Page 18 of Knot So Damaged

I don’t know what is in the water of Vadena lately, but the few men that I have come across in the last few days have been breathtaking; this one is no different.

His dark brown skin is emphasized by his biceps that stretch the fabric of his almost too tight T-shirt. His black hair is kept short and cropped much like his beard. Looking closely, I can see a few strands of gray hairs that give more of an indication of his older age.

He might be older but damn if he isn’t the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life. The hint of a smile on his face only seems to add to his attractiveness.

Would he be mad if I licked him?

No, bad Valentina. You can’t just go around licking random men.

I shake my head before my eyes return to his. He is already smiling at me, having noticed how I was checking him out.

“There is no way you are old enough to have a son that age.” I shake my head. “I need to know your skin care routine.”

He laughs at me before rubbing a hand over his head. “Yeah, I get that a lot. I definitely feel my age though.”

I shake my head but snap around as I hear Amity yelling out to me.

“Mommy! Look!”

I smile and wave at Amity as I watch her slide down the slide.

“She is precious. How old is she?” he asks, coming to stand beside me.

“She is three.”

“Ooft.” I turn to look at the guy who is now cringing. “I remember that age vividly. Threenagers are real.”

I can’t help but laugh at the accurate description of this age. I thought two was challenging but it has nothing on three. I just thank my lucky stars that Amity is a good kid.

“Shit, I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is Olis Duran.”

Olis holds his hand out for me to shake. Reaching my hand out, I smile at him. “I’m Valentina.”

The moment our hands connect, a spark of electricity zaps up my arm and through my entire body. I gasp at the same moment the wind changes at Olis’ scent hits me like a freight train. The scent of cinnamon apples—the kind that your grandma would use in her secret apple pie recipe—has a whimper threatening to crawl from my throat.

Alpha.

Another motherfucking Alpha.

Just my luck.

Pulling my hand from his, I take a few steps back.

“It was great to meet you Olis but Amity and I should get going.”

I pray that he can’t hear the panic rising in the tone of my voice.

Why now? Why are these Alphas strolling into my life and flipping everything upside down? Why does Olis have to be an Alpha and be so fuckingnice? There is just no way that he can be both. Alphas aren’t biologically programmed to benice.

They are brutes. A designation that can’t control their aggression.

I turn my back on the predator who tries to stop me with my name and a few pleas to wait but I don’t listen.

I need to get the fuck out of here and back to the safety of my tiny apartment.

“Valentina, wait!”

I can hear footsteps that slowly begin to quicken behind me but I don’t stop. Not even once I have Amity in my arms. Not until the front door of my apartment shuts behind me and I know that I am finally safe.