Page 111 of Knot So Sweet
Three pairs of eyes lock on me. Alert. Focused. Waiting.
"I want to move into the pack house even though I've only been there once when Xaden gave me that quick tour. I want to wake up with all of you instead of alone in that apartment. I want to make coffee in a kitchen that smells like all of us. I want to fall asleep knowing you're not just downstairs or across town, but right there."
Garrick's hand finds my ankle, gripping tight. "You sure?"
"I'm sure." I reach down, covering his hand with mine. "I've been running for so long. First from Mark, then from the idea that I might want to stay somewhere. But I'm done running. This is where I want to be."
"The apartment was always temporary," Liam says quietly. "But we wanted to give you the choice. Make sure you weren't feeling pressured."
"I'm not." I look at Xaden. "I'm choosing this. Choosing all of you. Choosing to stay."
His expression does something complicated. Relief mixed with satisfaction mixed with love so intense it makes my breath catch. "When?"
"Today?" I suggest. "Tomorrow? I don't have much stuff. It's not like I need to hire movers."
"Today," all three of them say at once.
I laugh. "You're all so eager to get me out of here."
"We're eager to get you where you belong," Garrick corrects.
"Okay." I take a breath. "But first I need a shower. And real clothes. And possibly a priest because I'm pretty sure three days of heat means I'm going to need spiritual cleansing."
"Dramatic," Xaden observes, but he's grinning.
I start to stand and wobble. Liam's there immediately, steadying me. "Apparently I can't walk straight after you three destroyed my body."
"Destroyed is a strong word," Garrick says, but he looks extremely satisfied with himself.
"Is it though?" I gesture at my legs, which are shaking slightly. "I'm like a newborn giraffe. This is your fault."
"Our fault," Xaden agrees cheerfully. "And we'll do it again."
"Not for three months." Liam's using his vet voice. "She needs time to recover. Her body just went through intense hormonal shifts and physical stress. Next heat should be..."
"Can we not talk about my next heat while I'm still recovering from this one?" I interrupt. "Baby steps. Like right now, the baby step of getting to the bathroom without falling on my face."
They help me to the bathroom, all three of them hovering like I might shatter. When I finally convince them I can shower alone, they retreat to the door, clearly not happy about it.
"I'll be fine. It's a shower, not a military operation."
"You're unsteady on your feet," Liam argues. "You could slip."
"Then I'll die clean and dignified."
"Not funny," Garrick mutters, but he backs off.
I close the door and lean against it for a moment, breathing. The bite marks throb slightly, a constant reminder of what happened. What I chose. What we all chose together.
Through the door, I can hear them moving around. The rustle of fabric. Low voices discussing something. The sound of my pack being pack, and I'm part of it now. Not a guest. Not temporary. Part of them.
The shower is bliss. Hot water sluicing over sore muscles, washing away three days of sweat and sex and heat. I take my time, letting the water work out the knots in my shoulders, careful around the bite marks like Liam instructed.
When I finally emerge, wrapped in a towel that's too big and smells like Garrick's detergent, I find clean clothes laid out on the bed. One of them must have grabbed them while I was showering.
I dress slowly, my muscles still protesting. Underwear, soft leggings, and an oversized sweater that might be Xaden's. My hair is a disaster, so I braid it wet, letting it hang over one shoulder.
When I step back into the living room, all three of them look up. And the expressions on their faces make me stop in my tracks.
