Page 128 of Trick Knot Treat

“Right! Now they can ask you one question: yes or no. It will be specific to you, and you may not say anything other than the one word.”

“Ask your questions.”

The first alpha pauses in front of me. He’s a werewolf. He hesitates, and I cock my head to the side, watching him carefully.

“Are you staying?”

Clint. My heart slams against my rib cage. Damn.

“No,” I say quietly.

He stares at me. Our eyes hold, and I beg him to hear the rest, to listen to what I can’t say.

He turns and walks away, stepping out of line for the omega with the red dress. It hurts, more than I can say.

Jace is dressed as a vampire and stares at him, but he refuses to look at either of us. My distress must break through because Jace breaks the protocol and hugs me.

“It’s okay, we’ll sort it out,” he says roughly.

I let out one short, sharp whine before I can cut it off.

“Congratulations! Matches, take off your masks. Let’s see if you know your matches without being able to see their faces.”

I take my mask off, and sure enough, I was right about all four of them. Instead of heading in our direction, Clint trots down to the beach and the massive Halloween-themed party that is a precursor to the final choosing.

In the background, Lorelei and Fox crown the group that accumulated the most points. I’m not surprised to find us on the bottom, and it feels a bit like the whisper of fate warning us.

I press my palm to my chest, feeling it ache.

Felix takes my free hand and holds it.

“How do we fix it?”

“We need to talk to him. It’s fine, we’ll just catch him and talk before the matching,” he says with confidence.

It’s easier said than done. We no sooner get down there than Clint disappears. Time stretches, and I don’t pay attention to the party, to the celebration. I ignore people other than to smile at cameras when people grab me and ask me to join them.

Everyone’s in a mask; everyone is spinning, laughing, dancing. It’s like a wild night, and the spirits and magic really are here, determined to keep us apart.

Spectre, who had sat out the last date with his wiener bestie, has returned to Zaire’s side, but when we all meet up with just ten minutes to go, there is no sign at all from Clint.

He’s just gone.

Felix holds the stone and smiles at me serenely. Trust, he mouths.

“It is the end, and our scary matches are about to come up and reveal if they are going to be with each other into the hereafter. We are so thrilled that you are all here, and we look forward to seeing you for our final Pack Making party, Truelove Knot Tinsel.”

The crowd gasps.

“It’s going to be bigger. Better, and I can’t wait to share the details with you, but let’s focus on that tomorrow. Tonight is about our sexy alphas and omegas. So, bring forth our matches.”

One by one, couples and groups head up to stand in front of a fake coffin and declare their love. Sofia officiates their oaths and cheers them on, while Lorelei speaks to the crowd and teases everyone into happy smiles.

We’re last.

I still can’t see Clint.

“Clint, Jace, Zaire, Felix, and Khione.”