Page 121 of Knot Like Other Girls

"Really?" I can't help asking him directly.

He shrugs stiffly. "It's quiet on the water."

I can understand that. For someone who carries as much pain as Cole does, quiet must be precious. A respite from the noise in his own head.

"I'd like to see that sometime," I say softly. "If you wouldn't mind company. It might be a little less quiet, though."

He gives another of his short nods. "Anytime."

Something warm unfurls in my chest at his acceptance. The door between us opening more, inviting me further in.

The sky outside the window has changed, gray clouds replacing the blue expanse of earlier. The light filtering into the cabin is softer, casting everything in a gentle glow. It feels like we're suspended in a moment out of time, these five alphas and me, cocooned in a…

In a metal tube high above the earth.

Oh god.

But for the first time, I understand why people might enjoy flying. Not for the act itself, but for this liminal space it creates. This in-between place where normal rules don't quite apply.

And as the plane begins to descend, I almost wish we could stay up here forever.

CHAPTER 34

BELLA

The SUV's tires crunch over gravel as we wind our way up the mountain road. Tall pines crowd close on either side, their branches scraping against the windows. We've been driving for what feels like hours, the scenery growing wilder and more remote with each passing mile. My body aches from sitting so long, but a thrum of excitement keeps me alert.

This is it. We're really doing this.

I steal a glance at Cole beside me. His face is impassive as ever, but I catch the way his eyes constantly scan our surroundings. Always vigilant, always on guard.

Roman's voice carries from the front seat. "We're approaching the property line. Savva, run a perimeter check."

"On it," Savva replies smoothly. He taps at a tablet, his elegant fingers flying over the screen. "No unauthorized vehicles or heat signatures detected within a five-mile radius."

I blink, impressed despite myself. "You can see that far?"

Savva's lips quirk into a small smile. "We have eyes everywhere, little dove. Satellites, drones, motion sensors... this mountain is more secure than most military installations."

"And infinitely more comfortable," Troy chimes in from the driver's seat. He catches my eye in the rearview mirror and winks. "Wait till you see the hot tub."

The idea of sinking into warm, bubbling water after the long journey sounds like heaven. But it also conjures images of wet, half-naked alphas that make my cheeks flush. I look away quickly, hoping no one notices.

The trees thin out as we round a final bend, revealing a sprawling log cabin nestled against the mountainside. It's larger than I expected, with a wraparound porch and huge windows that reflect the late afternoon sun. A small dock juts out into a crystal-clear lake that stretches toward distant, snow-capped peaks.

I've barely seen the place, but it already feels more like home than Braxley's sterile penthouse ever did.

Cole is out of the car before it fully stops, prowling the perimeter with predatory grace. Liam follows close behind, his massive frame dwarfing the SUV as he stretches.

"Clear," Cole grunts after a moment.

Roman nods, satisfied. "Alright, let's get everything inside. Troy, start on dinner. Savva, set up comms. Liam, run a full property check. Cole..." He pauses, his golden eyes flickering to me. "Help Bella get settled."

My heart skips a beat at that. Cole nods sharply, his mismatched eyes finding mine. There's heat there, banked but unmistakable. My body responds instinctively, a low throb of desire pulsing between my thighs.

Focus, Bella, I chide myself.

There will be plenty of time for... that... later.

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