeans and a slouchy sweater that shows off her delicate shoulder, my own appearance dawns on me.

Smoothing my wet hair down, now wishing I made more effort in my appearance. Dressed in Soren’s t-shirt and Reed’s sweatpants, rolled twice and sized to fit with an elastic in the back. I grimace to myself, knowing it's too late to change.

“Hey, girly!” Jewels says as I catch up to her.

“Hi, um, what are you up to? Are you free?” I was suddenly unable to talk like a normal human being.

“Caught me at the perfect time, I was just about to go for a walk around the Plaza… Do you want to join?”

My face flushes despite literally not having to do the heavy lifting of this invitation, and I nod my head.

“I always need some space after a heat too.” She winks, and I nervously laugh. A bit embarrassed thinking she knows what I was up to for four whole days.

“Just really needed some air.”

We make it outside the bar. The sidewalk here is well kept. Minimal cracks and the thin rows of grass are neat on each side. The sun shines, warming my cold skin. Bikes upon bikes line the parking lot. So maybe everyone is sleeping? It is the middle of a Thursday. I think the usual end of the week party starts tonight, maybe tomorrow. I can’t remember what Reed had told me.

Bar nights are big. A chance for the whole MC to get together. Fridays, of course I think are the main events, but Thursdays are the pre-party?

“No bites? Wow, your mates are strong,” Jewels says quite loudly, making my skin redder as she searches all around my neck. Even going as far as to do a whole circle around me. “I was so sure they’d eat you up.”

“They are gentlemen,” I say, which has Jewels laughing so hard she doubles over.

“Neven, yeah, maybe. The rest? Yeah, no. Maybe with just you.”

“No matter how much I begged,” I say and she nods.

“Good. They are good to you, right?”

“More than good, to be honest.”

“If not, just let me know and I'll get my mates to straighten them out!” She flexes her arms and I laugh.

“Who are your mates? I haven’t had a chance to meet everyone here yet,” I ask and her eyes light up.

“One Eye,” she says, pulling out her phone and showing me her lock screen. A photo of three people come up. She’s in the middle, and to her left stands a Black man with long curly hair, a full healthy beard, and a patch over one eye. “He helps out at Coal’s.”

“I love everyone at Coal’s,” I mutter, thinking about how a burger from there would be so good right around now.