Page 129 of Knot Like Other Girls

"We'll respect every boundary you establish," Roman promises her.

Bella's fingertips trace the rim of her wineglass. "What about... after? When it's over?"

"Lots of cuddling," Troy says with a low chuckle. "Feeding you good food, keeping you hydrated, possibly nest maintenance. Whatever makes you feel secure and cared for."

"It sounds like you've all done this before," Bella observes, a question implicit in her statement.

A moment of silence falls over the table.

"Alphas dream of finding an omega, too," Liam says with a slight crooked smile. "We're not all completely clueless. Some of us do our research."

Bella smiles at that, too. "Well… thanks."

Her smile fades into something more contemplative as she continues tracing the rim of her wineglass. The soft clink of her nail against crystal punctuates the expectant silence that has fallen over our group.

I lean forward slightly, attuned to the subtle shifts in her scent and body language. As an infiltration specialist, reading microexpressions is second nature to me, and right now, Bella's entire being radiates everything from uncertainty to desire to being flat out overwhelmed.

I watch as she takes a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling with deliberate slowness. It's a centering technique I recognize—one I've used myself in high-pressure situations. When she speaks, her voice is soft but steady.

"Tonight, I think... I just want to sleep," she says, her green eyes meeting each of ours in turn. "To rest and prepare for tomorrow."

A collective exhale ripples around the table. It's barely perceptible, but to my trained senses, it speaks volumes. There's a hint of disappointment that's quickly masked. We're all riding the razor's edge of control, our alpha instincts straining to claim while our higher reasoning fights to respect Bella's autonomy.

"Of course," Roman says, nodding. "Whatever you need."

But Bella's not finished. She worries her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment—a gesture I find endearing each time she does it—before continuing. "But... I'd like to sleep with all of you. If that's okay."

It takes considerable effort to maintain my outward composure, to not let my own hope for that show too plainly on my face.

"All of us?" Troy asks, playful but entirely serious beneath it.

Bella nods. "Just to sleep," she clarifies quickly. "I want... I need to feel safe. Surrounded. But without anything else happening yet. Is that okay?"

The question hangs in the air as we all look at each other. We've shared close quarters before, of course. Military operations and covert missions have often necessitated cramped sleeping arrangements.

But this... this is different.

This is intimate in a way that goes far beyond physical proximity. This is uncharted territory for us all. But I give her a slight nod, my decision already made. The others follow suit.

"It's more than okay," Roman says. "It's... an honor."

The word choice might seem overly formal to an outsider, but I understand the depth of meaning behind it. For alphas like us, hardened by years of combat and covert operations, to be trusted with an omega's vulnerability is no small thing.

"Thank you," Bella says, her smile soft and genuine. "I know this isn't... conventional."

I can't help the low chuckle that escapes me. "Little dove," I say, letting a hint of my native accent color my words, "I believe we left 'conventional' behind the moment we realized we were your scent matches."

This earns me a sweet little laugh from Bella. "Fair point," she concedes, raising her glass in a mock toast.

This week will bring its own challenges.

But for now, at this moment, everything is as it should be.

And that, I realize with a content smile back to her, is enough.

CHAPTER 36

LIAM

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