Page 33 of Knot Her Mountain Men

“She understands me.” My movements were snappy, bordering on frantic, trying to get my message across. “No one outside our pack understands me.”

“Like, communication-wise, or as a person?”

“Both,” I signed my reply.

It was pretty fucking prudent of fate to give us an omega who understood sign language. It should have been a lot more common than it was.

“I don’t know what she’s like in town,” I continued, brows furrowing as I concentrated, “but she’s at peace here, even without power.” I pointed to the dark lights overhead. We weren’t in the best position to give our omega the perfect home experience and she didn’t seem to mind. I had heard of some scent matches who were fundamentally opposed even with fate working on them. Thank the gods Morgan wasn’t a city girl.

Going into town was a unique nightmare for me. Communication was barely possible with the people there and half the time I had to write down what I needed. I didn’t go often, letting the others handle anything that needed doing around people, but every so often it was unavoidable.

I pinned a few more blankets on the inside of the canvas, making it look more like a mismatched mini circus tent than a camouflage hunting tent. I layered the bottom with a row of twin mattresses out of the bunk rooms, topping them with a ton of other blankets. The mattresses retained a bit of scent from our guests, but Kit and I could take care of that when we were finished.

“We got a brave one,” said Kit.

“Her heat spooked her.”

“Maybe so, but she doesn’t have to spend the day with Ryder and Maverick because of that. They don’t have their scents right now. She could get through the heat with just you and me, or suffer through it by herself.”

“It’s her first heat inyears,” I signed sharply. “She needs everyone.”

Kit sighed. “You’re probably right. Do you think we’re up to it? Regular heats can be rough. I don’t know what to expect from one that’s been suppressed since her first.”

Whatever happened, we would take care of our omega.

Kit took a break from nest building to load some bread dough into the little wood oven built into the fireplace to go with dinner when everyone came home.

I couldn’t wait for Morgan’s return. As much as I knew the others needed this time with her, I was eager to wrap around her in her new nest. Assuming she liked it, of course.

Maybe she’d like it enough to stay…

The trip out to the hot springs on snowmobiles took only a couple of minutes. Ry and I had gone out earlier to make sure the trail was safe and clear. The last thing I wanted was to deal with downed trees or getting stuck in the snow after Morgan’s ordeal.

She clung to Ryder as we zoomed across the snow, coming to a stop near the bubbling pool. Steam rose theatrically in rolling clouds and whispering tendrils, the snow hanging heavy on the banks.

“You guys have fun,” said Ryder.

“You’re not staying?” asked Morgan.

“I’m gonna let you two get to know each other. If you’re still feeling up to it later, I’ll take you out with the cameras at golden hour. I’ll come back to check on you guys if you’re not back by lunch. The trail is nice and packed down and it’s only about a ten-minute hike back if the snowmobile gives you any grief.”

Morgan hopped off, glancing nervously toward me. “We’re okay to stay out here?”

“Definitely,” I replied. “I spend half my winter out here when we’re not working anyway. Nothing better for the body than a soak in hot springs.”

She nodded decisively and dared to tip forward, kissing Ryder on the cheek. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime, beautiful. I’ll get the sauna warming for you before I go.”

I helped him with the quick task, only needing to get the little fire going in the woodstove so it would be hot inside the cedar shed we’d put together. When we finished, Ryder beamed at her and then hopped on his machine, getting it to roar back to life, albeit with some concerning sputters. He made a loop around the trees to head home, Pumpkin chasing after him.

“How much do you want to take off to go in?” I asked when the sound of the snowmobile had disappeared. Usually I would strip down to nothing, but I wasn’t sure what Morgan would be comfortable with.

“Bear gave me one of his wool shirts so even if I get wet, it’ll still keep me warm.”

I guess that meant naked was a no go. I could suffer with wet undies. I whipped my clothes off quickly, the cold making goosebumps erupt over my skin, my nipples sharp enough to cut glass. I wrapped everything up inside my jacket and scaled the stone steps we had installed a few years back. This end of the pool was closer to a cozy bath, but deeper in, where the water bubbled up from the ground, it got hot as hell.

I turned my back while Morgan stripped, waiting for her to give me the go-ahead so I could help her down the steps. Bear’s shirt hung almost to her knees, and her hand disappeared inside mine when I closed my fingers around it, leading her into the water. I was keenly aware she didn’t have a stitch on her beneath that shirt. The fabric floated up around her waist as she submerged and she shoved it down as best she could.

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