Page 11 of Knot So Lucky

Waiting to be safe.

For now, at least.

For my own sanity.

Hopefully, I can make it through the rest of this shift without anyone figuring out that Rory Lane, talented pit tech and up-and-coming wishful thinking name in the racing world, is living a lie that gets more complicated with every passing day.

Just another day in the world of racing.

CHAPTER 2

Territorial Instincts

~CALE~

"Go rub a cactus with your cock, Roran."

Roran Lane—the twin brother of Rory Lane, aka my Aurora Lane, who’s probably eating suppressants like candy—flips me off with both hands. "Go fuck yourself with a tire iron, Hart."

"Original."

"Accurate."

"Gentlemen!" Pemberton's voice cracks like a whip across the garage, high-pitched with exasperation. "For the love of god, take your dick-measuring contest somewhere else or go make sure our best tech isn't walking off the job."

I give him my middle finger without breaking eye contact with Roran, but my feet are already moving toward the exit.

Because the idea of Rory walking off—Aurora walking off, leaving, disappearing from my daily torment of being so fucking close but unable to touch her the way I want—makes something primal and violent stir in my chest.

The garage door closes behind me with a metallic clang, and I take my first full breath since that entitled piece of shit got in her face.

Any time any Alpha has the balls to get in her space grinds my gears in ways that make me want to commit violence.

Makes me want to grab them by the throat and slam them against the nearest wall until they understand exactly who they're fucking with.

Makes me want to bare my teeth and growlmineuntil my voice goes hoarse.

But I can't.

Because that would expose her.

And protecting Aurora's secret—even if it's killing me slowly, watching her pretend to be someone else makes my Alpha instincts scream in frustration—is more important than satisfying my need to assert dominance over every asshole who looks at her wrong.

I know who she really is.

Aurora Rory Lane.

Not Rory Lane, the cocky male Alpha pit tech with a smart mouth and talented hands.Aurora.The Omega woman who's been my rival since we were three years old, back when our families would meet for those insufferable diplomatic dinners and we'd end up in fistfights over who got the last cookie or who could build the better Lego castle.

The one woman—the one Omega—who drives me absolutely fucking wild in ways I'm not supposed to feel about my family's rival.

The one I desperately want to fuck senseless until she screams my name and forgets every other Alpha's scent but mine.

Instead, I have to pretend she's only important enough to argue with.

Have to act like the hot-and-cold toxic dance we've been doing for years is just rivalry and nothing more.

Forced to ignore the way my Alpha instincts howl every time I catch her scent, demanding I claim, mark, and protect.