Page 85 of Knot Gonna Lie
He studied me, something shifting in his expression. “During your heat…”
“You won’t be expected to participate.” I cut off that line of thinking immediately. “Luca, Seth, and Jaxom are enough. More than enough.”
“But if medical necessity demanded it—if your life hung in the balance—I would do my duty.” He exhaled as the admission seemed to cost him. “I may not feel the pull, but I’m not so cold as to let you die for my comfort.”
“It won’t come to that.”
“You can’t know that. First heats after suppression can be... unpredictable.” He rose, moving to pour another mug from the thermal carafe. The domestic gesture felt strangely intimate in the starlit darkness. “Tea?”
“Please.”
He prepared a second mug with precision—two sugars, no milk, somehow knowing my preference without asking. Our fingers brushed as he handed it over. No spark, no recognition, just skin touching skin.
“I owe you an apology,” he said finally, returning to his seat. “For calling you a disruption. For implying you were turning us into animals. That was... cruel.”
“But not entirely wrong.”
“No. Not entirely.” A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Though watching Tobias attempt to maintain dignity while Maia claimed him in the supply closet yesterday was… entertaining.”
Laughter bubbled up before I could stop it. “They weren’t subtle.”
“Subtlety died the moment you arrived.” His pause lingered. “Maybe it needed to. We’d become too careful. Contained. Perhaps disruption was necessary.”
“Even if it costs you everything with Eli?”
“That’s Luca’s choice to make. And yours, I suppose.” He met my gaze steadily. “I’ll support whatever decision comes. Not because I accept you as both crew and clan, but because I accept him as my alpha and captain. If he believes you’re worth it, I’ll defend it.”
“You think I’m wrong for him.”
“I think you’re inevitable.” The word landed like truth. “From the moment he scented you, every other path closed. He would’ve burned the station to ash for you.”
Through the bond, I felt stirring—three distinct consciousnesses reaching through sleep, searching for me. My absence had registered, worry beginning to bleed through.
“They’re waking,” I murmured.
“Your pack.” No mockery colored the words. “They’ll come for you.”
“Yes.”
“Luca won’t like finding us alone.”
“Luca trusts me.” I rose, the chair sighing. “And now he can trust you too.”
“Can he?”
“You just admitted you’d save me, despite feeling nothing.” I moved toward the door, pausing at the threshold. “That’s more than many clans can claim.”
“Elara.” My name on his lips stopped me. “I need you to understand something. My rejection isn’t personal. In another life, another biology, perhaps we might have recognized each other. But in this one...” He spread his hands, helpless. “We’re parallel lines. Close, traveling the same direction, but never meant to intersect.”
“I know.” And I did. The absence of pull between us felt almost peaceful now—one less complication in an already tangled web. His scent didn’t call to me, nor did mine to him. We were to be clanmates, and that was okay with me. “Thank you for the honesty.”
“Thank you for not trying to collect the whole crew.”
This time my laughter came freely, genuine. “Three of eight isn’t bad odds.”
“Tobias and Maia—”
“Are each other’s. Always.” My head lifted at the sound of approaching footsteps—Luca’s stride, Seth’s lighter pace, Jaxom’s careful shadow. “Same goes for Stella and Sylas. They’re so deeply bonded to each other I’d never dream of interfering. Plus, their scents are pleasing but aren’tmine—but each other’s.” Their scents were stronger now, calling to me, as their bonds grew closer. “Just as you’re bonded to this ship, to keeping everyone safe through the void.”
