Page 40 of Seen Knot Heard

The pack bond inside me shifts, reaching out to connect with her. My mate.

Every instinct screams to go to her, but I force myself to remain still. She’s been through hell, and the last thing Chloe needs is me losing control. I have to be strong, to give her space to heal.

I’m not the Alpha she needs right now.

So I watch, hands clenched at my sides, as Holden cradles her in his arms. He murmurs something I don’t catch, and Chloe nods, leaning into him as he supports her weight. The sour tang of jealousy coats my tongue, but I swallow it down. She needs Holden’s gentleness now, not my darker desires.

They make their way up the dock, Chloe’s steps shuffling and Dominic hovering close by like an overprotective shadow behind her. Chloe’s gaze darts to me again, her brow furrowing when I don’t move to follow. Confusion and hurt flash across her face, but she says nothing as my bondmates usher her toward the waiting golf cart.

Kyle hops over the side of the boat, his scally cap in hand to stop the wind from stealing it. He turns from the departing group back to me, a puzzled frown on his lips. “Hey, man, aren’t you coming with us? This is what you’ve all been striving toward for weeks now.”

My mouth opens, but no words come out. My throat dries, my tongue turning heavy and useless.

How can I explain the war raging inside me? The primal need to claim my mate battling against needing to let her go for now?

Emily saves me from my silence. “Nathaniel has some stuff to finish here. He’ll catch up with them later.”

Kyle shrugs, satisfied with her answer, and jogs over to hop into the driver’s seat of the cart. I watch as they pull away, Chloe’s pink hair blowing in the breeze, until they disappear from view.

Only then do I allow myself to move, my breath escaping in a shuddering sigh as I scrub a hand over my face.

I have to be patient. But god, it’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Because every cell in my body cries out for her, and I’m not sure how long I can resist her siren call.

Chapter Thirteen

Chloe

My legs tremble as Holden helps me out of the golf cart, and we walk toward the Homestead. I lean most of my weight on his arm, drawing in deep breaths to steady myself.

The sight of the sprawling, two-story log cabin makes me tear up. I had started to believe I would never see this place again.

“Lean on me,” Holden murmurs as we approach the wrap-around front porch.

When I lift my right foot onto the first tread, pain lances through my body as I drag my left foot up to join it. I grit my teeth and take the next step.

Dominic studies the rest of the stairs with a worried frown. “I can carry you.”

“No, I can do it.” I focus on the tall, double front doors, determined to get inside.

“Almost there,” Holden encourages, his voice soft as marshmallows and just as sweet.

I missed listening to his voice so much. My vision blurs, and I sniffle to hold back the tears.

Finally, we stumble through the front door, into the warmth of the Homestead. My breathing comes heavy, my chest heaving with exertion, but I made it.

I drink up the familiar wrought-iron chandeliers suspended from a vaulted ceiling. The rich wood paneling and exposed timber beams. A long, polished wooden table stretches the length of the room to the right of the staircase, with bench seating on one side and chairs on the other, long enough to seat ten people.

A basket covered in a white cloth sits at the center, and drool floods my mouth at the thought of the breakfast pastries it surely contains.

Holden leads me to the left, past the two smaller tables set in front of the stone fireplace.

“Let’s get you settled, and I’ll fix you up some chicken noodle soup.” Holden guides me toward the back hallway. “I’m sorry. We haven’t had time to set up a room for you upstairs. But everything is as you left it in your suite.”

A new room, upstairs? They were…planning for me to stay? To live here with them?

Permanently?

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