Chapter 29: Knot Happening Again: Chapter 29

The scent of bacon and coffee wafts through the air, pulling me from my slumber. I blink, disoriented for a moment before remembering where I am. The pack’s nest. Their home.

My home? No. I can’t let myself think that way.

I stretch, relishing the lack of fever and ache that’s plagued me for days. Last night was a blur, but my heat’s finally over, leaving me feeling better than I have in years. But as the fog of pheromones lifts from my mind, reality comes crashing back.

Leon. The pack. The life I’ve been living.

The door creaks open, and Mace’s bulk fills the frame. He’s carrying a tray laden with food, a soft smile on his usually gruff face.

‘Morning, little omega. Thought you might be hungry.’

My stomach growls in response, and I can’t help but laugh. ‘Starving, actually. Thank you, Mace.’

He sets the tray on the bedside table, and soon the others file in. Rhys perches on the edge of the bed, while Troy and Maddox sprawl on the floor. It feels so… normal. Domestic. Everything I’ve told myself I can’t have.

We eat in comfortable silence for a while before Rhys speaks up. ‘So, what’s everyone got planned for today?’

The conversation flows easily between them. Work. Errands. Plans for the weekend. I listen, picking at my food, aware that I don’t fit into this picture. Not really.

‘What about you, Ophelia?’ Rhys asks, his green eyes warm.

I swallow the piece of toast I stuffed into my mouth to buy myself more time, since I knew this question was coming. ‘I should probably head back to my apartment. Now that my heat’s over, I mean.’

The silence that falls is deafening. They exchange glances, a wordless conversation passing between them. My heart rate picks up. Did I say something wrong?

Mace clears his throat. ‘Actually, sweetheart, there’s something we wanted to talk to you about.’

I brace myself, unsure what to expect.

‘We’ve all talked,’ he continues, ‘and… well, we want you to move in.’

I blink, certain I’ve misheard. ‘What?’

‘We don’t want you going back to that apartment,’ Troy adds, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. ‘Or the Scent Bar.’

‘You belong here,’ Maddox chimes in. ‘With us. Where we can take care of you.’

‘Heat or no heat,’ Rhys finishes, reaching out to take my hand.

I stare at them, my cheeks burning. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I’ve told myself I can’t have. But…

‘What about Leon?’ The words slip out before I can stop them.

Rhys’s expression grows serious. He squeezes my hand. ‘Leon wants to talk, if and when you’re ready. We’ve all agreed he should stay elsewhere for the time being. But regardless of what happens there, your place is here, in the pack. As our omega.’

‘We’ll do whatever it takes to make you feel safe and welcome,’ Mace adds gruffly.

Tears prick at my eyes. I blink them back furiously, but it’s no use. One escapes, trailing down my cheek.

‘Hey now, none of that,’ Troy says, reaching up to brush the tear away. His touch is so gentle it nearly undoes me.

‘I don’t… I don’t understand,’ I manage to choke out. ‘Why would you want me? I’m damaged goods. Half-marked. Used.’

Now that my heat has fully subsided, their interest in me makes even less sense. But it hasn’t lessened at all.

The growl that rumbles through the room startles me. It’s coming from all of them, a protective sound that makes my omega instincts sing.

‘Don’t you ever say that about yourself again,’ Mace says fiercely. ‘You’re perfect, just as you are.’

‘But—’

‘No buts,’ Rhys interrupts. ‘We want you, Ophelia. All of us. You’re not some broken thing to be fixed. You’re strong, and beautiful, and we’d be honored to have you as part of our pack.’

I look at each of them in turn, searching for any hint of deception. But all I see is sincerity. Hope. And something that looks dangerously like a certain four letter word I promised myself I would never believe in again.

‘I don’t know what to say,’ I whisper.

‘Say yes,’ Maddox urges. ‘Let us take care of you. Let us be your home.’

