Page 106 of Knot Only For One Night

“Oh wait…” She suddenly stops and I almost bump into her. Pushing my glasses up my nose, I read an unfamiliar number come across her screen. “I have to answer this. It's Fleur."

She has their number memorized? She steps to the side, off the sidewalk and I follow. Leaning against a tree as she picks up the phone. One hand on the phone and the other plugging her other ear so can hear better.

That was another issue I couldn’t fix for her. Something about how I can’t force them to accept her. A blown interview is a blown interview and other opportunities will come. Her words, of course. See, I wanted to hack into their systems and ensure her resume was pushed to the managers, but once again, she shot me down.

Though she didn’t wrestle any promises out of me that time. So I consider that door still open.

“Yes? Oh, wow. Yes! Thank you, I’m so grateful—Okay. Perfect. Okay, bye!” Esper’s face is a whirlwind of emotions during this call. From confused to excited, to flushed, to shocked, she hangs up the phone, her pretty brown eyes wide as she stares at me.

“Well?” I ask.

“I got in!” she shouts, throwing her arms around my neck. I swing her around and then set her on the ground.

“Into Fleur? Baby, that's amazing! Congratulations!" I kiss her lips, her soft lips making my soul feel that much better at not hacking into Fleur.

“Yes! I'm in the nest division, but I—I’ll take it! It's a foot in the door!”

Her eyes are so bright, the brown in them shines like stars and her smile—god, her fucking smile warms my chest.

I’m quick, grabbing my phone and snapping a picture, the campus greenery and natural light of the outside sky coming in handy as I capture the moment, her happiness in my pocket to keep forever.

Nothing will compare to seeing it in person, and I’ll work damned hard to make it happen again and again.

“I can’t believe it!” she reveals as we continue our walk to her class. “I thought I bombed my interview. Maybe—ugh, I don’t know.” She rambles, and it's so cute. I love that she’s following her dreams, her happiness, and damn, it makes me want to do the same. Reach for the stars. Find my path.

But I…

I don’t know what that looks like anymore.

I know what it has, though. It has Esper. My Pack. White Pine Crest.

And… Midnight Wolves.

Last week was a reminder why I loved the MC. Why I stayed so long. That job offer to computer testing has long expired, but it’s not something I think I'd explore again.

Not something I want anymore.

Not if it takes me away.

Maybe I need a proper job, something consistent. Maybe I’ll see if they need help in the books, or maybe in the garage? I’ve had to fix my bike a time or two.

I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.

For both our sakes. Esper deserves an alpha who is going somewhere in life. With goals, meaning. I can’t be her dead weight.

“When do you start?”

“Next week! I meet with the head, Holly Lovewell, for my first day on Monday. They’ll send me my schedule in an email soon.”

“I’m so proud of you, omega.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, meeting her lips with mine, a quick kiss was all it was supposed to be, but when her hands grip the front of my shirt I can’t help but slip my tongue in.

She breaks our kiss though, nodding towards her class, and I let my omega go.

“Reed will be here after to walk you to your next class,” I say, watching as she takes a few steps away from me before pausing.

“That’s not really necessary, as cute as it is.”

“It's no issue. We love it,” I say.