Page 104 of Knot Broken

It was all good fun until we reached the door, then my heart started rattling in my chest. What if Nadia hated it? What if she still wasn’t ready to move in? Intellectually I knew we could work through that, but my heart didn’t get the message. Perfection or nothing, that’s what it demanded, so I helped her walk inside once Grey opened the door.

“Wow, baby shit brown.” Helena winked at us. “That’s an interesting design choice.”

“What…?” Nadia’s yelp trailed off as I pulled my hands away. “Oh…” Shit, that wasn’t good, right? “It’s so beautiful.” Watching her rush towards the bed and clasp a cushion to her chest had an ache starting up behind my breastbone. “This bedspread. These pillows!”

“Damn.” Helena stuck her head in through the wardrobe doorway. “This is bigger than my whole apartment. You’re gonna be able to stick so many dildos in here.”

“So you like it?”

Tex sounded tentative and I was right there with him.

“Like it?” The way she beamed, cheeks flushed, felt like a core memory I’d store away in my head forever. “I love it!” With a jump, she flopped back onto the bed, starfishing it on the quilt. We, of course, came to sit around her. “No one…” With a blink, I saw her eyes were now suspiciously shiny had me grabbing her hand. “No one’s ever done something like this for me before.”

“This is nothing,” Tex said. “Wait until you see the plans we’ve got for a nursery.”

Nadia sat up abruptly.

“Nursery!?”

“For fuck’s sake, Tex.” Grey rubbed at his face. “Get some chill.”

But he wouldn’t. The man went all in on everything he did and I just had to believe that the fates knew what they were doing. That together we would make it all work out.

“So, are you ready to move in, my mate?” I asked Nadia, as I leaned in closer. “Or do you need more time to sort through your strap on collection?”

“Yes.” Her lips on mine were all I needed. “Yes to moving in, as long as Tex can promise to never ever do the cooking.”

“I’m on dish duty for the rest of my life.” He sketched her a salute. “Got it.”

“And Grey is in charge on the cleaning, because damn, he’s particular,” she said, glancing over at my other pack mate.

“Notice she didn’t say anally retentive arsehole?” Grey said, smirking at me and Tex.

“And Ethan⁠—?”

“Is responsible for all of the bubble baths and foot massages you could possibly want,” I said. “Got it.”

“OK, stop being all perfect and shit.” Helena emerged out of the wardrobe. “And start putting those big muscles to good use, because your mate has a lot of shit to move.”

“You heard the lady,” I said, grinning at the others. “Let’s get our mate moved in.”

Chapter 48

Tex

“Ugh…!” Nadia’s sound of frustration could be heard down the hall, so I left the dishes I was washing in the sink and went to meet her at the kitchen doorway.

“Hey, what’s up?” I asked.

She stomped in, dropping her handbag on the kitchen counter before plopping down on a stool.

“Greg!” I knew instantly what the issue was. Her boss was a total dick. “That man…” Her fingers became claws as she shook them. “I am an apex predator. If I take fur and rip his throat out, I’d be able to claim in court my instincts got the better of me, right?”

“Bad day at work?” I said, going over to the fridge. “How about a glass of wine?” Staring at the contents, I saw we still had some cake left over from Grey’s birthday. “And some super rich chocolate cake…”

Nadia looked up at me as I stood there, bottle and cake in hand. Putting them back carefully, I remembered what our group therapist had said. We’d attended some sessions, not so much to solve issues as to better understand how to be the mates Nadia needed and one thing that stuck out for me was my need to try and cheer everyone up. The therapist told me in a very kind voice that it was a sweet impulse, but not always helpful. Shutting the fridge, I sat down beside her.

“Are we venting or problem solving or do you want me to try and make you feel better?”