Page 48 of Knot My Luck

After a few moments, I offer her the water again, and she takes a sip, her lips brushing against the bottle in a way that makes my dick twitch.

“Now, a shower,” I say, my voice slipping back into that calm, coaxing tone. “You’ve earned it. You’ve had enough...enough of them for now.”

She’s already shaking her head before I finish speaking, her expression stubborn, needy. “No. Don’t want to leave. Want them...Need. Nest. Mine. Mates. Please, alpha. Join us…”

I soften my voice, knowing how to handle her when she’s like this, even though the temptation to take her up on the offer has my alpha roaring and beating against his cage, trying to break free.

“Devlin,” I press, my hand reaching for her chin, guiding her gaze to meet mine. “You need to shower.” I’m gentle, but firm. This is her alpha speaking now and shewilllisten. “You need to take care of yourself, so that you can keep them satisfied. You’ll feel better, and it will make you an even better omega for them. Trust me.”

For a long moment, she doesn’t move, but then she shifts her weight, pushing herself up, slowly. “Fine,” she mumbles, not looking at me, but she moves toward the bathroom, her bare feet padding quietly on the floor.

I give her a moment, then turn to the others. “Change the sheets. Eat. Drink. If you can, take a nap.” My gaze locks with Lorcan’s. “I’ll distract her for as long as possible. Give yourselves a rest.”

Lorcan growls low in his throat, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “You better not bite her, Cathal. She’s not in her right mind and you guys still have shit to sort out.”

I give him a sharp, reassuring look, my voice cold but controlled. “I won’t bite her. I won’t even fuck her. Not yet. Not when she doesn’t want me.” I’ll keep my bitter promise, but the urge is always there, gnawing at me. For now, I swallow it.

With that, I follow Devlin into the bathroom, quietly locking the door behind me, the soft click of the lock echoing in the small space between us.

She’s already in the shower, the water pouring over her, steam filling the air. The sight of her – naked, water cascading down her curves – hits me like a freight train.

“Let me help,” I say gently, my tone shifting back to that coaxing, smooth voice she can’t resist.

She gives me a sideways glance, barely acknowledging me, her body still trembling slightly from the aftershocks of her earlier orgasms. “I don’t need help,” she mutters under her breath, voice soft and laced with exhaustion.

I step closer, leaning against the edge of the shower, eyes watching her every movement. “You do,” I reply, my gaze softening as I reach for a bottle of shampoo. “Let me wash your hair. You’ve done enough for today. You’re such a good omega for your alphas, let me take care of you.”

She hesitates, her body stiffening, but she eventually turns toward me, and nods and then moves to the side to allow me space to join her.

I quickly pull off my clothes and guide her where I want her, under the spray. The water runs through her hair, and I feel something settle in my chest as I work my fingers through her wet tangled strands. The connection is still there. She’s still mine, even if it’s not the way it used to be.

I drown in her scent, a mix of sweat, the faintest trace of our pack, and something entirely her own. My body reacts, blood running hot beneath my skin, but I keep control, because this is about her right now. It’s always been about her.

Her eyes flicker shut as I gently massage her scalp, her body relaxing into my touch as I murmur words of praise and encouragement to her. And for a moment, everything feels right again.

I let my hands glide through her wet hair, fingers working slowly, carefully, detangling each knot with the tenderness she deserves. Her strands are soft, slippery under my touch, the water running over us both as I hum a soft tune, something calming, something old. The gentle hum fills the air, blending with the sound of the water cascading down the tiles, and I watch as she begins to relax into my touch, her shoulders softening, her body leaning into me just the slightest bit.

Her breath evens out, steadying, and I’m reminded of just how much I’ve missed her – how much I’ve missed this. The intimacy, the connection, even if it’s only for a moment. I focus on that, my mind cutting through the jagged edges of jealousy, the possessiveness. This is not the time for that. This is about her. About us.

Her body trembles again, but this time it’s different. It’s not from the aftershocks of what we’ve all shared, but from something deeper, something I can’t quite place. She leans back into my touch as I rinse the shampoo from her hair, my fingers gliding over her scalp, gentle but firm, like I’ve always known how to make her feel safe.

“You’re beautiful, Devlin,” I tell her quietly, like it’s a secret just for her. “I’ve always thought so, but seeing the woman, the omega, you’ve become, brings me to my knees in awe.”

She doesn’t answer right away, but the softening of her features tells me she’s hearing me. Maybe she needs to hear it, even if she won’t admit it. I know this – she needs to know that she’s more than just a body to be claimed, more than just a pawn in a game that’s bigger than either of us.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” I add, my voice steady and reassuring, though I know I’m lying in a way. I have no idea what comes next. I don’t know how we’ll fix everything, how we’ll get back to what we were – or what we could be. But Iwillfix this. I’ll do whatever it takes. “Your omega has chosen the best possible alphas to care for and love you. I wouldn’t have been able to pick anyone better for you.”

She opens her eyes slowly, looking up at me from beneath wet lashes. There’s something raw in her gaze, a vulnerability she doesn’t show often, and for a fleeting second, I think I see a flicker of what we once had. But before I can say anything more, she looks away, pulling her focus back to the water.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

I turn off the water and reach for the towel, wrapping it around her slender frame, careful not to touch too much, knowing that if I did, I’d be lost again. I help her step out of the shower, my hand steady at her back as she stumbles slightly, the effects of everything still weighing on her.

Once she’s fully wrapped, I take a step back and let her breathe. I’m so fucking close to just taking her again, to marking her, to reminding her just whose she is. But I hold back. It’s about trust, not force. Not now. Not yet.

“Let’s get you something more to eat,” I say, my voice rougher than I intend. “You’ve done so well, Devlin. So so good.”

She doesn’t reply, but I don’t expect her to. Not yet. I’ve seen the exhaustion in her eyes. It’s not just physical, it’s more than that. Her whole world has shifted, and I’m trying to put the pieces back together, but even I know this won’t be easy.

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