Page 54 of Knot My Luck

I hesitate, then take a deep breath. “I was supposed to go visit and stay with my family for a few days, but…” I trail off, knowing I don’t need to explain.

The pack bond is new, and I can already feel how it tethers me to them in a way that makes the thought of being away from them feelwrong. And there’s no way I’m ready to drag them all with me and introduce them to my ma and pa as my new pack.

“If you want an excuse to get out of it,” Lorcan says carefully, “we could always offer an alternative.”

I look at him. “What do you mean?”

“Come to Silver with us,” Cathal says simply. “Just for a couple of weeks. Let the bond settle before you throw yourself back into normal life. I think it would be…uncomfortable for you guys to be apart, and none of us want you to be in pain, baby.”

My heart gives a strange, eager little lurch. “Are you all sure?”

Tadhg snorts. “Devlin, we just bonded you. You really think we’d be fine with you going off on your own right now? It would be painful, for all of us and our alphas would go insane trying to get to you.”

I glance between them, warmth blooming in my chest at the quiet certainty in their eyes. I don’t have to think too hard about my answer.

“Alright,” I say softly. “I’ll come with you.”

Lorcan grins. “Good.”

Cathal nudges my knee under the table, quiet approval in his simple touch. Tadhg just smirks, looking far too pleased with himself. And I sit there, holding my tea, feeling something settle inside me.

This is happening. I don’t know what the future holds, but at least, for now, I know exactly where I belong.

As we finish up our meal, Lorcan and Tadhg stand, stretching before grabbing the bill between them.

“We’ll go settle up,” Lorcan says with a wink, already heading toward the front.

Tadhg follows, ruffling my hair playfully on the way past. “Try not to miss us too much.”

That leaves just me and Cathal.

The easy warmth of the moment cools slightly, tension creeping back in as the weight of unspoken things lingers between us. He sits back in his chair, hands clasped together on the table, staring at them as though searching for the right words.

“I need to say something,” he mutters finally, glancing up at me. His blue eyes – so similar to Tadhg’s yet so much more serious – are laced with something raw and uncertain.

I nod, bracing myself. “Okay.”

He exhales, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I’m sorry. For everything. For how I treated you, for how I made you feel like you weren’t enough when you were alwaystoomuch – in the best damn way.” His throat bobs. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know that I regret it. All of it.”

A lump forms in my throat. I don’t doubt his sincerity – I canfeelit – but that doesn’t mean everything is magically fixed.

“I appreciate you saying that,” I say carefully. “But you do realise this isn’t something that just goes away overnight, right?”

He nods quickly, almost too quickly. “Of course. I don’t expect?—”

“I’m not saying I don’t want to try,” I interrupt, my voice softer now. “Because I do. But this…you and me? It’s going to be a slower path than it is with Lorcan and Tadhg.”

His shoulders relax slightly, as though just hearing that is enough to ease some of his fears. “That’s okay. I’m more than okay with that.” He swallows, then holds my gaze. “I’m just thankful for the chance to be in your life again, in whatever capacity.”

His words settle something inside me, and I reach across the table, covering his hand with mine. “Don’t be silly. You’re my fated mate, Cathal. We just have a few things to work through first. But Idobelieve we’ll get there.” I squeeze his hand. “Because I still have feelings for you.”

Understatement, my omega screams. She can shut up. We know we still love him, but we don’t have to tell him that. Not yet.

Cathal inhales sharply, as if my words physically affect him. His fingers tighten around mine, and for a moment, he just stares at me like he’s committing this moment to memory. Then, hesitantly, he asks, “Can I kiss you?”

A small laugh escapes me, the tension between us shifting into something warmer. “You’d better,” I tease.

He doesn’t hesitate. Leaning across the table, he cups my cheek and brushes his lips against mine – soft at first, almost like he’s waiting for me to pull away. But I don’t. I lean into him, deepening the kiss just slightly, letting him feel that I mean it. That Iwantthis.

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