Page 99 of Seen Knot Heard

“No, not yet.” I risk a look at him, and that damn flutter returns. “I’ll let you know when I do. Whatever it is, though, I’ll be writing the next three books, so I figure it’s better to get a head start. Revisions take longer than the first draft does for me.”

“You always were one to do your homework.” His smile comes and goes. “Should we file a restraining order for Louie, too?”

“No!” Fear jolts through me, and when Quinn turns our way, I lower my voice. “No, it would only infuriate him, and he’d find a way around it.”

A silence falls between us.

“I agree.” Nathaniel’s hand moves up to my shoulder. “Louie knows exactly what he’s doing. The threat of police has never stopped him before.”

“Because he pays them off.” Dominic’s jaw works. “No one gets to hurt you, Chloe. Not your mother, and not him.”

I stare at him, wanting to believe. But Louie’s not a force that’s easy to push back. He’s relentless when it comes to getting what he wants, and for whatever reason, he set his sights on me.

What did he mean by investing in me all those years ago? He can’t have become infatuated at first sight. Not when I was a penniless child. It no longer feels like I was simply the hostage to my mother’s debt.

But what other reason could there be besides profiting off me?

There’s no pull of a bond with him like I have with the Alphas of Misty Pines.

So, why me?

Chapter Thirty

Nathaniel

Afurrow forms between Chloe’s brows, her expression troubled, and her floral scent takes on a bitter note.

My hand moves from her back to her neck, and I massage behind her ear. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitates, fidgeting with her collar. “I’m scared of what else Louie might do to get me back.”

The tremble in her voice tugs at my heart. I want to pull her into my arms and shield her from the world, but I hold back, waiting for her to continue.

“The first time I tried to run away…” She swallows hard. “He took away the laptop he’d given me. And put me on an even harsher food restriction than before.”

A growl comes from Dominic, his knuckles whitening as his hands clench into fists. “I’m going to kill that bastard.”

“Shush.” I turn toward Quinn, who had paused in her cleanup duty to peer toward us with a frown. “I still see glitter, princess. Why don’t you ask Holden for something to help clean it up?”

She whines but slides off the bench to stomp into the kitchen.

My attention returns to Chloe, and I cup her soft cheek. “You’re safe now. Our pack will never let Louie hurt you again.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” she protests. “What if?—”

“No what ifs,” I say. “We’re going to protect you, no matter what. Louie can’t touch you anymore. You’re pack now, and we take care of what’s ours.”

Her lips part on a shaky exhale, and a purr rumbles in my chest when she doesn’t protest. She’s not pack yet, but she will be. We all know it’s only a matter of time. The bond hums with her presence in our home, and when her Heat hits, we’ll Mark her, claiming every inch of her rosy skin so no Alpha can ever touch her again.

I long to capture that sweet mouth with my own, to taste her. Claim her. I want to erase all traces of Louie from her body and fill her with me instead, but the buzzing of my phone in my pocket interrupts me.

Dammit. Not now.

Frustrated, I pull it out, intending to silence it, but Chloe sees the name on the screen first.

Her brow furrows. “Is that your dad? You should answer it. It could be important.”

My thumb hovers over the answer button, not wanting to take my focus off her when she’s still upset. But the phone keeps vibrating insistently in my hand.

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