Bound to the One-Night Stand (Knotted for Life #5)

Chapter 1

JESSICA

Tears blur my vision as I stare at the text message in front of me.

Alec

I have been chosen by the Governing Body to get married. I hope it’s you I see at the end of the aisle.

Two days have gone by.

No messages and no emails for me from the Governing Body.

Nothing.

It wasn’t me who met him down the aisle, but some other omega. It’s some stranger warming his bed while I sit here like an idiot at work trying desperately not to cry. A different woman is cooking his meals and kissing him goodbye as they part ways in the morning.

Someone else is fucking him.

Someone else is enjoying the pleasure of his touch .

Someone else.

Not me.

It will never be me.

Not unless the six months pass and they’re just that unhappy with the pairing. Maybe then it can be us again. But who knows where I’ll be? Perhaps the Governing Body will have already put me with a different Alpha.

Glancing up at the people bustling about their workday, my heart sinks. So many have been paired up, matched by some algorithm the government created to find the perfect pair, the perfect match — a soulmate.

As if computers can see into the soul. As if some piece of machinery can look past biology and take in chemistry, history, and… well… life.

But even now, I see how happy these couples are. Based on what I’ve seen and heard, it’s rare that a couple leaves after the six-month trial. My Alec will probably be the same.

I can’t count on him pining away for me like I am for him. Dropping my head back to look at the screen, I type out a quick message. As usual, I get the same response.

Alec

The person you are trying to reach has blocked this number. If you feel as if this is in error, please have them contact a servicing station for a systems scan.

It’s not in error. I know because it popped up later that night. After the wedding. While they’re probably on their honeymoon.

I get it. He wants to give this new relationship a chance. It would be impossible to do so while clinging to the past. Not to say it still doesn’t sting every time I see it.

Though it’s idiotic of me, I keep trying, thinking maybe he’ll be so unhappy with the match that he’ll want to pick things back up. But that’s not fair to me either.

At some point, I have to let go. Even though doing so seems to hurt even more than the initial rejection. In my soul, it feels like I’m just giving up, but I guess that’s what I have to do.

Setting my phone inside the drawer, I go back to my computer screen and try to concentrate. Thankfully, everyone here knows about what happened between Alec and me. They know I’m distracted and not at my best. At some point, however, that’s not going to hold up.

My fingers fly over the keys as I look at the coordinates for a new property we’re assessing. Same type of house. Same type of lien. Nothing new or exciting in this one.

I type in the information as well as general observations into the sidebar, so I have everything I need to make a report later. Once that’s done, I glance over my shoulder, making sure no one is watching me. They’re all busy doing their work and seem to pay me no mind.

Pulling up another screen, I type in Alec’s phone number and wait for the system to do its work. It’s a level of stalking I never thought I’d stoop to… but here we are. It takes a few moments, but soon, an image pops up on the screen.

My heart plummets as the cursor blinks. He’s in Greece. He’s in fucking Greece. The place he said he was going to take me once we got paired by the Governing Body.

But he’s taking her. Somehow, I thought he’d still be in the city. Hell, the state even. Never in my wildest nightmare did I think he was going to take her to Greece. Not a perfect stranger.

Unless he already knew her? So many questions pelt my brain as I sit there, slumped over, my head in my hands. How could he betray me like this?

Our spot? The place I dreamed of ever since we made our pact? The place where I was going to give myself to him. All of me. Nothing held back.

And for what? So he can take some stranger instead of me? So he can fuck her on the beach as the waves roll in? Granted, that idea was just the result of one too many drinks and a romcom binge sesh.

But it doesn’t make the pain any less real.

“Hey Jess.” My work bestie Kessily pops in behind, scaring the ever-loving shit out of me. Her tight, jet-black curls bounce and quiver with every minute movement. “That doesn’t look like a foreclosure property.”

As quickly as I can, I hit a few keys, and the screen disappears. “Just looking at some ideas for a girls trip.”

She crosses her arms and shakes her head, narrowing her amber eyes. “Right. And I’m the queen of England.”

A sigh flits past my lips as I hang my head and push away from the desk. “He blocked me.”

“I mean, what did you expect him to do?” Though her voice is soft and gentle, her words still strike a chord.

“He could have done something. Said something.”

She gathers me into her arms and squeezes. “Would you have let your new husband text an old girlfriend?”

