Page 60 of Knot in Their Wildest Dreams: Part 1

I raised my glass to my pack, and they lifted theirs in return. Celeste, grinning, held up her pint of ice cream instead.

“Cheers to arealdate,” she said, and for the first time in a long time, everything felt exactly as it should be.

Chapter 42

Celeste

Tonight, Pack Lockwood was taking me on a date.

They had taken me on dates before, but this was so different - because for the first time, it would bereal. When they sat me down the other night, looking as nervous as a pack of newly presenting teens, I knew something was up. Then, after they confessed that they wanted to know me better, that they might actually be developingfeelingsfor me, I felt a wave of emotions rush through my body. I realized I was about to receive something I hadn’t dared admit I wanted all along. Somewhere along the way, I’d started to fall for them.

In the beginning, I despised them. They practically forced me into this arrangement, and I knew they were plotting against my company. I had no reason to trust them, or even like them. But despite all of this, the more I was around them, the more I grew to respect each of them individually.

I couldn’t blame them for disliking me once I found out more- there were a few misconceptions, of course, but there were also some legitimate reasons why they should dislike Harringday, especially because my family didn't have a great track record of being fair when the company was growing into the behemoth that it was now.

And most people in general had their own misguided perception of me. I was an heiress, after all. And no matter what I struggled with, I still had it better than the majority of the population in the Eastern Province. So I wasn’t surprised that the pack thought I was the same spoiled party girl that the media loved to portray me as.

But somehow, in the most unlikely of circumstances, we’d started to see each other clearly. Glimpses of who we were beneath the bitterness, the games, the history. And I was beginning to think that the scent match wasn’t a mistake after all. Maybe therewasa chance at something more.

But before anything real could happen between us, I needed something from them - something hard. I had to ask for the truth. About the kidnapping. The blackmail. Whoever handed them the leak that nearly ruined me. And if they didn’t have an answer for me, well, then there was no future for us.

For our date, they had told me to dress casual and bring a sweater, but nothing else about what we would be doing. I sat in front of the vanity, looking at myself yet again. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous. They’d already seen me dressed to the nines, as well as in my pajamas, and, well, naked. So really, there wasn’t any of me they hadn’t seen at this point.

That didn’t stop me from trying to find the perfect blend of makeup, enough to make me look attractive without trying. It also didn’t stop me from changing dozens of times before I decided on a “casual” outfit for tonight. My stomach clenched, and I was reminded that something else was coming soon.

My heat.

The contract was scheduled to end before it happened, but even so, I was feeling signs that it was on its way. It usually took me out of commission for nearly a week. I planned on going through it alone, but ever since I smelled the scents of those delicious men and matched with them, I’d been having nonstop dreams of the three of them helping through it.

But that would have to wait until later. Right now, I had a date to get to.

I walked out to the main house, and as usual, I smelled them before I saw them. Their blended scents were filling the living room, and I had to steady myself before rounding the corner. When I stepped out, the three of them looked up, their gazes locking onto me with that quiet, unreadable intensity that always made my heart race.

They were dressed slightly casually, but still nice. For once, as their eyes met mine, I wondered if they were just as nervous as I was. After all, this was uncharted territory. This was real.

I sucked in a breath, and stepped closer. I’d opted to make a risky move - I didn’t use my de-scenter. I was still on my suppressants, but I wanted my real perfume to be present. I wanted them to smell the real me.

Vigo walked toward me, his lips curved into that mischievous smile of his as he took my hand. He lifted it, turning it just enough to brush a light kiss against my knuckles, with a look in his eyes that made my stomach flip.

“Well, well, Celeste,” he murmured, his voice like smooth whiskey. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to knock us off our feet tonight.” His eyes skimmed my face, lingering for just a second too long, like he was committing every detail to memory.

Then, with a gentle graze of his thumb over my fingers, he added, “And I think it’s safe to say you’ve succeeded.” I took a step closer toward him, just enough to let my scent envelope him, watching as his pupils darkened slightly.

“Well, I have to admit… I do like the way you look when you’re a little off balance.” I said with a smile, and Vigo’s eyes were stuck on me as Liam joined him.

“I have to second Vigo - you look stunning.” He breathed in, and went still. “Is that…” He started as he smelled me.

“Her real perfume, yes.” Vigo finished for him. “She really is going for the kill.” I felt myself blush, the vulnerability of having them around me with my real perfume making me feel even more attached to them.

Dante cleared his throat, and turned to face him as he approached. He wore a dark sweater, his tall, muscular form perfectly complemented with a stylish watch and jeans. He looked so damn good, and his eyes were kinder now as he started to hand me something.

I looked down at the gift bag. I took it from him, our hands briefly touching as he gave me the present. “From all of us.” He said, watching for my reaction. “You can open it now, if you want.”

I peered inside the bag and reached in. Underneath the tissue paper was a small globe, and I took it out, marveling at the green moss inside.

“What is it?” I asked,and Dante smiled slightly, nodding toward the object in my hand.

“It’s a self-contained ecosystem,” he said, his voice low and a little hesitant, like he wasn’t sure I’d understand how thoughtful it really was. “Everything inside it works in perfect balance - moss, water, air. It’s its own tiny world. No outside help needed.”

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