Chapter 53: Knot Happening Again: Chapter 53

Warmth surrounds me, the familiar scents of my pack enveloping me like a cocoon. Rhys’s arm is draped over my waist, his chest pressed against my back. Maddox is curled up partially across me, his steady breathing a soothing rhythm. Mace’s large frame takes up most of the other side of the bed, his presence a comforting weight.

I’m drifting in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness when a persistent buzzing pulls me back to consciousness. Groaning softly, I reach for my phone on the nightstand, squinting at the bright screen in the darkness.

Natalie’s name flashes across the display, along with a string of missed calls and unread texts. My brow furrows as I scroll through the notifications.

What could be so urgent at this hour?

I open one of the texts, and my eyes widen as I see a blurry photo of Troy and Leon at the Scent Bar. Confusion washes over me. What are they doing there in the middle of the night?

And why is Natalie freaking out about it?

Before I can read any more, my phone buzzes again with another incoming call from Natalie. I carefully extract myself from the tangle of limbs, slipping out of bed without waking the others. Padding softly down the hallway, I answer the call.

‘Nat?’ I whisper, closing the bedroom door behind me. ‘What’s wrong? Are you okay?’

Her voice comes through the speaker, choked with sobs. ‘Oh, Effy… I’m so sorry. I had to tell you right away.’

Something about her tone sets me on edge. It sounds… off. Different from her usual crying. But maybe it’s just the late hour and my sleep-addled brain playing tricks on me.

‘Tell me what?’ I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. ‘What’s going on?’

‘I saw them, Effy,’ Natalie says, her words tumbling out in a rush. ‘Troy and Leon. They were at the Scent Bar, trying to pick up another omega. When I confronted them about it, they… they threatened me.’

Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water, shocking me fully awake. But even as my heart races, a deep, instinctive part of me rejects what she’s saying.

It doesn’t make sense.

It can’t be true.

And it’s not just logically. It doesn’t make sense deep within my core. Within that space I didn’t even know existed until the bond formed between all six of us.

‘What?’ I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. ‘Nat, that doesn’t… Are you sure what you say?’

‘Of course I’m sure!’ she snaps, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. ‘Who are you going to believe, Effy? Your best friend or the alpha who abandoned you and one you barely know?’

I open my mouth to respond, but the words die on my lips as I hear a car pulling up outside. Footsteps on the gravel driveway, then the sound of a key in the lock. Leon and Troy’s scents drift up the stairs, mingling with the lingering traces of the rest of our pack.

Our pack.

I realize now that’s exactly what we’ve become. Not just because of the marks. Not just in name. It’s a soul-deep feeling I wasn’t fully aware of until this very moment, when my doubt should be plaguing me more than ever.

‘Effy?’ Natalie’s voice crackles through the phone. ‘Are you still there?’

I’m silent for a long moment, my mind racing. The pieces aren’t fitting together. Something is very, very wrong here.

But I know what my heart is telling me.

‘Why?’ I finally ask, my voice low and steady.

‘Why what?’ Natalie sounds confused, almost flustered.

‘Why are you lying to me, Nat?’

There’s a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. ‘I’m not lying! How could you even think that?’

But I can hear it now, clear as day. The slight quiver in her voice, the one that’s always been there when she stretches the truth. How did I never notice it before?

‘You are,’ I say softly. ‘You always have a little tremor in your voice when you lie. But even if you didn’t… I know Leon and Troy wouldn’t betray me like that.’

‘Effy, please,’ Natalie pleads. ‘You have to believe me. I’m your best friend!’

I hear the front door open, Leon and Troy’s voices drifting up the stairs. They sound tired, frustrated. Nothing like two alphas who’ve just been caught cheating.

‘No,’ I say, a calm certainty settling over me. ‘They wouldn’t do that to me. They love me.’

The words leave my mouth just as Leon and Troy reach the top of the stairs. They fall silent, and I know they’ve heard me. I turn to face them, phone still pressed to my ear.

‘And I love them,’ I continue, meeting their eyes. Shock and relief bloom across their faces, mixed with a wariness that breaks my heart. ‘All of them. They’re my pack. My family.’

There’s a choked sound from the phone, but I barely register it. I’m too focused on the men in front of me, on the emotions playing across their features. Relief, joy, and beneath it all, a deep, aching love that takes my breath away.

‘Effy,’ Natalie’s voice comes through, small and desperate. ‘Please, don’t do this. You don’t understand⁠—’

‘I think I understand perfectly,’ I cut her off, my voice gaining strength. ‘What I don’t understand is why. Why would you do this, Nat? Why try to come between me and my pack?’

