Page 102 of Knot Your Romeo

This time, I don't even get that much. The call fails to connect entirely.

"Still no answer?" Beck appears beside me, his alpha instincts clearly picking up on my distress.

"Nothing. The call won't even go through now." I try to keep the worry out of my voice, but Beck knows me too well.

"I'll make some calls tomorrow," he promises immediately. "Dmitri's people can track her down discreetly to make sure she's safe."

"What if Carlos isn't as understanding as we thought? What if Blake's death changed things for her?"

Beck's arm comes around me, solid and reassuring. "Then we'll handle it. Whatever she needs, whoever she needs protection from—we'll handle it."

The certainty in his voice soothes the anxiety that's been building all day. This is what having a pack means—knowing that your family's problems become everyone's problems, that no one faces anything alone.

"Thank you," I whisper against his chest.

"Always, baby girl. Always. Are you ready to talk to Remi?"

"Definitely." We rejoin the celebration, and I let myself be pulled back into the joy of the moment.

Beck disappears into the house for a moment, returning with Romeo and River as we all get ready to watch Remi on a large screen. The evening air fills with excited murmur as our guests gather around, curious about what's happening.

"Connecting now," Romeo announces, fiddling with his laptop until the screen flickers to life.

Suddenly, Remi's face appears larger than life, her dark hair pulled back in a messy bun and her cheeks still flushed from training. Behind her, I can see the gleaming ice of an Italian rink.

"There's my girl!" Beck calls out, his voice thick with pride and emotion.

"Dad!" Remi's smile is radiant as she takes in the crowd gathered on screen. "River! Romeo! Oh my god, is that everyone? This is amazing!"

"We couldn't celebrate without you," I tell her, stepping closer to the screen. "How are you feeling?"

"Incredible. Terrified. Ready." She laughs, the sound bright and confident. "Just finished my practice session, and everything feels... right. Like all the pieces are finally falling into place."

"One week to go," River says, shaking his head in amazement. "My little sister at the Olympics."

"Not so little anymore," Remi grins, then her expression grows more serious. "I wish you could all be here for the opening ceremony."

"We'll be there for your events," Beck promises. "Front row, cheering loud enough to embarrass you."

The gathered crowd erupts in cheers and well-wishes, voices overlapping as everyone calls out encouragement. Remi's eyes are bright with tears as she takes in all the love and support.

"You're going to be amazing," Ava calls out. "We're all so proud of you!"

"Bring home that gold!" someone else shouts, and soon everyone is chanting their support.

"I love you all so much," Remi says, her voice breaking slightly. "This means everything to me. Having all of you behind me... I can do anything."

Everyone cheers before the screen goes black.

The celebration continues around us, but for a moment, the four of us stand in our own little bubble of perfect understanding. This is what we've built—not just a romantic relationship, but a family. A place where everyone matters, where no one gets left behind, where love multiplies instead of dividing.

"I want to say something," I announce impulsively, then immediately feel my cheeks heat as dozens of faces turn toward me.

"Go ahead, sunshine," Eli encourages softly.

I take a deep breath, drawing strength from my pack's presence, and raise my voice so everyone can hear.

"Less than a year ago, I thought my life was over," I begin, my voice carrying clearly in the evening air. "I thought I'd never be free, never be safe, never be truly loved for who I really am."

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