Page 120 of In Knots

“Yes, princess, you’re all safe now.” Ryan nuzzles my neck, a purr resonating in his chest.

“I want to stay here permanently. To be a proper part of this pack.”

“You already are, princess.”

“No, I want you to bond me. To make me yours.”

The pack is silent for a moment, considering my request.

“I’d claim you in a heartbeat, Alexa. It nearly tore the heart right out of my chest when I thought …” Cam swallows. “When we heard they were going to force you to …” He takes another breath. “I’m in love with you. We all are.” The others nod, their eyes deeply serious and my own heart swells in response. I knew they did. I was in no doubt about it. I’ve never felt loved like this before. “But are you sure that’s what you want, little one?” Cam continues. “You’re still young, you have your whole life ahead of you. You’re free now, free to make your own choices and your own decisions. You can go anywhere you want. You could travel the world taking those photos of yours.”

“I could,” I say nodding. “But I don’t want to. I’m not worried about being trapped or controlled.” I peer into Ryan’s emerald eyes. “We said we trust one another and I do, I trust all of you. I trust you to let me be me, to make my own decisions, to choose my own path. I trust you to set me free if I ever wanted to leave.”

“We would,” Buzz says. “That’s what love is all about. Doing what’s right for the other person, even when it cuts you to the bone.”

“So, trust me now, when I tell you that this is what I want. To be with all of you. To be yours completely and truly. I love you. Love you all.” I peer down at my white wedding dress, smeared with blood and soot, no longer perfect. I like it better this way.

Perhaps I’ve always preferred things that were imperfect, flawed, real. Perhaps that’s why I fell for these alphas. Perhaps they have shown me that even flawed beings like me can be loved too.

All four alphas, alphas I should never even have met, nod their heads in agreement. The decision is made.

“We will make you ours, Alexa,” Ryan promises. “But not today. Claiming you needs to be special–”

“I don’t need–”

“But we do,” Buzz says. “We want it to be special for us as well as you, baby.”

The tears well in my eyes, and this time they are tears of happiness. It feels good, so good to be this happy.

We stand holding each other and the wind shifts, sweeping through the yard, skating wastepaper, crisp packets and cans across the pavement. Cool air sweeps over our bodies. I gaze out through the window, up at the heavens. Cotton candy clouds hang in the blue sky, floating across the face of the sun.

After the endless days of unrelenting heat, the weather has finally broken.

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