There’s a long pause, filled only by the sound of Natalie’s ragged breathing. When she speaks again, her voice is cold, all pretense of tears gone.

‘Because you don’t deserve them,’ she hisses. ‘You’re nothing but a used-up whore, Effy. You think a pack like that really wants you? They’re just using you, and when they’re done, they’ll throw you away just like Leon did before.’

Her words should hurt. They should cut me to the core, reopening old wounds and insecurities. But as I look at Leon and Troy, at the love and concern shining in their eyes, I find that Natalie’s barbs can’t touch me anymore.

‘You don’t deserve any of it,” she continues, her voice strained with every word she shrieks out. “It should have been me! You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and you threw it all away for that asshole. Now you get the perfect pack, too? It’s bullshit. Did you really think I’d be okay playing second fiddle, watching you flaunt your new pack and all those flashy presents in my face?’

‘That’s not what I was doing!’ I cry, shocked by the bitterness in her voice. ‘All I ever wanted was to include you. To share the things that are important to me with my best friend.’

The harsh laugh that fills the line severs what’s left of my hope that this is all some out-of-character drunken meltdown she’ll apologize for come morning. And I can tell from her voice, she’s stone cold sober.

‘Please. Save the Pollyanna act for someone else. You got what you deserved, and the media is right. Sooner or later, that pack of yours is going to dump you and realize the same thing your family did: You’re nothing but damaged goods.’

‘You’re wrong,’ I say simply. ‘And I feel sorry for you, Nat. Sorry that you can’t understand what real love and acceptance look like. Sorry that everything you’re saying about me, you clearly feel toward yourself.’

Leon and Troy come into the room, standing on either side of me. Neither says a word, but each alpha puts a hand on my shoulder and their touch steadies me. I feel their support and strength through our bond, and the marks on my neck hum with warmth where I once felt only pain.

‘You stupid bitch,’ Natalie snarls. ‘You have no idea what’s coming. Don’t come crying to me when it all falls apart.’

The line goes dead, leaving me in stunned silence. I lower the phone slowly, my mind reeling from everything that’s just happened.

‘Ophelia?’ Leon’s voice is soft, hesitant. ‘Are you okay?’

I look up at him, then at Troy. They both look worried, uncertain. Like they’re waiting for me to break down or lash out.

Instead, I surprise myself by laughing. It bubbles up from deep inside me, a release of tension I didn’t even know I was holding. ‘I’m fine,’ I say, shaking my head in disbelief. ‘I just… I can’t believe I never saw it before. How toxic she was. She was always sending me those nasty articles… always saying little things I told myself I was reading into or overreacting. I feel so stupid.’

‘You’re not,’ Leon insists, stroking my cheek. ‘You just want to see the best in people. You’re willing to give them a chance when no one else will. That doesn’t make you stupid, it makes you strong.’

‘Look at that. We agree on something,’ Troy says dryly. ‘I’m just sorry that psycho called you before we could get here.’ His expression grows grim. ‘What did she say?’

‘Nothing worth repeating,’ I mutter. ‘Just some bullshit about you two showing up at the club to pick up another omega, and then threatening her.’

‘And you didn’t believe her?’ Leon asks hesitantly.

‘No,’ I admit, holding his gaze. ‘I didn’t.’

‘Why?’ he murmurs. ‘I’ve given you no reason to trust me.’

‘That’s not true,’ I say, reaching out to lace my fingers with his. ‘You made a mistake. A huge one. But you’ve spent seven years trying to put it right, and these last few months… you’ve proven to me you’re not the man you were back then.’ I turn to glance at Troy. ‘You’ve all proven you love me.’

‘We do,’ Troy says, stepping closer, leaning down to press a kiss to the corner of my mouth. ‘More than anything. I’m just sorry we couldn’t protect you from this.’

Leon runs a hand through his hair, a familiar gesture of frustration. ‘We were going to tell you. We just… we wanted to be sure first. To have all the answers.’

‘I know,’ I say softly. And I do know. I can feel it through our bond, the fierce protectiveness, the desire to shield me from pain. ‘You were trying to protect me.’

‘Fat lot of good that did,’ Troy mutters, but there’s no real heat behind it.

I reach out and take his hand, too, still holding onto Leon’s. ‘Thank you,’ I say, pouring all my sincerity into the words. ‘For looking out for me. For loving me. And… for helping me realize I deserve to be loved.’

Leon’s fingers tighten around mine. ‘Always,’ he says, his voice rough with emotion. ‘We’ll always be here for you, Ophelia.’

