Page 133 of Knot Like Other Girls

Is that what we're becoming? It's been so long since I thought of myself as part of anything that wasn't military or pack-related. The idea of being someone's family—her family—feels bigger than I'm ready to examine too closely.

"Well, if we're family," Troy says, breaking the silence, "Liam's definitely the grumpy uncle everyone avoids pissing off at Christmas."

"And you're the jock who never grew up," I shoot back.

"If we're assigning family roles," Savva chimes in, "Roman is clearly the stern father figure."

Roman makes a sound that might be a sigh or might be a laugh. It's hard to tell with him sometimes. "I didn't realize this was a slumber party with personality assessments."

Troy snorts. "Savva, you're the cool uncle with fifty degrees who brings home haunted souvenirs from across the world that fuck everyone's houses up."

"Sounds like you have personal experience with that," Savva muses.

"I do," Troy says immediately. "Cole?—"

Cole growls quietly.

Troy gives a nervous chuckle. "Never mind."

"And who am I?" Bella asks, curiosity and amusement sweetening her already beautifully sweet voice.

Five deep voices ring out in perfect unison. "Ours."

The word hangs in the air, raw and possessive and perfect. I can't see her face from my position, but I can smell the happy spike in her scent, like caramel warming over a flame.

"Right," she says softly. "Yours."

Silence falls over us again, but it's different now. Warmer. More at peace. The initial awkwardness hasn't fully dissipated—how could it, with six bodies crammed into one bed?—but there's something settling into place, like puzzle pieces finally finding their fit.

Even if a few have to be hammered in.

I shift again, trying to get comfortable without disturbing everyone else, a nearly impossible task. My left arm is going numb pinned beneath Troy, and my right is hanging off the edge of the bed. It's like being back in the barracks, only with much higher stakes.

"Nobody told me this was going to be a fucking Tetris game," I grumble, yanking my arm free.

"Are you uncomfortable?" Bella says, concern clear in her voice.

Five alphas immediately protest, mine among the loudest. "No, I'm fine. We're all fine," I insist. "Just… need to figure out where all my limbs go."

"We could cut a few off," Cole says dryly.

Savva gives him an alarmed glance.

"Easy for you to say," Troy says to Cole, shifting beside me. "You and Roman are living the dream right now."

Cole grunts from his position curled around Bella. I can't see him, but I'm willing to bet money that he's glaring at Troy. His arm is draped possessively over Bella's waist, fingertips brushing against Roman's where their arms meet across her middle.

Lucky bastards.

We're gonna need a bigger bed.

CHAPTER 37

COLE

They're all asleep. I can tell by the way their breathing has changed, grown deeper, more even. Even Bella, curled against my side like she belongs there.

I don't sleep.

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