Page 87 of Knot Broken

Tyler was a funny little guy and he burst into the kitchen, then launched himself at me, forcing me to reach out and sweep him into my arms. Last time he’d rugby tackled me, he’d head-butted my nuts, which didn’t go down well.

The cub is getting bigger, the wolf informed me.

So he was.

“Oof!” I made a show of staggering under his weight as I hoisted him up on my hip, which just got the kid giggling. This apparently was a call-to-arms for the others. More shouts, more footsteps echoed through the house as I turned to Tyler. “You’re getting huge, little man.”

“‘Big and strong!” Tyler announced, flexing his little arms. “Like you, Grey Grey.”

“Just like me,” I agreed, pressing a kiss to his forehead, then setting him down on the kitchen counter, because the cavalry had arrived.

“Grey…!” Kids came streaming in through the door only to mill around my feet. “Jess, Grey is here!”

“So I heard.” The woman herself appeared in the doorway, stopping for a second to smile at me before bustling over when the kettle boiled. “Tea for me, pitch black coffee for you, right?”

“Always.” The mugs were in the same place, so were the spoons, coffee grounds and tea bags, so I grabbed them all, as well as a tin of Milo. Shaking it, I asked the kids, “And a Milo with extra scoops for you little monsters?”

The ragged cheer that went up had Jess rolling her eyes.

“They’ll be hyper all day having that much sugar.”

“That’s been scientifically debunked.” I set more mugs out, knowing that Charlotte liked the princess mug and Joey liked the blue one, then started spooning massive heaped tablespoons of the malty, chocolatey drink power into each cup. “Anyway, every Aussie kid knows you measure Milo with your heart, not a teaspoon.”

Pouring out the hot water, I let her tea steep as I mixed my coffee and the kids’ drinks. Setting them up around the kitchen island, the children all took seats, knowing that hot drinks needed to be handled carefully. Joey still took an experimental sip, then jerked back, fanning his mouth to cool it.

“So what brings you by?” Jess shot me a knowing look. “You know I love catching up with you but…”

“But I don’t do it enough.” I met her gaze head on. “I’m sorry, Jess⁠—”

“There’s no need.”

Jess was like a deep, still pool and every time I was around her, it was like a whole-body exhale. The wolf went quiet the moment I stepped into the house, his usual commentary trailing away.

Because this is the family den, he informed me. Jess is our pack mother. We will bring our cubs here one day and she will care for them as she did us.

“You and every other kid that’s stayed here are always welcome back.” She reached over and squeezed my arm. “You know that. So, what’s going on with you? How’s that mate of yours and when are you bringing her around to meet the clan?”

“When we can be sure she can shift properly.” I took a long sip of coffee, the scalding, bitter brew a perfect match for the acidic roil of fear in my gut. “Nadia is staying at Crowe Corp for the moment.”

Jess nodded slowly, dangling her tea bag, then pulling it free to drop in the small compost bin.

“They’re good people, but I remember what it was like when you were struggling. This must be a scary time for you, Grey.”

For a moment, I just stood there, staring into her eyes. It was like I could count every fleck of amber, green, and brown in the irises.

“Scary…” I tried to smile and failed, my face too stiff. The chatter of the children in the background was a soothing sound, but it wasn’t enough to settle me. I’d had to explain to the wolf explicitly why we were coming around home, not staying right there with Nadia the entire way. “You could say that.”

“Finish your Milos,” Jess said, turning to the kids. “Rinse the cups and put them in the sink, then you guys can turn the TV on. Bluey is about to start.”

“Bluey!”

I should’ve been offended, being so easily ignored in favour of a cartoon dog, but the quiet that settled over the kitchen when they were all done was a welcome thing.

“So, tell me about it,” Jess said, nodding to the back deck. “Your mate, what you’re going through. Grey…” Her hand went to my cheek. “I haven’t seen you look this pale since the moment this boy with huge blue eyes was brought in through my front door.”

“About that.” I swallowed the rest of my coffee, then rinsed the cup and set it on the draining board, just like she taught me. “I want you to meet Nadia, to fill you in on what’s happened, but first.” I opened the door for her, following her out onto the deck. “I need to ask some questions.”

“Sure.”