‘No matter what,’ Troy adds, his usual smirk softened by genuine affection.

“You know,” I say after a minute, looking between them. “I’ve had a hell of a night, and I could seriously use the distraction.”

“Are you sure?” Troy asks, his brow knitting.

But before I can say yes, Leon scoops me into his arms. “Come on. Enough talk. Let’s go show our omega exactly what she means to us.’

That’s exactly what I need.

And I’m not going to let Natalie’s bullshit take away a promising night like tonight.

‘But the others are asleep,’ I protest half-heartedly, slipping my arms around his neck as he carries me up the stairs.

‘Trust me, they’ll want to know what’s going on,’ Troy assures me.

A little laugh bubbles out of me, chasing away the lingering echoes of what just happened. I’m sure I’ll be processing all that for a long time, but not tonight.

Right now, I just want my alphas.

Because Natalie’s words echoing my own insecurities helped me realize one thing.

This pack loves me.

They want to take care of me.

And for the first time in my life, I believe I deserve to be here, with them. To be happy and loved and cherished.

And as we join the others in our massive, comfortable nest and we fill them in on everything that just happened, they all converge around me, making sure I know I’m just that.

It’s the first time I’ve had them all at once, and it’s overwhelming in the best possible way. They take turns holding me, kissing me, and it’s easy to lose track of who’s doing what.

I gasp as Rhys’s lips trail down my neck, his tongue tracing the marks left by the others. His touch is reverent, worshipful, as if I’m something precious. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

‘We’re so lucky to have you,’ he murmurs against my skin. ‘You’re everything to us, Ophelia.’

His words make my heart swell. I reach for him, pulling him closer, needing to feel the solid warmth of his body against mine. He comes willingly, covering me with his lean, muscular frame.

To my right, Maddox’s fingers dance along my side, leaving trails of fire in their wake. His touch is teasing, playful, a stark contrast to Rhys’s intensity. I turn my head, seeking his lips, and he meets me halfway in a kiss that’s all heat and promise.

‘Let us take care of you,’ he whispers when we part, his blue eyes dark with desire. ‘Let us show you how much we love you.’

I nod, unable to form words around the lump in my throat. The enormity of what’s happening—of being surrounded by my pack, my mates, all of them focused solely on me.

Troy’s hand slides up my thigh, and I spread my legs instinctively, welcoming his touch. He grins, that cocky smirk I’ve come to adore, before dipping his head to place open-mouthed kisses along my inner thigh.

‘So beautiful,’ he murmurs, his breath hot against my sensitive skin. ‘Our perfect omega.’

I whimper as his tongue traces the crease where my thigh meets my hip, so close to where I need him but not quite there. Mace’s large hand cups my breast, his thumb brushing over my nipple, sending sparks of ecstasy shooting through me.

These alphas have me in every way possible. I’m surrounded by their scents, their touches, their love. It’s intoxicating, overwhelming, and I never want it to end.

Leon watches from the foot of the bed, his eyes dark with hunger. There’s still a hint of hesitation in his posture, as if he’s not sure he belongs here. I reach for him, needing him to know that he’s part of this too.

‘Leon,’ I breathe, and the sound of his name on my lips seems to break something inside him.

He moves then, crawling up the bed to join us. His lips find mine in a kiss that’s equal parts desperate and tender. I pour everything I’m feeling into it.

My forgiveness.

My acceptance.

My love.

When we part, his eyes are shining. ‘I love you,’ he whispers, his voice rough with emotion. ‘I’ve always loved you, Ophelia.’

‘I love you too,’ I murmur, the words coming easily now that I’ve finally allowed myself to feel them. ‘All of you.’

My admission seems to ignite something in them. Suddenly, their touches become more urgent, more focused. Rhys’s fingers slip between my legs, finding me wet and ready. He groans, the sound vibrating through his chest and into mine.

‘So wet for us,’ he murmurs, his fingers circling my clit with practiced ease. ‘So perfect.’

I arch into his touch, desperate for more. Troy takes advantage of my movement, latching onto my breast, his tongue swirling around my nipple. The dual sensation makes me cry out, pleasure coursing through me.

Maddox captures my cry with his mouth, swallowing the sound as he kisses me deeply. His hand replaces Rhys’s between my legs, and I whimper at the loss before moaning as he slides two fingers inside me.

‘That’s it, sweetheart,’ he encourages, his voice low and husky. ‘Take what you need.’

