Page 19 of Knot that Simple

“You’re going to get in a heat soon. We’ll need Clodagh to mind Alice for a bit.”

My cheeks burned even more, and the words stuck inside my mouth. I wanted to explain to them I wasn’t much of a sexual person. I couldn’t imagine a moment my whole body was going to get hot, when I was going to beg for…them.

I brush that thought away, not wanting to confront those feelings just yet. Thankfully, they assumed my worry was just related to leaving Alice with his mom.

“My mother is noisy, but she’s a good one,” Lorcan said. “She’ll take care of Alice like she’s one of her own.”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “Can I think about it?”

I wanted to know first what Alice thought of her. I wasn't going to approve of anyone watching my kid before hearing what she had to say.

Alice always got a say about things.

Oisin smiled and kissed my hand. “Of course you can think about it. We can find someone else too.”

I nodded, distracted with watching his mouth. “Are you sure I’m going to start on a heat?”

His expression turned wolfish, something I’d never seen before. He gazed at Lorcan, who stepped closer to our group, then back to me. “You will.”

“Teresa said it won’t pass once it starts. I’ll need…” I trailed off, not sure how to finish that particular sentence.

“You’ll need us.” Lorcan dipped his chin.

Warmth curled at the base of my spine, and I shivered as it spread through my body all the way down to my toes. The decadent feelings felt so wrong, I took my hand off Oisin’s and stepped away from them. I averted my gaze, unable to put into words what exactly was so hard for me, so I just left through the first door I saw.

I wound up in the smoking area. A few people having a cigarette smiled at me and dipped their chins. I usually hated the smell, but I didn't care this time. All I wanted was to hide and this would have to do. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt like even more of an idiot.

“Are you okay?”

I turned to the voice, wiping my tears with the back of my hand and nodding too many times to be believable.

“I’m okay.”

“I understand if it’s overwhelming. People are just excited.”

Yes, I’d heard that before, and I got it. It wasn’t the party overwhelming me, but I let him think it was. I wasn’t going to explain my fears to a stranger.

“My pack sent the blood sample at the same time as yours,” he told me suddenly.

I opened my mouth, looking at him properly for the first time. He was handsome, probably in his late thirties. He looked sad.

Shit, he looked so sad.

“I’m sure she’ll come soon,” I said.

“Do you really?” He tilted his head. “I don’t know.” He then looked away. “I don’t think it’s in the cards for everyone. But they are very lucky to have you. You're very lucky to have each other. A pack is all we could ask for. It’s the only people you can trust in the world.”

“The only people I can trust in the world…” I tasted those words on my tongue, trying to digest them.

Before I could form any sort of reply, the doors opened, and Oisin appeared. His features softened when he locked eyes with me, and I offered a small smile. As he released a slow breath, his eyes moved to the man with me.

“Hey there, Cormac. Met our Gabriela?”

Theirs.

It didn’t matter how many times I heard—it affected me differently each time the word flew out of one of their mouths. A little confused, scared, but mostly, I felt warm. Relived. I have never belonged to anyone.

“She’s great. You’re lucky.” Cormac smiled, but it never really reached his eyes.

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