Page 33 of Knot Happening

"Who are they?"I asked, though the scents that clung to my skin told me more than any introduction could.

Jin's hand found mine, his touch reassuring."They're your scent matches, Darcy.Just like me.We all found each other because of you."

My omega side purred at the thought, reveling in the bond that tied us together, but my logical side bristled.I had worked so hard to become independent, to break free from the expectations that had been shackled to me from birth.And yet, here I was, surrounded by men who were fated to be a part of my life.

"I...I don't know what to say," I admitted, my gaze returning to Jin.

"You don't have to say anything," he assured me, his thumb stroking my hand."We're here for you, Darcy.We'll protect you and help you find your way."

I swallowed hard, a war waging within me."I wanted to be on my own," I confessed, the words tumbling out in a whisper."I was finally going to be free."

Jin's expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes."I know, and you can be.But being with us doesn't mean you're not independent.We can support you, lift you up, not hold you back."

I wanted to believe him, to trust that this unexpected pack could be my allies rather than my anchors."It's a lot to take in," I said, my eyes welling up with tears that I refused to let fall.

"Take all the time you need," Jin said, his voice soothing."We're not going anywhere.You're safe with us."

I nodded, feeling the truth of his words in the bond that hummed between us.My omega side basked in the safety and warmth of our connection, while my logical side grudgingly acknowledged that perhaps this wasn't the end of my independence.It was a new beginning, one that was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.

As Jin continued to speak softly, explaining more about the others and how they had come together, I listened, feeling the knot inside me begin to subside.When it finally slipped free, Jin was there, gentle and attentive, making sure to clean me up as much as he could with a rag before carrying me into the shower.

My omega side reveled in the knowledge that Jin, despite the necessity of cleaning us both, was careful not to scrub away the lingering traces of my scent from his skin.It was a badge of honor that proclaimed to the world, or at least to the intimate confines of our shared space, that he was mine.

As the water cascaded over us, washing away the evidence of our shared cum, the fact that he left my scent untouched only reinforced a profound rightness.It was an act of reverence, an acknowledgment that my claim on him was as permanent as the stars in the night sky.

I felt a warmth spread across my cheeks as Jin lifted me with an ease that belied my size, perching me atop the cool bathroom counter.My breath hitched a little, and the flesh of my arm broke out in goosebumps as he made sure I was steady before he stepped back, concern etching his features.

"Eat this," he said softly, handing me a protein bar and a water bottle.The wrapper crinkled in my hands as I took them from him."You need to regain your strength.I'll be right back."

As he turned to leave, I couldn't help but watch the play of muscles, a testament to the strength that had just cradled me so gently.I shook my head slightly, trying to clear the fog of my lingering heat and the odd fluttering it caused in my chest.

Unwrapping the protein bar, I took a bite, the sweetness of chocolate hitting my tongue.It was both comforting and a little surreal to be performing such a mundane act after the intensity of the last few days.I sipped the water, feeling it quench a thirst I hadn't realized I had.

From my vantage point, I could see Jin moving with quiet efficiency around the room we had so recently vacated.He stripped the sheets from the bed, the fabric whispering against the mattress as he worked.Despite the domesticity of the scene, there was something undeniably captivating about watching him.His focus was absolute, his movements fluid and purposeful.

I continued to nibble on the protein bar, my gaze never straying far from Jin as he moved on to making the bed with fresh linens.The scent of clean cotton wafted across the room, mingling with the lingering musk of my heat.It was a strangely comforting scent, one that somehow managed to feel like home.

When he finished, Jin turned his attention back to me.He closed the distance between us with a few long strides, and before I knew it, I was once again enveloped in his arms.The suddenness of it made my heart skip a beat, but I couldn't deny the sense of security that washed over me.

"Time to rest," he murmured into my hair, his breath warm against my scalp.

I felt myself lifted once more, and a soft gasp escaped my lips as he carried me back to the bed.The sheets were cool and crisp against my skin as he laid me down, tucking the blankets around me with a tenderness that made my throat tighten.

Jin lingered for a moment, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face before he straightened up."Sleep for a few hours," he instructed, the alpha in his voice making it more of a command than a suggestion.

I knew I should protest, but the truth was, I was exhausted.My body ached in places I hadn't known could ache, and my mind was a whirlwind of emotions that I couldn't begin to untangle.

As I watched Jin move quietly around the room, tidying up and giving me the space I needed, I felt a strange sense of gratitude.He had been there for me when I was at my most vulnerable, and though I barely knew him, I knew that he would continue to be there, just as others would.

The realization was both terrifying and oddly liberating.For the first time in my life, I wasn't alone.I had a budding pack—a family of sorts—and they were bound to me just as surely as I was bound to them.

With a sigh, I let my eyes close, the steady rhythm of Jin's presence nearby lulling me into a peaceful slumber.The last thing I remembered before sleep claimed me was the soft click of the door as Jin stepped out, leaving me to rest in the quiet sanctuary he had created for me.

PARTTHREE

the after

thirty-six

---