Page 222 of Knot What I Expected

I feel it immediately. It’s impossible not to.

Three powerful Alphas sitting within a few feet of me, and yet each one feels completely different.

Wreck’s dominance is heavy but restrained, threaded through with concern. His mismatched eyes move from me to Gia and back again, like he’s already wondering whether whatever I’m hiding could somehow put his pregnant mate or the strange little family they’ve built here at risk.

I understand that.

Rowan’s is different, though.

His power wraps around me instead of pushing against me.

Protective. Possessive.

A warning to everyone at this table that whatever my answer is, they’ll be dealing with him before they deal with me.

My Wolf.

My Alpha.

My mate.

The realization sends a warm pulse through the matebond.

But Justin? Justin’s dominance makes the tiny hairs on my arms rise.

For the first time since meeting him, I understand exactly why a Dragon without a Clan could own an entire mountain and hire a crew of feral Shifters to protect it—something I’ve pieced together over the past year of living in Ember Hollow.

There’s something ancient in his stare.

Something dangerous.

The Dragon isn’t threatening me exactly, but I feel him there beneath Justin’s skin.

Powerful. Watchful. Assessing.

And suddenly I’m very aware of every childhood story I ever read about dragons.

See, this mountain is his treasure. These lands are his beast’s. And somehow, whether any of them planned it or not, I think the people sitting around this table might be his too.

My mouth goes dry. Justin’s eyes never leave mine. The question is clearly meant for me.

I shake my head slowly.

“I think I need to tell Rowan first, don’t you?”

Silence.

The words feel significant coming out of my mouth. More significant than I expected.

Because I’m not simply refusing to answer. I’m choosing Rowan. Choosing to trust my mate with the truth before anyone else gets to have it.

Rowan’s fingers tighten around mine.

His thumb moves once across my knuckles, and another warm pulse travels through the matebond.

I’m here.

He doesn’t have to say it.