Home. The word echoes in my mind, stirring up long-buried hopes and dreams. I’ve been alone for so long, convinced that I didn’t deserve anything more than quick, meaningless encounters. The idea of belonging somewhere, to someone… it’s terrifying.

And exhilarating.

‘What if… what if it doesn’t work out?’ I ask, voicing my deepest fear.

‘Then we’ll figure it out together,’ Rhys says firmly. ‘That’s what pack does.’

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. ‘And Leon?’

The mood in the room shifts slightly. Mace’s jaw tightens, and I can smell the faintest hint of anger in his scent.

‘Leon has a lot to answer for,’ he growls. ‘But that’s between you and him. We’re not going to force anything.’

‘We just want you safe and happy,’ Troy adds. ‘Whatever that looks like.’

I nod slowly, processing. It’s all so much, so fast. Part of me wants to run, to retreat to the safety of my solitary life. But a larger part, the part I’ve been trying to silence for years, is screaming at me to stay. To take this chance.

‘Okay,’ I whisper, hardly believing the word as it leaves my lips.

‘Okay?’ Rhys repeats, a smile breaking across his face.

I nod, more firmly this time. ‘Okay. I’ll… I’ll stay.’

The room erupts in cheers. Suddenly I’m engulfed in a tangle of limbs as they all try to hug me at once. Their scents mingle—sweet and earthy and dark and rich—wrapping around me like a blanket.

I feel safe. Protected. Wanted.

As they pull back, still grinning, reality starts to set in. ‘I’ll need to get my things,’ I say. ‘And… and talk to my landlord. I’ll be breaking my lease.’

‘We’ll help,’ Mace says immediately. ‘Whatever you need.’

‘And don’t worry about money,’ Rhys adds. ‘We’ve got you covered.’

I open my mouth to protest, but Troy cuts me off. ‘Nope, no arguments. You’re pack now. What’s ours is yours.’

I’ve been on my own for so long, the idea of letting someone else take care of me sits like a lead weight in my stomach. ‘I don’t—I can’t take anything from you.’

‘Why not?’ Maddox challenges. ‘We’re your pack. You’re our scent matched omega. It’s normal for a pack to take care of their omega, isn’t it?’

‘Well, yes, but I⁠—’

‘Is it you?’ Mace interjects. ‘Or is it just what you’re afraid other people will think about you?’

I hate how well he can read me. Like he already knows me better than anyone ever has. ‘I don’t know,’ I admit.

It’s overwhelming, this sudden abundance of care and support. I’ve been alone for so long, scraping by on the bare minimum. The idea that I might not have to struggle anymore… it’s almost too much to comprehend.

A pair of strong arms wrap around me suddenly, and Troy’s deep, dark scent envelops me as he pulls me onto his lap. ‘Well, fuck that,’ he says, nuzzling my neck. ‘No one else’s opinion matters. You’re ours, and we want to take care of you. Are you really going to deny us that just because some assholes who have no idea how amazing you are might have an asshole idea?’

A puff of air escapes me at his words, and I find myself relaxing easily into his embrace. ‘When you put it like that…’

‘Lyrical genius, baby,’ he teases, nipping at my neck in a way that makes me squirm.

I can’t help but laugh.

‘Thank you,’ I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. ‘All of you. I don’t know how to⁠—’

‘You don’t have to do anything,’ Maddox interrupts gently. ‘Just be you. Just be ours. That’s more than enough.’

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. They seem to understand, giving me space to process. Rhys squeezes my hand one more time before standing.

‘Why don’t we give you some time to rest?’ he suggests. ‘We can start planning the move later.’

The others agree, filing out of the room with promises to check on me later. As the door closes behind them, I’m left alone with my thoughts.

It’s terrifying, this step I’m taking. Opening myself up to the possibility of happiness, of belonging. But as I sink back into the pillows, surrounded by the mingled scents of my new pack, I can’t help but feel a spark of hope.

Maybe this is where I was meant to be all along.