Page 86 of Knot Gonna Lie
“Someone has to watch the stars while everyone else watches each other.”
They appeared as one, tension bleeding away when they saw me unharmed.
“Elara.” Luca’s voice carried alpha authority barely leashed, his gaze tracking between Xavier and me. “Everything all right?”
“Perfect,” I intercepted before instinct could flare. “Xavier and I established boundaries.”
“Boundaries,” Seth echoed, tone suggested clinical interest barely masking concern.
“The healthy kind,” Xavier supplied, rising with his empty mug. “Acknowledging incompatibility without animosity.”
Jaxom’s gaze darted between us. “You’ve reached an understanding.”
“We have.” I pressed myself against Luca’s side, feeling tension drain from his muscles as our bond confirmed my contentment. “Xavier won’t be pack, but he’s clan. That distinction matters.”
“And during her heat,” Xavier addressed Luca directly, “I’ll maintain bridge operations. Unless medical emergency demands otherwise, I won’t interfere.”
“But if it does?”
“Then I’ll do what’s necessary.” His promise was steady. “I may not be pack. But she won’t die on my watch.”
Luca studied his pilot for a long moment, alpha instincts warring with trust built over years of shared survival. Finally, he nodded. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Xavier moved past us toward the corridor. “We reach Planet Tera tomorrow. Eli’s expecting you, and he’s going to get your truth. That conversation won’t be pleasant.”
“I’ll handle Eli.”
“You’ll try.” Xavier paused at the threshold, looking back. “For what it’s worth, I hope you succeed. Despite my reservations, seeing you happy—truly happy—makes the disruption almost worthwhile.”
He left, shadows swallowing him.
We stood in the lounge, stars wheeling indifferent beyond the glass.
“You scared us,” Seth admitted, composure cracking. “Waking to find you gone—”
“I needed to fix what was broken.” I reached for him with my free hand, drawing him into our circle. “Xavier deserved better than being painted as the villain for not wanting me.”
“He insulted you,” Jaxom growled. “You didn’t deserve his ire.”
“He spoke truth filtered through fear.” I found Jaxom’s marked hand, drawing him closer. “Can any of you claim you weren’t afraid when I arrived? That change didn’t terrify you even as you craved it?”
Silence answered. Agreement.
“Xavier chooses duty over desire. That’s not wrong, just different.” I looked at each of them, my alpha, my mates, my chosen pack. “We’re building something new, but not at the cost of destroying what exists. The clan remains. We exist within it. Distinct, but not separate.”
“Poetic,” Luca murmured against my hair, inhaling deeply. “Also smart. If we can maintain clan cohesion despite pack formation...”
“Eli may accept it easier,” Seth finished.
“Will that matter to him?” Jaxom asked softly.
“We’ll make it matter.” Luca’s arms tightened around me. “But that’s tomorrow’s fight. Tonight…” His lips brushed my throat. “Tonight, our omega rests. Our pack needs rest.”
“Our bed awaits,” Seth agreed, already steering us back. “Back to your nest we go.”
The nest room welcomed us with warmth and tangled sheets. Luca curved against my back, Seth pressed to my front, Jaxom’s hand resting on my hip.
Peace filled me. Xavier remained on the bridge, watching stars, keeping us safe.
