Page 98 of Knot Happening Again

I smile, reaching for another mug. "Perfect timing. How are you feeling?"

She accepts the coffee with a grateful nod. "Better. Still sore, but... better than I have in a long time."

My alpha preens at that, proud to have helped ease her pain. But there's still a sadness in her eyes that tugs at my heart.

"I'm glad," I say, resisting the urge to pull her into my arms. "Are you hungry? I could whip up some breakfast."

Ophelia takes a sip of her coffee, considering. "That would be nice, actually."

I turn to the stove, pulling out a pan and some eggs. "I'm nowhere near the chef Mace is, but I make a pretty decent breakfast. How do you like them?"

"Scrambled is fine," Ophelia says, settling onto a stool at the kitchen island.

As I crack eggs into a bowl, I feel her eyes on me. There's a weight to her gaze, like she's trying to puzzle something out. I glance over my shoulder, catching her eye.

"Everything okay?"

She takes a sip of coffee, then sets the mug down carefully. "I was going to ask you the same thing, actually."

I pause, whisk in hand. "Me? Why wouldn't I be?"

Ophelia's fingers trace the rim of her mug. "I don't know much about alpha bonds, but... I can tell Leon didn't tell you about me. That must be hard."

The whisk clatters against the side of the bowl as I set it down. I turn to face her fully, surprised by her perceptiveness—and her concern.

"I... yeah, it is," I admit. "But Ophelia, you don't need to worry about that. You've been through enough."

She shakes her head, a sad smile playing at her lips. "I'm sorry. I have my feelings about Leon, but I don't want to come between you."

I cross the kitchen in two quick strides, taking her hand in mine. Her skin is soft, warm. "You didn't," I say, my voice gentle but firm. "You didn't do anything wrong. Leon is the one who made his decision, and everyone else is dealing with the consequences." I squeeze her hand. "Especially you."

Ophelia's eyes widen slightly at the intensity in my voice. I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my emotions.

"I am so, so sorry," I continue. "I swear I had no idea. If I had known Leon had an omega out there, me and the others would have done whatever we could to find you, to make it right."

Surprise flickers across her face. "I believe you," she says softly. "I just thought..."

"What?" I press, not letting go of her hand. "Tell me."

She shrugs, looking down at our joined hands. "I was afraid you'd think I planned this."

Horror washes over me. "Why would we think that?"

"Packs of successful alphas don't pick half-marked escorts regularly," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "Other people would think I was just doing this to get to you. To get revenge on Leon, or at least use my connection to get something out of it."

I cup her chin, gently tilting her face up to meet my gaze. "Ophelia, listen to me. Nothing we could ever give you would even compare to what we receive by having you here. I would never think that about you. None of us would."

"That's for damn sure," Mace's gruff voice calls from the doorway.

I can't help but smile as the older alpha saunters in, wearing nothing but his boxers and a sleepy grin. His hair's a mess, sticking up in all directions, and he scratches his belly as he yawns.

"Morning, sweetheart," he rumbles, leaning down to press a kiss to Ophelia's cheek. Her pale skin flushes pink, and I feel a surge of affection for both of them.

Mace plops down on the stool next to Ophelia, then scoops her up and deposits her on his lap in one fluid motion. She lets out a startled squeak, but doesn't protest. Instead, she snuggles into his soft stomach and lays her head on his firm chest, looking like a kitten in the arms of a bear.

"Now, what's this nonsense I hear about you not belonging with the pack?" Mace asks, his burly arms wrapping around Ophelia's waist.

I turn back to the stove, focusing on the eggs I've been neglecting. "Ophelia was worried we might think she planned this whole thing," I explain, keeping my voice light even as anger at Leon bubbles up again.

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