Page 78 of Knot All That Glitters: Part 2

He laughs. “We wouldn’t care if you did. So long as it makes you happy.”

So long as it makes you happy.

I doubt I’ll ever use it, but that they trust me with it, that they already had the card ready? Well, that speaks to the part of me that never had the trust of the men in my life. My father barked at me constantly because he couldn’t trust me to behave the way he wanted.

But here they are telling me to drain their accounts if that’s what makes me happy.

I doubt I’ll ever buy anything with their money. Why would I when I have my own money, stolen from my father and gifted to me by this pack?

I think up at all of them feeling entirely too emotional. “Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with this.”

Hale scoffs and shakes his head. “We trust you with a lot more than this, mouse. This is nothing.”

I open my mouth to tell him it’s not nothing, to explain what this means to me, but at that moment my phone rings. I frown at it. It never rings. No one calls me. Jude’s made sure that I’m on every do not call list ever, and Ren basically only texts me. The other people who might call are in this room with me.

But then I see the name on the screen and my heart lurches into my throat.

“Belinda.”

Chapter 23

Sneaky, Vicious Little Mouse

The female alpha has a few hours free later in the day, so I spend most of that time in my nest… My nest. I’ve never had one before, and I still can’t really believe it. But they’ve assured me it is mine.All mine.

A part of me… well, she knows I shouldn’t even entertain the idea of this room being mine. That I should spend the time moving my things back to the guest room, but I wander around, taking in the little touches they worked into the room for me.

Creed told me they did all of this themselves, from the painting to the fairy lights, to putting together the furniture. They’ve been working on this for weeks. I have no clue whenthey were doing it, though. There was hardly a moment where they weren’t with me.

Though there were a few days where one or two of them would disappear for a few hours with vague explanations of what they were doing and where they were going. I have no idea what they did on the nights when I locked myself in my room early.

I still can’t believe they did this. Painted the misty trees, organized my journals chronologically, decorated it with the exact right cushions, blankets and pillows. It’s just too freaking beautiful.

I can’t let myself have it.

Not yet. Not until…

Not until they’ve let me go and given me a chance to process without their presence.

I’m standing in the middle of the room, staring at the bed that I know will fit all five of us, when there’s a soft knock on the open door, Tic hovering just outside, like he’s not sure if he should enter. Like he’s not sure he’d be welcome.

Or like he’s respecting the instinctual boundaries of an omega’s nest. No one enters without permission. Though technically, this isn’t my nest because… well, I’m not nesting. I haven’t arranged all the soft goods just the way my instinct requires.

Right now, this is just the perfect room with all the right things to build my nest.

It still makes my heart ache that he’s being so considerate, so careful.

“Belinda just buzzed up from the gate,” he tells me with a soft look in his eyes. “She should be here in a minute or two.”

I nod and, with one last glance at the room, follow him downstairs.

The three other alphas are already in the foyer and watch as we descend. They appear at ease, but I know they’reall bristling with emotions. Excitement, trepidation, eagerness. Protectiveness.

That last one is mostly what I see when they look at me.

I have the feeling if the female alpha steps one toe out of line, they’ll rip her apart, regardless of if we could use her help or not.

There’s a knock on the door, and my stomach immediately knots with nerves. Rather than going to open it, Hale looks at me, waiting. “Ready?” he asks gently, giving me a moment to compose myself.

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