Knot Running Now (Lake City #1)

The beginning,the end?

jac

As our lips collide, with teeth, tongues and soft moans, I finally realize what it is that made this connection so effortless. He’s my scent match. Anderson’s citrus aroma floats in the air with my cinnamon perfume as we finally listen to our instincts.

“Fuck Jac, you’re mine.” He whispers breathlessly, lips trailing along my jaw.

“I am,” I say back, reaching out to curl my fingers in his suit jacket, keeping him close while I can. Knowing this moment is just that, a moment.

“He doesn’t deserve you, and you can’t deny what we are. The odds of us finding each other at all? Jac, please.” Anderson pleads as he plants kisses between his words, “Come with me? I’m going back to school, let’s run away from here. Please.”

I whimper, knowing I want to say yes and be his, be as far away from Trent as possible, but I can’t. I have an obligation. I place my lips to his one more time, knowing it’s going to be the last.

Then, I run.

I exit the closet, breathless and entirely too turned on for my own good. I need a moment to center myself, so I search for the restroom, finding one just down the hall, checking that the stalls are all empty before locking the main door.

I slump to the floor, the pale blue fabric of my dress gathering in a puddle as I get lost in my thoughts.

That kiss.

His lips.

His hands.

His smell.

There was no denying what that was. The instant connection and attraction, I should’ve known.

Of course it’d be him. That’s just my luck.

My Omega instincts scream at me for leaving, knowing it was a stupid move to be there in the first place, but now even more angry that we aren’t there in his arms.

Fuck.

I can’t think about what could’ve been, I have to make a plan. If Trent found out he’d find a way to steal any hope of a football career that I know is everything to Anderson. It’s all he spoke about during our time together.

And me… I didn’t even want to think about what he’d do to me.

I know what I have to do. Standing up. I straighten my dress, pushing the sleeves back over the faint bruises that still mark my arms. Once I’m presentable again, and I’ve applied some Scent Gone spray to hide the evidence of what happened.

Then I leave the restroom and slip back into the ballroom, looking for my fiancé.

He’s with our parents, laughing like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Which, I suppose he doesn’t.

“Ah there’s my fiancé!” Trent exclaims as I slip back into the chair beside him, roughly wrapping his arm around my waist to tug me closer. It looks sweet, but no one sees the way his fingers dig into my hip, leaving marks to remind me that I upset him.

“Sorry darling. I had to duck out to use the ladies’ room.

” I say, placing my napkin back onto my lap.

My fingers tingle from the feeling of touching him, and I wonder momentarily if Trent can feel it, or sense it somehow.

I stiffen before I remember that he is leaving, he’s free from Trent’s wrath.

Maybe Anderson’s right, maybe I do need to leave and find a way to be with the sweet Alpha who’s citrus scent calls to me, but I can’t risk his well-being.

Even if he’s my scent match, that won’t matter to Trent.

I take a sip of the water at my seat, watching as Trent continues to sip his fourth—or fifth—glass of whiskey, when something sparks in my mind.

A plan forms as I watch Trent continue drinking, knowing this might be my one opportunity. I have to run from them both tonight, it’s now or never.