Page 76 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

The massive thug thrashes against Dominic’s hold, his beefy arms swinging wildly as he tries to break free. His feet kick out, scattering snow, but Garrett is there, slamming fists into him while Dominic’s grip tightens around his throat. The thug’s face pales, and his movements become sluggish. I don’t want to see this, but I can’t look away.

The hands that were clawing at Dominic’s arms begin to fall away, his legs buckling beneath him. A wet, choking sound escapes from behind the balaclava, and his eyes roll back. Finally, his massive body sags, dead weight in Dominic’s arms as consciousness leaves him. He drops him in the snow.

Garrett breaks away the moment the henchman falls, crossing to me in three long strides. His hands are impossibly gentle as they frame my face, brushing away snow and tears I hadn’t realized were falling. Those deep eyes scan my face.

“Are you hurt, sweetheart?” His voice breaks. “Fuck, I would die if anything happened to you. Please, Ruby, tell me he didn’t hurt you. Tell me we weren’t too late.”

I shake my head, emotion overwhelming me. The familiar scent of him has my chest aching with how much I’ve missed them. Even through the memory of betrayal, the fact that they came for me breaks something open inside.

“I’m okay,” I manage. “Just cold. So cold.”

Dominic drags the unconscious thug inside by the foot while Knox keeps Marcus pinned to the ground, one heavy boot on his chest. Blood runs from Marcus’s nose as he whimpers pathetic apologies.

“Shut the fuck up,” Knox snarls, pressing down harder. His ice-blue eyes find mine, softening instantly. “I almost died not seeing you these past days, pretty girl.”

I’m melting on the inside.

“We’re going to make this right.” He swallows hard. “You have to let us try. Please.”

Dominic returns with rope from inside the house and begins binding Marcus’s legs at the ankles, then his wrists, as Knox hauls him up. I stay pressed against Garrett, craving his warmth and protection despite everything. The pain in Dominic’s dark eyes is raw as he catches my gaze.

“I’m so sorry, angel,” he says softly, moving to my side. “We’ve been searching everywhere since you disappeared. Going out of our minds.” His hand hovers near my cheek but doesn’t quite touch it. “We’re going to make it right, you’ll see. Whatever it takes.”

Words fail me as tears sting my eyes. The cold has set my teeth chattering, and Garrett holds me tighter, his chin resting on my head. Knox speaks quietly to Dominic, something about taking care of the backup he called, while Marcus continues to whine.

I still can’t believe they found me, that they saved me, that they made that asshole pay.

“We need to leave,” Garrett murmurs against my hair. “Get you somewhere warm.” He hesitates. “Home, if you’ll let us.”

I nod. “I’d like that.”

They load a bound and sobbing Marcus into the back of the SUV, and Knox returns to me, pulling me into his arms. His scent of chocolate and thunderstorms wraps around me like a blanket.

“You’re mine. Ours.” He kisses my brow, his lips warm against my cold skin.

“Ours?” I question, glancing at the three of them as the other two approach, their boots crunching in the snow. We’re beneath the overhang at the back of the house, sheltered from the worst of the storm, but their breath still comes out in white puffs in the freezing air.

To my shock, all three Alphas sink to their knees in front of me, snow soaking through their jeans. Knox’s ice-blue eyes shine with unshed tears while Garrett’s hands tremble as he reaches for mine. Dominic’s usual stern expression has crumbled into something raw and vulnerable.

“We had every intention of sharing you from the beginning,” Garrett starts, his voice rough. “If you’d have all three of us. But we wanted to meet you first, to make sure we connected naturally, without pressure.”

“Then we experienced the scent match,” Dominic continues, running a hand through his black hair. “That irresistible connection that none of us could walk away from if we tried. You have to understand, Ruby… the moment I caught your scent, my whole world shifted.”

Knox squeezes my hand. “We planned to meet you separately because we wanted you to see us in our everyday lives. No fake first-date behavior, no pressure. Just real connections forming naturally at the bar, the brewery, during ski lessons. But we fucked up.” His voice cracks. “We took away your right to make that choice for yourself.”

“Without you, I’m losing my mind,” Garrett confesses, snow melting in his dark hair. “Every time someone orders a drink at the brewery, I turn, expecting to see you. I’ll burn down the whole damn world to make this right.”

Tears sting my eyes as I look at them—three powerful Alphas on their knees in the snow, their faces etched with regret and longing. Deep inside, past the hurt, I know they’re telling the truth. But...

“I’m still pissed at you,” I say, my voice wobbling. “Do you know how many people in my life have tried to tell me what an Omega can or can’t do? What choices I’m allowed to make?”

“We fucked up,” Dominic acknowledges, his dark eyes intense. “What can we do to show you we’re sorry?”

I wrap my arms around myself, fighting the urge to fall into their embrace.

“Time,” I whisper. “If you’re serious about this, about us, you’ll be patient. Maybe we can try normal dates again, start over...”

“Yes,” they say in unison, hope blooming on their faces.

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