Page 155 of Knot All is Crystal
The bad news can wait until my knot goes down.
FIFTY-NINE
“I’m nota huge fan of food in the nest,” Emmanuel says with a wrinkled nose as I bite into the sandwich Maverick made me. “It doesn’t feel sanitary.”
“Eh, we won’t use this nest for much longer, right?” Mav replies with a shrug. “We’re all moving into my place, right?”
Puck adjusts me in his lap so he can look over my shoulder at Maverick. “Your place?”
“I’m just assuming since I’m this incredibly successful TV star…”
“You’re B-list at best.”
Maverick gapes at Puck, clutching his chest dramatically. “Regardless,” he draws out the word and turns his back to the hulking Alpha as I chuckle around the sandwich. “I’m just assuming that I have the biggest place. I even have a whole nesting suite. It’s empty, of course,” he says as he looks at me, “because my beautiful cherry bomb needs to put her touch on the place.”
“I still think that nickname is way insensitive,” Emmanuel mutters.
“Woof, fun police,” Gage stage whispers to Maverick. “Who invited Dad to the pack?”
Emmanuel tosses a pillow, hitting Gage square in the face. He falls backward, dramatically crying out. “Crys! I love you! Don’t forget me!”
Puck throws another pillow in Gage’s face, and Maverick throws himself on top of the Beta, giving him mock CPR as Emmanuel rolls his eyes and tries to hide a smile.
This is my pack.
I can’t believe it.
My heart feels like it’s going to burst. I can feel all of my Alphas, three distinct threads in my chest that tell the story of their joy, affection, and humor.
And then my handsome Beta, with his big, crowded smile and awful jokes, looks at me, and I think I may burst.
“I’m so fucking happy,” I sigh. “I know we thought I was going to go into heat, and that’s why we bonded, but I want to make sure we cement them when it does happen.”
“Of course, Queenie. Whatever you want.” Puck’s voice is tight, and I can feel something sour in our bond. I set my sandwich on its plate and turn to look at him.
“Are you okay, Puck?”
He gives me a weak smile. “Finish your sandwich.”
“No, I don’t think I will. What’s going on?”
The big Alpha picks me up and sets me down beside him before standing up and taking a few steps back to distance himself from us. I don’t know if it’s conscious, but I don’t like it, and it makes my stomach churn in worry about what he’s about to say.
“While you were with Maverick and Gage, I called Pack Lupine for an update on everything. The police were paid to look the other way with all the Prism chaos, so that’s not a worry, but they didn’t catch Tyler.” He pinches between his eyes. “With everything going on, we never called them and told them we had confirmed Tyler was over the trafficking division. They may have had a chance to catch him, but…”
“Well, you were out of it,” Emmanuel says gently. “And it’s not like we knew who to tell. Besides, after he shot me, he took off, and I didn’t see where he went, but I doubt he stuck around. I don’t think it would’ve made a difference. At least they know who they’re looking for now, right?”
“That’s not the biggest problem,” he continues, giving the other Alpha a soft, appreciative smile. “Sebastian showed up to get Atlas and the pleasure den workers. And they weren’t there.”
My heart stops.
My hands feel numb.
My vision narrows, and my skin feels too tight.
“What do you mean?” I whisper. “What do you mean? What do you mean?” I ask repeatedly, though I know the answer.
I know what he means.
