Page 73 of Knot a Bad Idea

I bang on the door.“HELP!”

I don’t care that I sound crazy.

But the bathroom is far away from everything else. The chatter and music faded long before I reached the hallway.

No one is going to hear me.

I kick at the door, but nothing happens. I try until I’m sobbing and gripping the handle like a lifeline.

I have a full breakdown in the bathroom, hot, ugly tears streaming down my face and ruining my makeup.

I’m only proving Donovan’s point.

How could anyone want me anyway, when I can’t even handle being in a room with a jammed door?

What if he saw me weeping because I couldn’t get a door open?

My inner Omega whimpers with shame, the sting of Donovan’s rejection still in my mind.

Finally, kneeling on the floor, I dump the contents of my clutch out until I find my phone.

With shaky fingers, I unblock the number I never should have avoided in the first place.

But I had to block him at the time. I knew his texts would hurt, and it would be easy to give in to him when I was in Isleton.

He understands my anxiety and fear like one else, because he suffers from it, too.

I swallow my pride and text Liam.

Locked in the bathroom. Please help.

Then I drop my phone, place my face in my hands, and weep.

14

LIAM

I missher so much it makes my chest burn.

I’ve been unable to find her all night, only catching that glimpse of her when she first entered the ballroom, looking like the goddess I know she is.

I was ready to drop to my knees right there and worship her.

I still am.

But April is nowhere to be found. Her scent lingers in the ballroom, and I follow it out to the garden, where I run into Donovan, noticing the pained look on his face.

I already know he fucked up.

“What did you do?” I snarl at him, blocking his way back to the entrance.

I know he’s the reason she’s made herself scarce. This was my chance to talk to her, to explain to her how much she means to me, but somehow, Donovan went and fucked it up.

He shakes his head. “Get out of the way, Liam.”

A low growl rises in my throat as I stare at my pack leader. No one can hear us out here, and I’m ready to lose my shit on him.

“You can’t keep hurting her,” I rasp. “You justcan’t.”