Page 57 of Knot Broken

Getting out of the building was hard work. The wolf was digging his claws in, not wanting to leave at all, but I dangled a possible scenario in front of him. Nadia emerging from her room still too pale, only to find I’d gathered a bunch of tasty treats for her to snack on. With a grudging huff, he agreed, which left me standing outside Crowe Corp, finally able to take a full breath. I was pretty sure Grey had it wrong. Talking to people, getting shit off your chest, asking for help, these were all things that worked well for me, which is why I unlocked my phone. Tapping on a contact, I started walking towards the closest shopping centre as it began to buzz.

“Big brother!” Jodie, my sister said. “What’re you up to and when are you coming to see your niece and nephew?”

“Is that Uncle Tex?” a little voice piped up in the background. “Tell him to come and build LEGO with me!”

“You hear that?” She was grinning right now, I just knew it. “Better come and put that trade of yours to good use. There’s a few things that need doing around home as well, so⁠—”

“Can’t just yet, Jodes,” I said. “I’m stuck at Crowe Corp for the foreseeable future.”

“What? Why?” The change in tone was immediate. “Has something gone wrong? It’s not Ethan, is it? I thought he was OK now? Or you⁠—”

“Let me get a word in and I’ll tell you what’s happening,” I said. Pointed silence followed. “I found my mate.”

“What? When! And who is she? She, right? I never saw you look at a guy before, but I guess it’s possible. Tex, when do I get to meet them?”

I stopped and rubbed at my forehead.

“A few weeks ago. Her name is Nadia and no, guys don’t do it for me. As for meeting her? That’s going to have to wait for a bit.”

“What the freaking hell? I’m on my way. Kids, get your shoes on!”

“Jodie Ann Callahan.” Mum used our full names when she needed our attention so the conditioning worked in my favour, shutting my sister up. “I’m not at home, remember, and anyway, things are complicated.”

With a slow breath out, I filled her in on the details. It took the entire walk over to the shopping centre and down the ice cream aisle for me to get done.

“So I’m in Woolworths,” I told her, “looking at ice cream, wondering what the fuck I should get. When Nadia comes out of that room, I want everything she could possibly need there, waiting for her.”

“That’s not possible,” Jodie said with a snort, “but you can’t go wrong with a box of Magnum ice creams. The white chocolate ones if she’s a woman of taste, which if she’s your mate, is questionable.”

“White chocolate it is,” I said, “and milk and dark.”

“Chocolate is a must.” I pulled away from the freezers and headed for the confectionary aisle. “Plain Cadbury is probably your best bet, though you could try some Whitakers. Tim Tams.” My niblings started to shout in the background, approving of that choice of chocolate biscuit. “Double coat for the win, but does Nadia like salty stuff or sweet?”

“Let’s get something of everything to cover all the bases.”

I filled the trolley with selections, then finally lined up to pay for them.

“But Tex, you know there’s no way you can anticipate everything she might want.” Jodie’s tone had changed, becoming a lot more measured. “Like I know you have that whole protector thing going on, but until you get to know her better, it’s all just a guess.”

“I’ve gotta try.” When my voice cracked, I looked around me, sure the other shoppers must’ve heard me. “Nadia’s dealing with all the tough shit and I… The only thing I can think to do is make sure she has what she needs when she gets up.”

“You, dickhead,” Jodie replied. “Have you thought about that? You’re the one fated to be with her, so stop stuffing around buying junk food and get back to her. Then, when everything’s a little less life and death, let me know when you’re coming around. I’ll cook Mum’s lamb roast for everyone. Dan will be stoked.”

Dan was her husband.

“You got it, Jodes,” I said, moving to put my purchases on the conveyer belt. “Talk soon.”

“Is there anything of nutritional value at all in these bags?” Grey asked with a frown as we unpacked the groceries.

“I was going for comfort not macro-balanced diet,” I shot back. “Unlike you, most people don’t have an emotional support vegetable.” With a shrug, I filled the fridge with various chocolatey things. “If she wants brown rice and steamed fish, I’ll go and get it later.”

“Definitely not.”

We both froze, then turned slowly to see a rumpled looking omega standing there. Still in her sweats, one of her nesting blankets was hanging over her shoulder. I shut the fridge, then crossed the space between us, lifting Nadia into my arms before putting her on the couch. Wrapping the blanket around her, I bent down to stare into her eyes.

“Whatever you need.” The wolf added his input, turning my voice into a growl. “I’ll make it happen. If you don’t want to talk⁠—”

“About the fact I have to choose between never having children or a potentially life-threatening shift into a wild animal?” Her wan smile tugged at my heart. “No, I really, really don’t, but I have to.”