Page 21 of Knot My Type

I can hear the sound of laughter and the faint scent of something baking in the oven. Rhys has probably made food to help ease the tension. Despite my earlier anger, the smell is a comfort, a reminder of what we’ve fought to preserve.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

All eyes turn towards me, and I can feel the weight of their scrutiny.

“What’s the plan then?” Fen asks, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly, his posture tense. “Are you going to keep treating her like she’s a threat, or will you let her in?”

I swallow hard, remembering Eliana’s face—how she trembled when I confronted her, how I’d seen fear etched in her features. I step closer, pushing through the emotional barricades I’ve built up.

“Let’s try this again,” I say, forcing my voice to remain steady. “We need to figure out how to make this work, together. I don’t want to treat her like an outsider. But I need her to understand what it means to be part of the Vale Pack. It’s not just about safety; it’s about trust and connection.”

Rhys nods. “I can talk to her. Maybe she just needs some time to adjust. We all do.” His words are warm, wrapped in the reassurance that he’s always been the glue holding us together.

Fen relaxes his stance slightly. “Good. I want you both to make her feel welcome. She needs to know that she has a place with us, however uncertain that may be.”

“Right.” I take a deep breath, composing my thoughts as freshly minted ideas take shape. “I’ll handle the food. We can gather for dinner and share stories. It might ease the tension and help her feel more integrated.”

Fen quips, “You just want to show off your cooking skills.”

“Shut up,” I reply, smirking despite myself. “If we’re going to make sure Eliana feels like part of the pack, we need to put our best foot forward. I’ll make something homey.”

I head toward the kitchen, feeling renewed hope sparking within me. The tension inside the room begins to ease, and the laughter that had been stifled returns, wrapping around me like a welcome embrace.

I start preparing a simple meal, with every chop of the knife, every stir of the pot, I’m more focused on how to integrate Eliana into our lives than on the fear I’ve carried since she arrived.

I can hear Fen and Rhys discussing Eliana, the lightness in their voices a contrast to the tension that had filled the room earlier. We may be a rogue pack on the fringes of society, but we have found a home with each other, and I realize that Eliana could be a part of that.

“Kael,” Fen calls out, breaking my concentration, “are you really going to cook her a five-course meal just to win her over?”

I smirk to myself, knowing how dangerously charming Rhys can be. “Not quite five courses, but I’ll make it fill the void. It’s about time we extend our hospitality.”

I incorporate some fresh herbs from our small indoor garden—my fingers dancing through the fragrant greenery and breathing in the lively scents. The act feels almost therapeutic, a soothing balm against the chaos our lives have created.

A bit of warmth for Eliana. A recognition that she holds value, that her life—and her choices—matter to us.

For the next while, I get lost in the preparation, letting the aromatics fill the room. I can hear Rhys move around, his charm on full display as he likely teases her gently, coaxing her from the shell of fear I constructed around her. The laughter carries, and I find myself stepping back into the moment, letting the lightheartedness of their voices soften the remaining edges of my protective instincts.

After a time, I set the food down on the shared wooden table, crafting a colorful spread that should reassure Eliana. With each dish that’s piled onto the table—rich stew, freshly baked bread, and roasted vegetables—I can already envision the scene: us gathered together, cracking jokes, sharing stories, weaving our lives together that little bit tighter.

I catch a glimpse of Eliana’s silhouette in the doorway, hesitating just outside the threshold, uncertainty gliding in her eyes as she observes the scene.

“Hey, Eliana!” Rhys calls, his voice light and inviting. “Dinner’s ready! Come join us. No formalities. Just good food and good company.”

She’s still lingering at the threshold, her fingers playing nervously with the hem of her shirt, but then—slowly—she steps into the warmth of the cabin. The moment she crosses that threshold, an almost palpable change shifts within the room. It's as if the very air around us thickens with promise and potential.

“Wow,” Eliana says softly, her voice carrying a hint of wonder as she takes in the spread laid out before her. “You really went all out.”

“Only the best for our guest,” I say, allowing a hint of warmth to creep into my tone as I step closer to her, inviting her further into our space. “Despite my earlier behavior, I genuinely hope you’ll feel welcome here. We’ve been through a lot together.”

She nods cautiously, her expression shifting as she looks over the food. I notice her eyes widen ever so slightly with appreciation—not just for the meal, but for an opportunity to connect. It’s a crack in the wall of uncertainty that she’s built around herself, and I can’t help but feel a surge of hope.

As the three of us gather around the table, I notice Fen’s warm, reassuring presence next to Eliana, providing her with a shield of comfort resembling a protective brother. Rhys is seated across from her, weaving his charm seamlessly into the conversation.

“Okay, Eliana,” he says, smiling brightly as he fills a bowl with stew and gently nudges it toward her. “You’ll have to tell me what you think of my cooking. I swear, if it’s awful, I will blame Kael for being the dictator of the kitchen.”

“I will take all the blame if it’s bad,” I chime in, feeling my earlier angst recede as the warmth of camaraderie surrounds us. “But I can assure you, Rhys baked earlier, and I didn’t cook everything. We are a team here, after all.”

Slowly, she breaks into a smile, and for the first time, I see the tensions of earlier melt away. This moment is transforming; it’s not just about dinner but about re-establishing a shared bond, reaffirming our commitment to each other as a pack.

---