Page 192 of Knot Like Other Girls

"You made a frame?" I ask, surprised. I'd been so absorbed in finishing the painting, I hadn't even noticed what the others were up to.

The corner of Cole's mouth twitches in that almost-smile I've come to cherish. The one I captured in the portrait. "Been working on it while you painted. Seemed fitting."

"We've all been rather busy preparing for tonight," Savva says in that silky, smooth tone, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear that must have come loose from my ponytail.

My heart skips at the reminder.

Tonight is our marking ceremony.

And I finished the portrait just in time.

"Come on," Liam says with an excited grin. "Let's hang this masterpiece and celebrate properly."

With extreme care, they help me transport the finished canvas to the living room. Cole returns with a stunning dark wood frame with elegant yet subtle designs that clearly took countless hours to carve.

"Cole," I breathe, running my fingers along the detailed work. "It's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as what's going in it," he says.

I kiss his scarred cheek, a happy flutter in my chest when I realize he didn't flinch at all that time. "Thank you," I whisper.

Together, the alphas frame the painting while I watch, heart so full it might burst. When it's mounted above the fireplace, we all step back to see how it fits the room.

It's perfect. What was already our home now feels completely, utterly ours.

"What do you think?" I ask, suddenly shy despite myself.

An arm wraps around my shoulders as Troy pulls me against his side. "I think you're a goddamn genius, that's what I think."

"Agreed," Liam says with a low, admiring chuckle.

"I think," Roman says, moving to stand before me, "that you continually find ways to amaze us, Bella Emerson."

Savva nods in agreement. "You've captured our essence. Our pack bond."

"The bond we'll formalize tonight," Cole adds quietly.

He's right. After tonight, I'll be irrevocably theirs—and they'll be irrevocably mine. The marks on my skin will be proof of what we already know in our hearts.

"Speaking of which," Savva says, checking his watch, "we have preparations to finish."

Roman nods. "Bella, why don't you rest for a bit? You've been working on the painting for hours."

Now that he's mentioning it, I am pretty tired. Despite my excitement for tonight, finishing the portrait has left me feeling like I could use a good nap before the ceremony.

"I think I will," I murmur. "Wake me when it's time?"

"We will," Liam promises, pressing a kiss to my temple.

As they leave to finish their various tasks, I take one last look at the painting. Then I head to our bedroom for a much-needed nap, dreams of tonight's ceremony already dancing in my head.

"Bella."

Cole's gravelly voice pulls me gently from sleep. I blink awake to find him sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me with his usual intensity. I'm happy to see he's taking a break from wearing his prosthetic eye, and he isn't trying to hide it from me, either. Purring automatically, I nuzzle into his hand as it comes up to caress my cheek.

"Is it time?" I murmur, still caught in the hazy space between sleep and wakefulness.

He nods, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

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