Page 305 of Knot What I Expected

Me.

A part of me answers. She practically sings.

Yes.

Phoenix.

I finally have a name for what I am.

For what Ethan feared.

For what the Wake wanted.

But none of that matters right now.

Because beneath me—thump.

I freeze.

Thump.

Rowan’s heart is beating. Our matebond explodes back to life. Firelight floods through me.

ROWAN.

His chest rises.

He coughs.

His eyes open.

Golden.

Alive.

My beautiful Wolf is fucking alive.

“Gabby?”

His voice is rough.

Like gravel.

But it is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

I land beside him. Flames ripple over my feathers.

His eyes widen. He stares up at me.

For one second, I wonder if he'll be afraid. Instead, his battered face splits into a grin.

“Fuck.”

A laugh tries to break through my Phoenix throat. His hand lifts weakly toward my flaming feathers.

“Gabby?”

I lower my head toward him. His fingers brush against the fire.