Page 55 of Chain Me Knot

She needs to choose. Trust.

Take her own step toward this freedom.

So I wait—we all wait—while she stands in this sunlit kitchen and struggles to decide.

Take all the time in the world, baby girl. As long as you let me stand by your side, I’ll back whatever you want no matter what it is.

She nods, just slightly, like she's not sure she's allowed to want anything, then something shifts in her expression. A stubborn lift of her chin that sinks right through me. “Yes. I want to see the beach.”

Her scent spikes with a cocktail of emotions. Determination warring with terror, hope battling expectation of punishment. Her fingers curl into fists at her sides, like she's bracing for an expected blow, but we're nothing like Pack Carmichael. Those bastards are nothing but mud under her feet, and we'll keep building her up until she believes it.

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face, probably making me look like an idiot but I don’t care. Every cell in my body vibrates with the need to take her there now. “You're so fucking strong, Tough Girl, you know that? Making decisions, taking what you want.”

A flush creeps up her neck, highlighting the fading bruises we'll make sure no one ever adds to again. I take her hand—carefully, always carefully—noting how her fingers tremble before curling around mine. Her skin is soft, warm, trusting despite everything screaming at her not to. No way am I waiting another second to show her this. She's waited long enough for her dreams to become real. “Let’s go!”

“Phoenix!” Soren yelps, scrambling to follow as I guide Emma to the exit. “At least let me grab some shoes for her!”

But I'm already opening the back door, too excited to slow down. She won’t need shoes. The path is smooth stepping stones and the sand is on the other side of the gate in the fence. The sound of waves grows louder as we step outside, and Emma's fingers tighten around mine.

I punch in the security code, the heavy gate clicking open to reveal a pathway through dunes.

Emma takes her first step onto the sand just past the gate and stops. She utters a soft gasp as her toes curl into the granules. She wiggles her feet, wonder spreading across her face as the sand shifts and molds around her.

“It's so... soft,” she whispers, like she's sharing a secret. She lifts wide eyes to mine and I lose myself in the color, so similar to the sky above us.

Our omega matches the beach with her spun-gold hair and summer-sky blue eyes.

“Come on. Let’s go to the water.” I guide her along the pathway through the dunes. The sand is cooler here, shadowed and untouched. Sea grass waves in the breeze, dotting the dunes with spots of green against golden sand. The air tastes of freshness, salt and healing. Each step centers her more, her head turning as she takes in every detail. Wind picks up her hair and spins silvery gold around her.

Seabirds wheel overhead, their cries carried away on the salt-laden breeze and as we crest the final dune and the full vista spreads out before us. The entire section of our private beach is protected at each end of the curving coastline by rocky outcrops. No other houses are visible. There are no other access points. Just us and half a mile of untouched shore.

Beyond the waves, the water turns to liquid silver, and sunlight sends glittery sparkles dancing across the peaks.

Emma's hand tightens in mine as she stares at the view. She’s ethereal standing here, like something from a fairy tale discovering its own magic.

“Is this what you imagined?” I ask.

“No.” She shakes her head before turning her gaze up to mine. Her glossy lips tremble into a hesitant curve. “This is so much better.”

Fuck, this woman is killing me.

A million shattered shards fall at her feet as my heart breaks in ways that will never be put back together again the same way. I don’t care. It will reform in much better ways. Ways that include the essence of my omega mate who will be entwined in my soul forever. I have exactly zero fucks to give about how many times my heart is remade. As long as it’s Emma who does theshattering.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, it’s Emma who will put me together again.

Her fingers flex at her sides, like she wants to reach out and touch everything. “Can I... can I go down to the water?”

I don’t have to think before replying. “You can do anything you want, Tough Girl. Anything at all.”

The tip of her tongue darts to trace her lower lip. My cock swells at the sight because I want to touch the same place with mine.

She takes a small step away from me, our fingers untwining before she takes another step. I let my hand drop as she walks down the dune and onto the flatter area of the beach. Each footprint in the virgin sand is a victory over everything that tried to break her. This…this is what shows true courage.

Her steps start slow, uncertain, but I notice the moment something shifts. The closer she gets to the water, the faster she walks until she’s nearly breaking out into a jog, each step certain and graceful. As though her body is remembering how to move without fear.

Soren steps up next to me. Our pack bond swells with light as we both simply watch her. She'severythingto us. The piece that makes our pack whole. The omega we searched for without knowing exactly what we were seeking.

She has no idea how important she is. How muchmoreshe makes us. I'll spend forever getting to know her. Learning what makes her smile, what brings that spark to her eyes, what dreams she has beyond survival, but the love?

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