Page 42 of Knot My Type

"I can feel it," she says quietly. "The bond. It's not complete yet, is it?"

I'm not surprised she can sense it. Omegas are often more sensitive to these things than alphas, more attuned to the subtle energies that connect pack members.

"No," I confirm. "The physical claiming is done, but the soul bond—that's different. Deeper."

She lifts her head to look at me, her eyes serious. "What does it involve?"

I consider how to explain it. Soul bonding isn't something that's often talked about openly, even among pack members. It's too intimate, too sacred for casual discussion.

"It's a sharing," I say finally. "Of everything. Not just bodies, but minds. Hearts. Souls. When it's complete, we'll be connected in ways that go deeper than just scent or physical touch. We'll be able to feel each other's emotions, sense each other's needs. We'll be pack in the truest sense."

She nods slowly. "And it requires all of us?"

"Yes. All four of us, together. It can't be done in pieces."

As if summoned by our conversation, Kael stirs beside us. His golden eyes open, immediately alert and focused on Eliana.

"You're awake," he observes, his voice rough with sleep.

"We were talking about the bonding," she says, shifting so she can see both of us. "The soul bond."

Kael's expression grows serious. "Are you ready for that?"

It's a fair question, and an important one. Soul bonding isn't something that can be undone once it's complete. The connection it creates is permanent, binding the participants together for life.

Eliana considers the question carefully, and I love her for that. She's not rushing into this decision, despite the heat still simmering in her blood and the fresh marks on her throat.

"What will it feel like?" she asks finally.

Kael and I exchange a look. Neither of us has been through a soul bonding before—it's not something most packs attempt, requiring a level of trust and vulnerability that few are willing to risk.

"Intense," Kael says finally. "Overwhelming. Like being turned inside out and remade."

"But good overwhelming," I add quickly, seeing a bit of uncertainty in her eyes. "Like coming home to yourself, but finding that home is bigger than you ever imagined."

She nods slowly, then looks toward Fen, who's been listening with his eyes closed but his breathing too controlled for sleep.

"What do you think?" she asks him.

Fen opens his eyes, and the expression in them is so raw, so vulnerable, that it makes my chest ache.

"I think," he says quietly, "that I've been waiting my whole life for this. For you. For us."

The simple honesty of it breaks something open in my chest. He's right—we've all been waiting, searching, trying to fill a void we didn't even know existed until she came into our lives.

Eliana reaches for him, her hand finding his cheek. "Then let's do it," she says simply. "Let's complete the bond."

The ritual itself is surprisingly simple, once we begin.

We start by rebuilding the fire, feeding it until the flames leap high and bright, filling the den with golden light. Then wecleanse ourselves and each other, washing away the sweat and evidence of our earlier claiming. It's not about purity—there's nothing impure about what we've done—but about starting fresh, approaching the bonding with clear minds and open hearts.

Eliana sits in the center of our nest, cross-legged and naked, her skin glowing in the firelight. We arrange ourselves around her, forming a circle, each of us close enough to touch but not quite touching yet.

"How do we begin?" she asks, looking between the three of us.

"With truth," Kael says. "Complete honesty. No walls, no barriers. We share everything."

I nod, understanding. "The bond won't form if we're holding anything back. It requires total vulnerability."

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