A flash of jealousy sears me for a moment, stealing my breath. Unfortunately, she’s right. Not that I want to admit it. We stay there for several moments, neither of us saying a word. But then… we don’t have to.

Hurt continues to sting, like a wound that refuses to close. It should have been us. It makes no sense why it wasn’t us. Eventually, I pull back as a cramp sends a far different sort of pain signal to my brain.

“Look,” Kessily hedges, gesturing at the screen. “You’re never going to get over him if you stalk him like this. I have a better idea. The club I go to is having an open membership night. Why don’t you join me for some sexy fun?”

I wrinkle my nose and shake my head. “Kinky fun, you mean. I’m not into all that stuff.”

She laughs and crosses her arms. “Oh, I’d beg to differ. Weren’t you the one who loved dipping her fingers into candle wax while it was still hot?”

Heat fans my face, but I refuse to duck my head. “Okay, but that was like-”

“Last week,” she butts in, a knowing smile on her face.

“It’s not like I got off on it.”

“Okay, fine,” she retorts. “Weren’t you also the one who enjoyed sticking safety pins into your fingers and palms?” This time, she raises her eyebrow and taps her foot.

As much as I hate to admit it, her show of authority sends a shiver down my spine. It’s a weakness of mine, and she knows it. Screwing my lips up into a fierce frown, I cross my arms.

“Okay, but that was during my school days. Everyone was doing it. Not just me.” Despite how much I try, I can’t seem to keep the whine out of my voice or the humph at the end.

Kessily’s eyes sparkle as she tilts her head back and laughs. “Not everyone. Remember how grossed out Becky was?”

Giggling, I let the memory wash over me, soothing the hurt and replacing it with something else. “We’d both go up to her and wave our hands around. I’m surprised she didn’t throw up. ”

“She did!”

“What? When did that happen?”

For the next several minutes, I forget all about the Alpha I was supposed to be with and rest in the moment with my best friend from forever. However, the moment we stop laughing and wipe the tears from our eyes, that familiar ache comes back.

I wasn’t supposed to be alone like this. Alec and I were supposed to be together. Forever.

“So, am I picking you up?” Kessily’s voice permeates my brain, bringing me back to the present.

“I don’t know. There’s a difference between inflicting things on myself and letting someone else do it to me.”

“But that’s the fun of it! Giving up control is so exhilarating.”

With a smirk, I go back to my monitor and move my mouse around, letting the screen light back up. “And here I thought you were the one doing the controlling and not the other way around.”

“What can I say?” She shrugs. “I like both. Sometimes I like to submit, and other times, I like to bring the pain. It works for me.”

“That tracks. You’re exceptional at being a pain in my ass.”

“Only ‘cause you take it like such a good girl.”

Heat travels up my cheeks, but I refuse to acknowledge her blatant attempts at making me uncomfortable. “Don’t you have some work to do?”

“Don’t you have some work to do? You know, besides stalking your ex like a creeper?”

My heart squeezes in my chest. I suppose he is my ex now. With a soft sigh, I close out the screen and pull up what I’m supposed to be working on today. I’m so far behind as it is. Thankfully, Kessily isn’t actually my boss, or I’d have that to deal with on top of everything else.

The rest of the day drags by, but soon, I’m able to clock out and leave.

Kessily slides back over, her smile crossing from ear to ear.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” she continues, picking up our conversation from earlier.

“But just know, they only allow new members in twice a year, and you have to be vetted. Miss out tonight, and you’ll have to wait for a bit.

Pretty sure no one else in there knows you and can vouch you’re not a walking red flag. ”

She pauses for a moment and looks me up and down. “Granted, I’m not so sure I can say with all certainty that you won’t be an issue. I did catch you stealing company time to be a weirdo.” The humorous glint in her eyes softens her words.

Besides, it’s not as if I’ve never taken a jab at her. It’s what makes us great friends. We can tease each other, and we both know, at the end of the day, we’d die for each other. She’s honestly the sister I never had.

“Look, I appreciate it, really. But I kinda wanna be alone with my new men tonight.” Her brow furrows, and I can’t help but chuckle. “You know, a certain ice cream duo. They’ve been calling my name since last night. It’s about time I give in and stuff my face with some chocolate chip cookie dough.”

“Orrrrr, and hear me out. You get your face stuffed by a hot dominant who makes you call him Sir.”