Page 51 of Seen Knot Heard

He turns back to me, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “What’s wrong?”

“Please, stay with me.” My voice trembles with sudden fear. “Just until I fall asleep.”

He hesitates, searching my face.

My pulse races with fear as I reach out my hand to him. “I don’t want to be alone. Not right now.”

Understanding softens his features. “Okay.”

He toes off his shoes and pads over to the bed. I flip back the quilts, and he slides in next to me, the mattress dipping with his weight.

I roll into him and curl against his side, my head resting on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calming my sudden panic.

“Thank you.” Careful with my cast, I rest my arm on his chest. “For saving me. For giving me hope.”

His arm wraps around me, snuggling me close. “Chloe, I…”

“And for telling me about Grady.” My voice catches, tears pricking at my eyes. All I’ve done since they rescued me is cry. “Knowing he’s alive, that the doctors are just waiting for him to wake up… It means everything to me.”

Holden’s fingers thread through my hair, his touch gentle. “Shh, it’s okay.” A soft purr rumbles in his chest, the sound vibrating through me, easing the ache in my heart. “He’ll recover, Chloe. I promise.”

I cuddle closer, body heavy as exhaustion tugs at me. Holden’s purr, his scent, and his touch weave a cocoon of safety around me, lulling me toward sleep.

As I drift off, his lips brush against my forehead. “Thank you for choosing me as your Alpha.”

Chapter Sixteen

Nathaniel

The garden shears cut through the stem of the Persian buttercup in front of me with ease, and I add them to the pile I’ve already collected. With the mild winter we had, these gorgeous flowers made an early appearance in February.

The blooms aren’t fully open yet, but the pinks in the flowers will be lovely when paired with the white hyacinths I clipped earlier. I run a calloused finger over the delicate petals and take a deep breath.

After the disaster at the docks, I used the walk up to the Homestead to cool my head. When I arrived home, I found Blake, Dominic, and Quinn creating a mess on the dining table with an art project involving pinecones, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and way too much glitter.

We desperately need to finish the upstairs space. We can’t be glitter-bombing our guests once the resort opens.

I was drawn to the back hall, and I told the others I planned to pull weeds in the garden. They had given me knowing stares and allowed my flimsy excuse.

In truth, I hoped to catch a glimpse of Chloe, to check if her door was open to make amends for how I handled her arrival at the dock. I acted like a hormonal Alpha teenager, encounteringpheromones for the first time. I let my Alpha take too much control, but with my instincts restrained nowl, I wanted to properly introduce myself.

And I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t also acknowledge I wanted to be closer to the tantalizing Omega who awoke these dormant desires within me.

The door to her suite was shut, though, so I followed through with my earlier statement and busied my hands with the earth instead, gathering an apology in flower form. Blossoms the shades of her blush, with a fragrance that compliments but doesn’t overwhelm her own alluring scent.

An offering of peace.

I stride back toward the house, bouquet in hand. When I open the door, I find Dominic and Blake huddled outside Chloe’s now open room.

I stride forward. “What are you two doing?”

Their heads whip in my direction. Blake holds a finger to his lips while Dominic gestures for me to shush, both of their expressions a warning.

Flower stems gripped tightly, I move closer with quiet steps until I can peer over their shoulders into Chloe’s room. The scene before me isn’t at all what I expect.

On her bed, Chloe lies curled up, fast asleep with Holden, their heads nestled together, and his arms wrapped around her smaller form. They both appear clothed, Holden still in what he wore earlier, as if he didn’t plan to fall asleep.

A sense of contentment washes over me, and my Alpha rumbles in approval.

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