Page 48 of Knot Your Baby

I smile. “And thank you for letting me stay last night,” I murmur.

“Did I let you? If I remember right, you broke into my home.”

I smile. “We need to deal with that lock.”

She returns my smile. “Come back tonight.” Her voice is hopeful, vulnerable.

“I can’t. I’m on the night shift.”

She forces a laugh, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Right. I’ll be busy doing baby stuff and sorting out my crappy life.”

The false brightness in her voice cuts deeper than any blade. Stone’s cries grow louder, and I force myself to step back before I change my mind.

“Good bye,” she says.

“See you later.”

I stride down the steps, cursing the lack of an elevator. Freya and Stone need to move into our place until it’s fixed. Maybe that will be enough for Thorne to fall for her. Just a little time in her company, and he’ll see how incredible she is.

I laugh to myself while driving home, imagining Freya coaxing Thorne out of his serious shell. He might actually crack a smile for once. Miller? He’ll definitely appreciate her. The thought makes me giddy.

When I walk into the house, Miller inhales deeply as I pass him, eyebrows raised.

“Something smells good,” he says, eyeing me like I’ve just walked in with a trophy.

“It’s not just the food,” I reply, holding up the take out I picked up on the way back. “I want to talk to you both over breakfast.”

Thorne glances up from his phone as I walk into the kitchen. “What’s got you grinning like an idiot?”

“Freya.” My heart swells. “She’s wonderful. She’s so caring. And I bet she’d love more kids.”

Miller raises an eyebrow while Thorne watches me closely.

“Has she seen your scars?” Thorne asks, skepticism clear in his tone.

I nod as I touch my neck where Freya’s hand rested earlier. “She wanted to put some cream on them to help.”

Miller exchanges a look with Thorne that speaks volumes. I know he’s interested, but his curiosity mingles with concern as he stares at Thorne.

“What’s her scent?” Miller probes, leaning in slightly as if trying to catch a whiff of her.

The grin on my face widens. “It’s the same as mine—strawberry, lime, and tequila.”

“What? Are you sure?” Thorne shakes his head. “Maybe she sought you out, Zane. The same as what Maya did to me.”

“No, it’s real. She’s ours,” I say, letting that sink in. “She’s given up on finding an alpha—a pack. If you meet her, you’ll see. She comes across as really outgoing and chatty, but she’s more vulnerable than you see on the surface. I don’t think her family is very close to her.”

“How would you know that?” Miller asks.

“I saw the photos. She’s always in the background.”

“That means nothing.” Thorne stands and brings back the coffeepot, pouring the hot liquid into three cups.

I shake my head. “Have you ever heard of Danielle Rose?”

“Everyone has heard of her. She’s the actress who won an Oscar at the same time her younger daughter won one for the supporting actress category.”

“Do you know her daughter’s name?” I ask.

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