Page 69 of Knot Only For One Night

What the hell am I doing here?

I should stand up and walk out. I have a club and an omega to protect.

Instead, I sigh and try my best to finish the problems without distraction.

“So you’re gonna tell me what’s going on or…” Casey asks as I meet him outside the Sociology building.

“It’s nothing,” I say, shaking my head, but Casey raises his eyebrows and laughs.

“You playing me for stupid? Come on. Tell. We can’t fix anything if we don’t know what’s going on.”

As if the issue is something he could help me fix. I’m an asshole, making dumb decisions every time I draw a damn breath.

Nothing I can fix. It’s a state of mind.

Along the walkways of White Pine Crest University, there are picnic tables and plenty of trees for shade. The fall is here in full force, so it’s finally not too damn hot to sit out here.

We pick a table outside, and Casey pulls out his laptop. I don’t bother with my books, sitting on the table and leaning back on my hands. Letting the bits of sun peeking through the trees warm my face.

I wonder if Esper’s around.

I really need Neven to get her schedule for me.

Or I guess I could just ask her directly. No need to be a damn stalker.

Pulling out my phone, I shoot out a text to her. It’s such an odd feeling to have so many people in my circle now. Having people you just text randomly throughout the day. The kind where you aren’t worried you’re bothering them. The kind you wish was here with you instead of away.

“Okay, seriously, tell me. Is it that omega you matched with? Give me something, man.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” I nod toward his computer and he quickly shuts his laptop screen.

“Not anymore.”

“I… I found my scent match. Matches. A… Pack,” I say, waiting for my phone to buzz with her response. “I’m a Packed-up Omega.”

The words fall in the air between us and for once, they don’t weigh me down. Instead I actually smile.

Smile at having a Pack. Who would have thought this day would come?

“That’s amazing.” He squints his eyes at me. “So what’s the problem?”

“You know how I want to be president of my dad’s club?” He nods and I continue. “Well, having a Pack changes that.”

Casey leans his crossed arms on the tabletop, face and voice serious. “Sounds like it comes down to what matters more?”

I sigh at the question. Trying to put to words how I’m feeling.

I never thought I’d have to choose. And even if I did have to choose, I never thought I’d choose … my Pack.

If I’m willing to choose my Pack over my MC, am I really worthy of being Prez?

“The position would traditionally go to my alpha, if I had one. And now I do. Two. Including a fucking lead alpha.” Neven being the perfect option for lead alpha only makes the boiling lava in my stomach hotter.

It would be easier if he weren’t a good candidate. Except then that’d mean I’d have to get rid of them in a way that wouldn’t hurt Esper. I can’t risk her being led and hurt by someone who doesn’t even deserve the damn title.

So, maybe hard was better after all.

“Since when has anything about your club been traditional?” Casey asks. He’s right. Of course he’s right. My dad was never a traditional man, and neither was Queen a traditional Prez’s wife. They adopted a random boy they found on the street. They mandated a high school education for everyone. They build homes, communities. They ensure clean drugs are sold on the streets and pay attention to those falling to addiction.