Page 103 of Seen Knot Heard

Chloe

The clinking of ceramic plates and silverware fills the kitchen as I help Holden clear the table after dinner, while Dominic’s soothing voice drifts in from the living room where he reads to Quinn by the crackling fire.

As I stack dishes in the sink, my thoughts turn to Nathaniel. The call with his father had put him on edge, adding to the tension that began with the arrival of the inspector. The resort project puts so much pressure on him. I wish I could help.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Holden sidles up beside me, filling my nose with his vanilla sweetness as he places the last of the glasses on the counter.

I sigh, shutting off the faucet. “I’m worried about Nathaniel. That conversation with his dad seemed to really get to him. Is that common?”

Holden’s expression turns troubled, and he rests a hip on the counter. “Nathaniel’s father is a hard man. Arrogant, demanding, never satisfied. He’s always pushed Nat to be the best and never show weakness. Unfortunately, it’s his father’s definition of best and not necessarily one that can be met by a mere mortal.”

“That’s awful.” My heart aches for the gruff Alpha. “No wonder he’s so guarded.”

“He’s learned to armor himself.” Holden reaches out to thread his fingers through mine, his touch sending tingles through me. “But he’s let you in more than most.”

“He warned me about the clause in the loan you took out. The one that could break up the pack if the resort doesn’t open on time.” I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “He’s worried about us bonding before things are settled.”

“I hate that stupid contract.” The vehemence in Holden’s voice takes me by surprise, coming from my gentle Alpha. “We never should have agreed to it.”

I lift his hand to rub my cheek over his knuckles. “Were there other options?”

“Yeah, if we’d taken on smaller jobs and spent years proving ourselves outside of Burton Corporation.” He blows out a long breath. “None of us wanted that, though, and Dominic had investors ready to go now. We let impatience put us in a bad spot, and Nathaniel’s dad took advantage of the situation.”

“What will you do if the…” I can’t quite bring myself to saypack dissolution. “What if the worst-case scenario happens?”

“Dom and I will buy a place in Mosswood to stay close to Blake and Nathaniel.” He lifts a shoulder. “We’re bondmates, so as far as the law is concerned, they can’t keep us apart. But they’d have to at least temporarily move back in with their familial packs.”

“Why make them move back at all if it’s only temporary?” I ask, confused on why Nathaniel’s father would force the issue like that.

Unhappiness tightens Holden’s features. “I don’t think Nathaniel’s father believes our bond is true. He thinks Nathaniel is just acting out, and once he’s back home, he’ll try to convinceNathaniel to mate with an Omega from one of the outher Burton packs to force him into staying.”

Ugly jealousy rises at the thought. “He can’t force something like that!”

“No, and Nathaniel will never give in.” He squeezes my hand in reassurance. “We’ve had our lawyer review the clause in the contract, and there’s nothing that requires Nathaniel and Blake to remain with their familial packs forever. Eventually, we’d be back together.”

But even a temporary separation is too much to have demanded, especially for a bonded pack like theirs. That Nathaniel’s father would even put such a thing in writing speaks to the cruelty of his nature.

My stomach clenches. “What would happen to Misty Pines?”

Holden’s gaze drops. “If we default on the stipulations of the loan, then we have to repay what we’ve already spent. We don’t have enough liquid income to cover it, so the island would have to be sold.”

And Nathaniel’s father would get his hands on the property he thought would be his when his wife died. It might be the writer in me, but it feels like a setup.

Is Nathaniel’s father cruel enough to orchestrate everything to make sure the resort project fails? Is he willing to do that just to gain what he wants, all while crushing his own son’s confidence and stealing his legacy?

Were my mother in his position, she would without a second’s thought. I just hope his father is a better person than my mother.

The need to go to Nathaniel and offer comfort rises within me. “Do you think he’s been down in the gym long enough?”

Holden smiles at me, a soft, sweet expression that crinkles the corners of his eyes and sets off the butterflies in my stomach.“You should go check. I’ll make some post-workout shakes to take with you, so you have an excuse to interrupt.”

Holden bustles around the kitchen, pulling ingredients and bringing out a blender.

When he places the bottles in my hands, the cool glass chills my skin.

I clutch them close to my chest and follow his directions to the gym. As I descend the stairs, the rhythmic thud of fists hitting pads reaches my ears, accompanied by the grunts and heavy breathing of two Alphas immersed in their workout.

My nose twitches at the heady aroma of sweat and pheromones that grows stronger with each step, the mixture of applewood and clove setting my heart racing.

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