Page 240 of Knot What I Expected

My heart thumps wildly against my ribs at Rowan’s words. Because I know they aren’t empty.

He’s not pretending. He’s not trying to impress me or saying what he thinks I need to hear. He means it.

Every. Single. Word.

I see it in the hard set of his jaw. In the flash of gold burning through his eyes. In the possessive way one big hand remains spread across my hip while the other cradles the back of my head. I feel it too, through our matebond.

Protection.

Possession.

Rage at what happened to me.

And beneath all of it, something so achingly tender it makes my throat close.

He believes me. He sees me. He still wants me. Still picks me.

And God, I am so here for it.

For him.

I know there’s something about being an inherent feminist that should probably have me calling out the toxicity of an overbearing, dominating man.

Except Rowan isn’t just some controlling asshole.

He’s a True Alpha.

And the beast inside him?

Hell, he named the damn thing Monster.

Rowan is dominant down to his bones. Protective by instinct. Possessive in ways that should probably send me running for the nearest exit.

But he isn’t trying to take my choices away.

That’s the difference.

Ethan used his power to make me smaller. Rowan makes me feel like I could take on the fucking world because if I stumble, this terrifying Wolf will be right there to catch me.

And knowing all that power is on my side? I don’t think anything has ever been hotter.

“Rowan.”

His name comes out breathless.

I cling to him as a wave of desire hits me so suddenly and so hard I nearly topple right off his lap.

His strong arms immediately tighten around me.

“Gabby?”

Those golden eyes search mine.

“You all right?”

Am I?

I don’t fucking know.