Page 24 of Knot Sharing the Ice

For a moment, I'm too stunned to speak. Is she saying what I think she's saying? I exchange quick glances with the others, seeing my own mix of hope and disbelief mirrored in their faces.

"Conditions?" Mason asks, his voice carefully controlled.

Ember nods, crossing her arms over her chest. The movement causes the hem of my shirt to ride up slightly, revealing more of her smooth, toned legs. I force my gaze back to her face, silently cursing my lack of self-control.

"What kind of conditions?" I manage to ask, proud of how steady my voice sounds despite the chaos raging inside me.

She takes a deep breath, as if steeling herself. "You can... knot me," she says, a flush creeping up her neck at the words. "But no marking or biting whatsoever, especially around the neck. And it doesn't mean anything after we leave."

The room falls silent, her words hanging in the air between us. My mind races, trying to process what she's offering. The alpha in me howls at the thought of not being able to mark her, to claim her as ours. But the rational part of me knows this is more than we could have hoped for.

"Maybe not to you," Jayce mutters, breaking the silence.

I shoot him a warning glare, but Ember's already heard. Her eyes narrow dangerously. "Take it or leave it," she says, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I step forward, my hands raised in a placating gesture. "We agree to your terms," I say quickly, before any of the others can object. "All of them."

Ember studies me for a long moment, as if trying to gauge my sincerity. Finally, she nods. "Good," she says. "Now get out. I need to build a nest."

The words send a jolt of electricity through me. A nest. Our omega is going to build a nest for us. The primal part of me preens at the thought, even as I try to remind myself that this doesn't mean what I want it to mean.

I clear my throat, fighting to keep my voice steady. "Of course. We'll, uh... we'll go gather more supplies."

Ember nods again, already turning away from us. "Good idea. I'm going to need water. And blankets. And anything soft. Lots of them."

"We're on it," Carter says, already heading for the door. The others follow, but I linger for a moment, unable to tear my eyes away from Ember.

She looks back at me, one eyebrow raised. "Was there something else?"

I shake my head, feeling like a teenager with his first crush. "No, I just... thank you. For trusting us."

A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, softening her expression. "Don't make me regret it," she says softly.

"We won't," I promise, meaning it with every fiber of my being. "I swear it."

With that, I force myself to turn and leave, closing the door behind me. The others are waiting in the hallway, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"Holy shit," Jayce breathes. "Is this really happening?"

I run a hand through my hair, still trying to process it myself. "Looks like it."

"We need to be careful," Mason says, ever the voice of reason. "This is... it's a big deal. For all of us, but especially for Ember."

Carter nods in agreement. "We need to make sure she's comfortable. That she feels safe."

"Agreed," I say. "Let's split up. Mason, you and Carter hit the vending machines. Get as much food as you can find. Jayce, you're on water duty."

"What about you?" Jayce asks.

I take a deep breath, trying to ignore the way Ember's scent still clings to my skin. "I'm going to see what I can find in terms of bedding. Blankets, pillows, anything soft, like she said."

As we disperse, my mind races with everything we need to consider. Ember's comfort is our top priority, but we also needto think about practicalities. How long will her heat last? Do we have enough supplies to see us through? And what happens when it's over?

I push that last thought away, focusing on the task at hand. One step at a time, I tell myself.

Right now, Ember needs us.

And we're not going to let her down.

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