Chapter 13: Knot Happening Again: Chapter 13

I stand in the foyer of the Carver mansion, my overnight bag clutched tightly in my hand. The polished marble floor gleams beneath my feet, a stark contrast to the worn linoleum of my apartment.

Mace and Rhys flank me, their presence both comforting and overwhelming. My heat is over, leaving me feeling better than I have in years. There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to leave this cocoon of luxury and care, but reality beckons.

Rhys steps forward, his green eyes filled with concern. ‘Are you sure you don’t want one of us to drive you back?’ he asks, his voice soft and warm.

I shake my head, forcing a smile. ‘No, it’s fine. The driver will be here soon. You’re all busy, and I don’t want to impose.’

The truth is, I hate the thought of them seeing where I live. My tiny, run-down apartment would be a harsh reminder of the gulf between our worlds. Better to keep that part of my life separate, hidden away like so many other things.

Mace’s deep voice rumbles through the air. ‘We’re never too busy for you, little one.’ His gray eyes are serious. ‘I hope you’ll consider our offer.’

I look between them, my heart clenching. They’ve already asked me to spend my next heat with them, a tempting proposition that both thrills and terrifies me.

‘I’ll think about it,’ I say, the words feeling inadequate.

The truth is, I want to say yes.

I want to dive headfirst into this world they’re offering me, to bask in the warmth and care I’ve experienced over the past few days.

But I’m afraid.

Afraid of getting more attached, of letting my guard down only to have it all ripped away.

And then there’s the fact that I still haven’t met the other members of their pack. What if they come home, discuss things, and decide they don’t want me after all? It’s safer not to get my hopes up, to keep my expectations low.

But even as I think this, I know it’s too late.

I’m already attached.

The thought of walking away, of never seeing them again, sends a sharp pain through my chest.

The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts. I look up to see Troy approaching, a small gift box in his hands. I hadn’t expected him to come see me off, and the sight of him sends a flutter through my stomach.

‘What’s that?’ I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

Troy smirks, holding out the box. ‘It’s a gift. Open it.’

I take the box, my fingers brushing against his. The contact sends a jolt of electricity through me, and I have to force myself to focus on opening the gift. Inside, I find a retro Walkman and a mixtape.

Troy’s smirk softens into something almost shy. ‘It’s the best way to listen to the classics,’ he says, his voice teasing but warm. ‘I want to know what you think next time, Pop Princess.’

I smile, realizing that this is his way of saying he wants me to come back. The gesture touches me more than I want to admit.

A car horn sounds outside, and we all turn to look. The sleek black car that brought me here has returned, ready to take me back to my old life.

Rhys sighs, his expression grudging. ‘Looks like your ride is here,’ he says. His eyes scan me, full of concern. ‘Are you sure you have everything?’

I nod, gesturing to my bag. ‘Everything I came with,’ I assure him.

Rhys steps forward, pulling me into an embrace. His scent—petrichor and sunlight—envelops me as he nuzzles into my neck, scent marking me. Before I can fully process what’s happening, Mace and Troy are there, too, each adding his scent to mine.

I stand there, flustered but secretly pleased. The act of scent marking is intimate, possessive. It’s a clear signal to anyone I encounter that I belong to them, at least on some level. The thought sends a thrill through me, followed quickly by a pang of longing.

What would it be like, I wonder, to truly belong to a pack?

I push the thought away as quickly as it comes. It’s a dangerous line of thinking, one that can only lead to heartbreak.

The alphas help me into the car, their touches lingering. As I settle into the plush leather seat, Rhys leans in through the open window.

‘Text me when you get home safe,’ he says, his voice low and urgent. ‘And please, think about our offer.’

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As the car pulls away, I watch them in the rearview mirror until they disappear from sight. The further we get from the mansion, the more I feel like I’m leaving a piece of myself behind.

The drive back to my apartment passes in a blur. Before I know it, I’m standing in front of my door, key in hand. The contrast between the opulence I’ve just left and the reality of my life is stark.

Like waking up from a dream.

I push open the door, wincing at the familiar creak of hinges that need oiling. The air inside is stale, and the silence is deafening after days of being surrounded by the pack’s energy and warmth.

I drop my bag on the floor and make my way to the bedroom. My bed, once a source of comfort, now looks small and uninviting. I long for the massive nest in the Carver mansion, for the feeling of being surrounded by alpha scents and warm bodies.

With a sigh, I flop onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow. It smells of nothing but laundry detergent, and I find myself wishing I could transfer the alphas’ scents to my own bedding.

The thought spurs me into action. I sit up, reaching for my bag. Maybe if I unpack quickly, some of their scent will linger on my clothes.

As I open the bag, something catches my eye. Nestled among my clothes is a pillowcase I didn’t put in there. I pull it out, bringing it to my nose, and I’m immediately hit with the combined scents of Rhys, Mace, and Troy.

My eyes widen in surprise. One of them must have slipped this into my bag when I wasn’t looking. The gesture is so thoughtful, so caring, that it brings tears to my eyes.

I clutch the pillowcase to my chest, inhaling deeply. Their scents wrap around me like a warm embrace, soothing the ache of loneliness that had already started to creep in.

‘I’ve lost my mind,’ I mutter to myself, even as I curl up on the bed, the scented pillowcase held close.

As I lay there, surrounded by the comforting scents of the alphas, I find my resolve weakening. The idea of spending my next heat with them, of experiencing that level of care and attention again, is too tempting to resist.

But I can’t just jump in blindly.

I need to protect myself, to set boundaries.

I make a decision then and there: I’ll spend my next heat with the pack, but only if Rhys talks to the rest of the pack and they all want me there. And if that happens, I’ll tell them the truth about my job.

The thought of revealing that part of myself sends a jolt of fear through me. I can already imagine their reactions—disgust, disappointment, rejection.

But if they still want me after knowing the truth, as unlikely as that seems… well, maybe it would be worth taking the chance.

I close my eyes, breathing in the alphas’ scents once more. For now, I’ll allow myself this small comfort. Tomorrow, I’ll face reality again.

But tonight, I’ll let myself dream of what could be. Of a world where I belong to a pack that accepts me, flaws and all.

As I drift off to sleep, clutching the scented pillowcase, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m standing on the edge of something life-changing.

Whether I’ll have the courage to take that leap remains to be seen.