Page 37 of Knot Broken

The guy finally slumps, the weight of his mistake hitting him full force. His shoulders sag like a marionette with its strings cut. Fallon steps up beside me, arms crossed tight over her chest. Her stance is deceptively calm, but I can practicallyfeelthe fury radiating off her in waves. Her voice, when it comes, is low and ice-cold.

“You fucked up. Big time.” She tilts her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with that particular look that promises pain. “Not only did you snatchPack Rosetti’somega—but you grabbed the mate of three extremely pissed-off, heavily armed alphas who’ve literally burned bridges and walked away from their old lives for her.”

The color drains from the man’s face. He’s sweating now, and not from the blood loss. “They never told us who you were,” he says hoarsely. “Said you were nobodies. Just omegas with weak ties—grab and hold, that’s it.”

A loudcrashechoes from outside the room, followed by sharp, startled cursing and a series of frantic beeps at the keypad on the other side of the door.

Fallon and I perk up immediately, adrenaline slamming into our systems like a second wind. We lock eyes, sharing a look that’s equal parts vindication and bloodlust.

“Moment of truth,” Fallon whispers, her wicked grin blooming like a flower in hell. “First through the door. Ten bucks says it’s my pack.”

I snort, a smirk dancing on my lips despite the bruises and dried blood painting my skin. “You’re on. I see your ten and raise you twenty on mine.”

The keypad chirps.

The heavy metal doorslamsopen, nearly flying off its hinges.

Dare storms through like the apocalypse itself—tall, broad, blood-smeared and wild-eyed, a gun clutched tight in his hand and murder in his expression. His chest rises and falls in rapid bursts beneath his black tactical shirt, his hair wild and face flushed like he hasn’t stopped running since they got the alert.

I throw both hands in the air, giddy with triumph. “Yes!I win!”

Fallon groans, dramatic as ever. “Fine, fine. You win. I owe you twenty and my pride.”

Dare skids to a stop, blinking hard as he takes in the scene—me and Fallon standing tall and smug in front of a sheet-mummified, sulking man tied to a chair. The walls are stained, a smear of blood leading from the doorway. And yet, we’re casually bantering like it’s girls’ night.

“What the—?” he starts, eyes wide.

Then Voss barrels in behind him, all lean fury and raised pistol, scanning for threats like a feral storm. He nearly crashes into Dare, only to freeze at the sight of Fallon.

“Fallon,” he breathes—relieved, wrecked, frantic.

Before she can even blink, he’s on her, pulling her into his arms, hands roaming over her like he needs to confirm she’s really okay, that she’sintact. He cups her jaw, his voice rough. “Are you hurt? Did they touch you?Fallon—”

She leans into him, fierce and gentle all at once. “I’m fine, Voss. Promise. Vi and I handled it.”

Meanwhile, Dare is across the room in three strides, scooping me into his arms like I weigh nothing. I wrap my legs around his waist instinctively, my fingers fisting in the back of his shirt. He buries his face in my neck, breathing me in like he needs me to stay grounded.

“You scared the shit out of me,” he growls, voice low and wrecked. “I thought—fuck, I thought—”

“Shh,” I murmur, brushing a kiss along his jaw. “I’m okay. We’re okay.”

Then he kisses me, hard. Desperate and grateful and slightly possessive in a way that makes my toes curl. By the time he pulls away, I’m panting and half-dizzy from the force of it.

“You love it,” I whisper against his mouth, and he chuckles darkly, forehead pressed to mine.

Another loud crash sounds somewhere in the hallway. Fallon peeks over Voss’s shoulder, grin back in place. “Round two?”

“I’m game,” I say, grinning as Dare sets me down gently, his hand lingering on my hip like he doesn’t quite trust the world not to steal me again.

Fallon slinks behind our bound kidnapper, giving me a tug toward her as we reposition ourselves like we’re waiting for the grand finale of a very violent circus.

“Ten bucks says Jace comes through next,” she whispers.

I cock a brow. “Nope. Fox. Twenty.”

“You two are ridiculous,” Voss mutters—but he’s smiling now, just barely.

The door swings wide again.

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