And I do. I rock against his hand, chasing the pleasure building inside me. Mace’s mouth is on my other breast now, his beard scratching deliciously against my sensitive skin. The contrasting sensations—Troy’s smooth cheek and Mace’s rough beard—send shivers down my spine.

Leon’s hand cups my face, turning me toward him. His eyes are intense, filled with a mixture of love and desire that takes my breath away.

‘Can I taste you?’ he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, unable to form words. He smiles, soft and genuine, before moving down my body. The others shift to make room for him, but their touches never cease. I’m hyperaware of every point of contact—Rhys’s lips on my neck, Troy and Mace at my breasts, Maddox’s fingers inside me.

And then Leon’s mouth is on me, his tongue parting my folds, and I cry out at the intensity of it all. He groans, the vibration sending shockwaves of pleasure through me.

‘You taste like heaven,’ he murmurs against my heated flesh.

His words, combined with the relentless attention of my pack, push me over the edge. I come with a cry, my body arching off the bed. They work me through it, drawing out every last tremor of pleasure until I’m a quivering mess beneath them.

As I come down from my high, panting and flushed, I realize this isn’t enough. I need more. I need all of them.

‘Please,’ I whimper, reaching for them. ‘I need you. All of you.’

They exchange glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Then Rhys speaks, his voice gentle but firm. ‘Are you sure, love? We don’t want to overwhelm you.’

I nod, more certain of this than I’ve been of anything in my life. ‘I’m sure. I want to feel all of you. Please.’

They move as one, repositioning themselves around me. Rhys settles between my legs, his cock pressing against my entrance. Leon and Troy flank me on either side, while Mace kneels by my head. Maddox positions himself next to Mace, his hands running soothingly along my sides.

‘Ready?’ Rhys asks, searching my face for any sign of hesitation.

‘Yes,’ I breathe, lifting my hips in invitation.

He enters me slowly, giving me time to adjust to his size. I moan at the stretch, the feeling of fullness overwhelming in the best way. When he’s fully seated, he pauses, his forehead resting against mine.

‘You feel amazing,’ he murmurs, his voice strained with the effort of holding still.

I roll my hips, silently urging him to move. He takes the hint, starting a slow, deep rhythm that has me seeing stars. Leon and Troy each take one of my hands, guiding them to their cocks. I stroke them in time with Rhys’s thrusts, relishing in the groans of pleasure I draw from them.

Mace’s cock brushes against my lips, and I open for him eagerly. He slides in slowly, careful not to go too deep. The taste of him explodes on my tongue, salty and uniquely him.

Maddox’s fingers find my clit, circling it with practiced ease while he grinds against my thigh. The friction is delicious, the heat of his long shaft rubbing up against my feverish skin. The added stimulation makes me moan around Mace’s cock, the vibrations drawing a deep groan from him.

It’s overwhelming, being filled and surrounded by them like this. But it’s also perfect. This is where I belong, with my pack, my mates. The realization brings tears to my eyes, happy tears that spill down my cheeks.

‘You’re doing so well,’ Rhys praises, his hips never faltering in their steady rhythm. ‘So perfect for us, Ophelia. Letting your whole pack use you like this. Such a good girl.’

His words send a thrill through me, and I redouble my efforts, stroking Leon and Troy faster, taking Mace deeper. The room fills with the sounds of our pleasure—moans, grunts, the slap of skin on skin.

I can feel my orgasm building, a tidal wave of pleasure threatening to overwhelm me. Rhys must sense it too, because he picks up the pace, his thrusts becoming more forceful.

‘That’s it,’ he encourages. ‘Come for us, love. Let us feel you.’

His words are my undoing. I come with a muffled cry, my body clenching around Rhys as waves of pleasure crash over me. It triggers a chain reaction—Rhys groans, his hips stuttering as he finds his release and knots me, locking us together. The pressure is enough to take my orgasm to new heights. Leon and Troy follow soon after, their release spilling over my hands and onto my stomach.

Mace thrusts into my mouth one last time and I swallow his seed eagerly, rivulets coursing over my lip from just how much he’s filling me. Maddox is the last to fall, his fingers working furiously at my oversensitive clit until he too finds his release against my thigh with a low groan.

For a moment, we all stay frozen, panting and trembling in the aftermath of our shared pleasure. Then, slowly, they begin to move. Gentle hands clean me up, soft kisses are pressed to my skin. I’m vaguely aware of being repositioned, cradled in the center of the nest with my pack surrounding me.

As I drift off to sleep, thoroughly sated and more loved than I’ve ever felt in my life, I can’t help but smile. This is home.

This is where I belong.

And I’m never letting it go.