Page 58 of Knot My Luck

The tears come, hot and painful, and I don’t know how long I stand there, letting them fall. It’s too much. Everything is too much. I want to scream, to rage, to lash out at the unfairness of it all, but instead, I just stand there, my hands clenched at my sides, trying to keep myself from falling apart completely.

I hear footsteps and look over my shoulder, expecting to see Cathal, or maybe Tadhg. Even Lorcan. But no one is there. I’m alone. But the back of my neck prickles like maybe I’m not.

I thought maybe they’d come after me. I thought maybe they’d follow, try to find me, try to make sure I was okay. But no one is here.

I’m alone.

Which is exactly what I wanted. To be alone, to figure out what I want, what I need, what’s next.

Or at least I thought it was.

But now I’m wondering if maybe it’s not what I need.

TWELVE

Lorcan

The quiet hum of the movie and the soft rustle of popcorn are the only sounds filling the suite as Tadhg and I lounge on the couch. I’m not really watching, though. My mind keeps wandering, replaying everything from today. It’s hard to focus on anything else when my thoughts keep pulling back to her – how she looked, how she’s feeling, how much she’s letting herself trust us.

But when she was here, curled up between Tadhg and me, something in the air felt different. Tension. A quiet unease thrums through the bond that hasn’t left since we agreed she’d come back with us to Silver. I can feel it building under the surface, just out of reach, like a storm that’s been gathering on the horizon.

And then the balcony door slides open.

I don’t even need to look at Tadhg to know what’s coming. Devlin steps inside, her face pale and taut with emotion. It’s clear she’s upset even without her emotions screaming down the bond. More than upset. She’sdistressed. Her caramel apple scent has taken on a burnt quality and there’s virtually no trace of the pecan and cinnamon. I don’t know what happened out there, but I’m already rising to my feet before she’s even fully through the door.

She doesn’t say anything. She just looks at us, her expression a mix of panic, confusion, fear, and something darker that I can’t quite place.

Then, without another word, she turns on her heel, rushing toward the door of the suite.

“Devlin!” Tadhg calls after her, but she doesn’t stop.

I’m up and moving in an instant, but I’m too late. She’s already racing past the hallway, through the suite, and out the door into the hallway.

“Shit!” I growl, gripping the back of the couch.

I hear Cathal’s footsteps, fast, heavy. He’s moving toward her, but I don’t know what happened out there. I don’t know what’s wrong. What he said or didn’t say, what he did or didn’t do to upset her.

I don’t wait to find out. I push past Cathal, standing in the doorway with his hand still outstretched like he’s trying to stop her. His jaw is tight, his eyes frantic, but I’m not in the mood for words.

“What did youdothis time?” I growl, my voice low but sharp.

Cathal’s eyes flash, the storm inside him matching my own. “I don’t know,” he mutters, hands raised, palms out in surrender.

That’s it. That’s all he has for me right now. Our usually so cocky and self-assured, confident andnever wrongleader has nothing but a shrug and a face full of worry for an explanation.

I don’t give him a chance to explain further. Instead, I pull on my shoes in a fury, motioning for Tadhg to follow me. “Stay put,” I snap at Cathal before I’m out the door, and I don’t wait to see if he listens.

Tadhg’s right behind me as we race down the hallway, out into the night, scanning for any sign of her. My heart pounds in my chest, urgency biting at me with every step.

We don’t have to search long. A flicker of movement up ahead – a figure darting between the shadows and the beams of the streetlights. Devlin.

Mine!My alpha roars and we pick up the pace.

“Devlin!” Tadhg shouts, but his voice is swallowed by the night. She doesn’t even turn.

Tadhg looks ready to call out again, but I stop him with a sharp motion. He gives me a questioning glance, but I don’t explain right away. She needs space. If she’s running, if she’sescapinglike I think she is, she doesn’t need us crowding her.

“She’ll hear us,” I murmur low, my eyes still fixed on her silhouette in the distance. “We’ll follow. Give her space. But we keep our eyes on her. Give her time to calm down.”

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