Page 10 of Knot Only For One Night

“A knot, Esper. You need a dick with a knot. God, I can't believe I have to explain this to you.”

Penny’s disgust feels like oil on my skin. Logically, I can understand her concern. I can agree with her facts.

But…Reed.

I don’t know how to explain the feeling I’ve had since matching with Reed. Excited? Wanted? Safe?

“This must be why omega centers exist. You omegas can’t seem to handle things on your own.” Penny laughs as she rolls off her bed, but the comment slices through me like a steak knife in butter. She plops down on her vanity stool across the room. “I bet they would have given you an alpha. On a platter. Baked in oil and ready to purr for you.”

Her presumption renders me utterly speechless. Anxiety floods through my system. I curl my legs into my chest, the jean fabric scratching, restricting, as Penny goes on about us lucky omegas.

Penny may be right about knots and heats, but here, she is dead wrong.

There is a local company, catered to omegas, to help us through our heats and find packmates who won’t take advantage of us. It’s more of a matchmaking service. With high fees and vetted Packs. Which in theory sounds great, but…

“I tried⁠—”

“Maybe you need to try harder.” Her voice is sharp. Cutting as she stares at me through the mirror. She glosses her lips without breaking eye contact. Daring me to talk back to her.

I went to one of those great and mighty omega centers when I realized my heat was coming. I was guided to a room, four white walls, a single table and chair with books upon books filled with scent cards. After hours of going through them, I didn’t find one scent I liked enough to meet with, let alone invite for my upcoming heat.

I swallow my words. She’d never understand. She doesn’t want to.

But I know. How they keep their alphas for Packs reserved for those who can afford their monthly subscription prices.

How when you don’t find a scent in their scent books, they act like there is something wrong with you. Never considering that maybe my packmate is maybe just my age and not able to afford their subscription. Maybe they aren't aware of the company or maybe they are building their Pack, their life first, before wanting an omega. Maybe… maybe they don’t want an omega at all.

Penny finally drops my gaze, standing. “I think I’m going to take a nap. I have a party to get ready for in a few hours.” She drops her sucker in the trash with a loud clang that makes me jump.

It may as well have been a get the hell out.

I’m on my feet and out the door without so much as a goodbye.

She was going to a party. A party I was clearly not invited to.

My walk home is a sad one. Since moving out, our friendship has been so… strained. It hurt. It hurt a lot.

There is nothing wrong with me. Or with wanting another omega. Reed obviously didn’t have an issue with it. So neither should I.

Right?

My phone dings.

Another match.

Already? Really?

I race the rest of the way to my room. Turning on my fairy lights, I shed my outside clothes and find my inside clothes (currently a maroon hoodie and loose matching sweatpants), and crawl into bed with my phone lighting up my face.

My thumb hovers over the app. It dares me to open it. Do it, Esper.

Maybe… maybe it’ll be an alpha this time?

I slam my phone down on my blanket. Shoot out of bed.

I don’t need an alpha. I have Reed.

If Reed even likes me. We haven’t even met and I'm already so dependent on him.