Page 54 of Knot My Type

Kael appears in the doorway carrying what looks like half the kitchen. Water bottles, protein bars, fruit, crackers—anything she might need to keep her strength up over the next few days. His movements are careful, controlled, but I can see the tension in every line of his body.

"We should talk about boundaries," he says, setting everything on her dresser. "About what you want, what you need. This is your heat, Eliana. You're in control."

She pushes herself up to sitting, the movement making her wince slightly. The shirt rides up, revealing the smooth skin of her thighs, and I have to look away before my brain shorts out completely.

"I don't know what I need," she says honestly. "It's been so long, and I’ve never been in a pack before. Well, not really. It’s just that I was with an alpha who saw me as property more than a person."

The casual mention of her past treatment makes all three of us tense. I can smell the spike of protective anger from Kael and Rhys, sharp and metallic in the air.

"Well, that's not what this is," Rhys says firmly. "You're not property. You're pack. You're precious to us, and we're going to take care of you however you need."

"But what if I want..." She trails off, color flooding her cheeks.

"Whatever it is, it's okay," I tell her. "There's no wrong answer here."

She takes a shaky breath. "I want to bond. With all of you. I know it's not traditional, I know most packs don't work this way, but I can't imagine choosing between you. I don't want to choose."

The silence that follows is heavy with possibility. I can feel the shift in the room's energy as her words sink in. She's not just asking for help through her heat—she's asking to be claimed. To be ours, officially and completely.

"Are you sure?" Kael asks, his voice rough with emotion. "Bonding isn't something you can take back, Eliana. Once we mark you, you're ours forever."

"And you're ours," Rhys adds softly. "It goes both ways."

She nods, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. This month with you—it's shown me what pack really means. What family means. I want to be yours. I want you to be mine."

Another wave of her heat scent rolls through the room, and this time it carries something new. Not just arousal, but determination. Decision. The omega part of her has made its choice, and it's broadcasting that choice to every alpha and beta in range.

Kael moves first, crossing to the bed with careful, measured steps. "Then we do this right. We make sure you're comfortable, make sure you have everything you need. No rushing, no pressure."

"Speak for yourself," Rhys says with a grin that doesn't quite hide the strain in his voice. "I'm about to climb out of my skin here."

That draws a small laugh from Eliana, and some of the tension in the room eases. Trust Rhys to know exactly when to lighten the mood.

"The bed's not big enough for all four of us," I observe practically.

"Living room," Kael says immediately. "Couch pulls out, and there's more space. We can set up properly."

Eliana starts to get up, but another wave of heat hits her and she doubles over with a soft cry. The sound goes through all three of us like an electric shock.

"I've got you," Rhys says, scooping her up before any of us can react. She melts against his chest, her face buried in his neck where his scent is strongest.

"Your scent," she murmurs against his skin. "It helps."

"Good," he says softly, carrying her toward the door. "That's what it's supposed to do."

The next few minutes are a flurry of activity. Kael and I work together to transform the living room into something resembling a proper nest. The pull-out couch gets covered with every soft blanket and pillow we can find. I dig through closets for anything that carries our scents—worn shirts, used towels, anything that will help ground her when the heat peaks.

Rhys settles on the makeshift bed with Eliana curled against his side, murmuring soft reassurances as another wave of heat makes her whimper. The sound is getting under my skin, making every protective instinct flare.

"How long do heat cycles usually last for you?" I ask, settling on her other side.

"Three days, usually. But it's been so long..." She shifts restlessly, and I can see the flush spreading down her neck and chest. "Everything feels different this time. Stronger."

"That's normal after a long suppression," Kael says, taking his place at the foot of the bed where he can see all of us. "Your body's making up for lost time."

She nods, then suddenly tenses as another wave hits. This one's stronger, and she cries out softly, her hands fisting in Rhys's shirt.

"It's okay," he soothes, his large hand stroking her hair. "We're here. We've got you."

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