Page 38 of Knot My Type

Fen follows, his movements careful as he untangles himself from me. But he doesn't go far. His hand trails down my arm as he stands, fingers lingering at my wrist like he's reluctant to break contact.

"What do you need?" he asks, voice low and earnest.

I look around the den, taking inventory. The stone walls curve around us, creating natural alcoves and sheltered spaces. The fire crackles in its pit, casting dancing shadows that make the space feel alive. Safe.

"Everything soft," I say, my omega instincts taking over. "All the blankets, the furs. And..." I pause, cheeks warming. "Something that smells like each of you."

Kael's smile is slow, predatory in the best way. He reaches for the hem of his discarded shirt, pulling it over his head in one smooth motion. The fabric is warm from his body, saturated with his scent—ozone and leather and that indefinable something that screams Alpha.

He holds it out to me.

I take it, bringing it to my face and breathing deep. The scent goes straight to my core, making me shiver. "Perfect."

Fen and Rhys follow suit, stripping off their outer layers without ceremony. Soon I have an armful of clothing that carries their essence, and the den fills with the overlapping fragrances of my pack.

My pack.

The thought sends a warm pulse through my chest.

I slide from the cot, my legs unsteady but determined. The stone floor is cool against my bare feet as I move to the center ofthe space, where the firelight pools brightest. Here, I think. Here is where we'll build something new.

Rhys appears at my shoulder with an armload of blankets. "Tell me where you want them."

I close my eyes for a moment, letting instinct guide me. The omega in me knows exactly what this nest needs to be—not just comfortable, but perfect. A place where we can be vulnerable together, where pack bonds can deepen into something unbreakable.

"The blue wool there," I point to a spot near the wall where the stone curves protectively. "And the fur—the thick one—that goes in the center."

They move like they're part of some ancient dance, following my directions without question. Kael drags the heavy fur into place, smoothing it with reverent hands. Fen arranges the softer blankets around the edges, creating walls and boundaries. Rhys weaves their clothing through the nest, placing each piece where I indicate.

With every addition, the space transforms. What was once just a den becomes something else—something ours. The scents mingle and strengthen, creating a tapestry of belonging that makes my chest tight with emotion.

"Here," I whisper, settling into the center of our creation. The fur is soft beneath me, warm from the fire's heat. I curl up on my side, one hand reaching out to trace the edge of Kael's shirt where it's been tucked into the nest's border.

They stand around me like sentinels, watching. Waiting.

I look up at them through my lashes. "Come to me."

Kael moves first, as he always does. He kneels at the edge of the nest, his hands braced on either side of me. The heat of his body washes over me, making my skin prickle with awareness.

"Are you sure?" he asks, voice soft but intense. "Once we do this—once we bond like this—there's no going back."

I reach up to cup his face, thumb tracing the sharp line of his cheekbone. "I don't want to go back. I want to go forward. With all of you."

He leans into my touch, eyes closing briefly. When he opens them again, they're molten gold.

"Then we're yours," he says simply.

Fen and Rhys settle on either side of me, their bodies warm and solid against mine. I'm surrounded by them, cocooned in safety and desire and something deeper than either.

Love, I realize. This is what love feels like when it's not twisted by fear or shame.

I turn toward Kael, my hand sliding down to rest over his heart. The steady thrum of it grounds me, reminds me that this is real. We're real.

"Kiss me," I whisper.

He doesn't hesitate.

His lips find mine with a hunger that steals my breath. This isn't the gentle, careful touching from before—this is claiming. His mouth moves against mine with purpose, tongue tracing the seam of my lips until I open for him.

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