Page 99 of Knot Your Baby

“Your assistant did this?” O’Hearn’s shock mirrors what I felt when I first learned of Maya’s involvement. “Maybe your assistant needs to be punished,” O’Hearn says. His tone could freeze over hell. “I take it she is an omega.”

The implication in his tone makes a chill slide down my spine. Before Thorne can respond, I step forward.

“Don’t hurt her. Being an omega is hard,” I say. “She wanted my alpha, and this was her revenge against me. You were caught in the crossfire.”

O’Hearn assesses me, then turns back to Thorne. “You have an interesting mate, Mr. Stone. Understanding. Caring. Beautiful.”

Another alpha thinks I’m beautiful.

“We do and she is all that and much more,” Thorne agrees, his hand finding the small of my back. The touch grounds me, connects us. “And I believe our business here is concluded.”

After O’Hearn leaves, escorted out by Zane, I remain in the office with Thorne, the revelation of Maya’s manipulation remaining heavy in the air.

“Why did you bring him here?” I ask finally. “You already knew the truth.”

Concern etches itself into every line around Thorne’s eyes. “He deserved to know he was being used. And...” He hesitates. “I needed you to see that every loose end is being tied up. That no one will threaten what’s ours again.”

Ours.The word settles over me like a cozy blanket.

“Is that what I am now?” I dare to ask. “Yours?”

He takes my hands in his. There’s a slight tremble in his fingers that belies his calm exterior. “If you want to be. If you can forgive me for everything that came before.”

“I’m not the same Freya who followed you around hoping to be noticed,” I tell him honestly. “And you’re not the same Thorne who pushed me away.”

“No,” he agrees quietly. “We’re not.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing.” I take a deep breath. “Maybe we needed to become these people to find our way here.”

His fingers tighten around mine. “And where is here, Freya?”

I look up at him—my alpha, my mate, the father of my child—and feel the outer walls around my heart begin to crumble.

“With your pack,” I whisper. “If you’ll have us.”

The smile that breaks across his face is unlike I’ve ever seen him make before. He pulls me against him, his heartbeat strong beneath my cheek. “Our pack is your pack, Freya. This is your home now.”

Home!My heart soars like a joyful bird, singing a tune of pure elation.

“I was never letting you go once I knew,” he promises. “I just took too long to realize how perfect you are. But I’ll make up for it every day of your life.”

Chapter 29

Zane

The early morning lightfilters through the kitchen blinds, painting stripes across the marble countertops as I flip another pancake. Behind me, Freya’s laughter mingles with Miller’s deeper chuckle—a sound that’s become more common in the pack house these past few days.

“I’m just saying,” Miller continues, “if Stone inherits Thorne’s appetite, we’re going to need a second refrigerator.”

“Or a third,” I add, sliding the finished pancake onto the growing stack. “Don’t forget, he’s got Freya’s genes, too. I’ve seen her put away an entire chocolate cake by herself.”

“That was one time!” Freya protests, but she’s smiling as she bounces Stone gently in her arms. “And I was eating for two.”

“You already had Stone by then,” I add with a laugh.

“Breastfeeding makes me hungry.”

“It makes me hungry.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “I haven’t had a taste in days.”

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