Page 67 of Knot Her Mountain Men

The pack collected him, hustling back inside. Bear scooped me up and pulled me into the kitchen. The others came upstairs, the figure now missing his winter gear as they laid him down near the fire. Bits of red hair caught my attention.

I wiggled free from Bear’s grip and went to investigate. A wave of horror rolled over me and I threw myself to the floor next to him, clutching his frostbitten cheeks. “Oh my god! Cooper?”

Ryder looked back at me. “Who’s Cooper?”

“He’s my brother.”

“Hey, Coopy.” I’d been stretched out at his side for hours, keeping careful watch over him. I didn’t know why he was here or how he’d found me, but hopefully those answers would be forthcoming now that his eyelids were flickering.

The pack had checked him over for injuries and frostbite, hanging his clothing to warm by the fire and leaving him in his underlayers beneath a blanket near the fire.

He startled, staring at me like he was looking at a ghost. “Morgan?”

“The one and only.”

He launched over, dragging me into a crushing hug. “You’realive. Fuck.”

His voice was ragged, worse than mine had been when I arrived.

Cooper descended into a bone-jarring, wracking sob, clutching me so tightly I could barely breathe. I held him back, cupping his head and staying quiet while he cried. I had seen him shed a tear twice in my whole life—when Mom died and when his high school sweetheart, Riley, had left town.

The pack were all nearby but out of the way so Cooper wouldn’t feel crowded. I felt their eyes on me, ready to intervene or assist as needed, and Bear was warmly curious in the bond, his steady presence helping me stay calm.

“I’m alive,” I said softly. “What made you think I wasn’t?”

I hadn’t told him I was going camping with Brandon so he’d have had no reason to know I was missing. It took him a bunch more tears before he was able to answer, not letting me go in the slightest. “They—they called off the search days ago.”

A search? It hadn’t even occurred to me that anyone would look for me. I’d figured Brandon would keep quiet about everything, maybe say I’d canceled last minute and gone out on my own.

“I couldn’t stop,” Cooper croaked. “I couldn’t handle the thought of you out there all alone.”

My eyes watered and I curled against him.

He sucked in a shaky breath. His alpha scent of aged oak and autumn leaves was charred with panic. “All I could think about was your face when you were little and you got locked in the shed. You were so scared when I found you. Ihad tofind you again.” He broke off, drawing in a gasping breath. “I never expected to find you alive. I’d already made myself sick thinking about how I was going to have to lay you down next to Mom in the graveyard, but that wasn’t as bad as thinking about you in the woods all by yourself.”

I absorbed every word, tears making my throat thick and my cheeks burn. “You came after me.”

“Of course I did. The Harris babies have to stick together.” He choked off again, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

Cooper was the only brother I loved. He was the youngest boy and I was the only girl, the youngest of the whole batch, so we were both constantly shit on by our multitude of brothers. Cooper had designated himself my protector since I was a baby, and he had delayed college by a year, staying nearby until I’d turned eighteen and was able to sign my own leases to get away.

“Here’s some water,” Kit said, offering Cooper a glass.

His whole body tensed as if he’d just noticed the other alphas for the first time. He took the water, sipping it slowly as I helped him sit up.

“Morgan,” Cooper whispered, “are you safe?”

“Yes. They’ve been taking care of me. Bear found me in the woods and saved my life.”

Cooper melted, sitting up a little straighter and clutching the glass with both hands as he finished it off. “Thank you for taking care of my sister.”

“It was our pleasure,” Kit assured him. “What do you say to a good meal and some tea?”

“I’d say you’re a fucking godsend.” Cooper cringed, pressing his fingertips to his throat.

“You need to rest,” I insisted.

“I can, now that I know you’re okay.”

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