Page 76 of Chain Me Knot

“Morning, Butterfly. How are you feeling this morning?” I ask.

Seeing the lingering effects of last night and the fragile burdens she still carries, sends a fresh bolt of protectiveness through me. I don’t like the evidence of her troubled night, yet having her pressed willingly against me eases something tight within me, soothing away the ragged edges of worry.

Her cheeks glow pink. “I did after you all came in. Thank you.”

“You never have to thank us for looking after you. Never. Do you understand, Emma?” I want to make it clearer than clear that she can ask absolutely anything of us, and we’ll fall over ourselves doing it.

Her perfect rosebud lips part. “I…”

I lift my brows, waiting for the push back I know is on the tip of her tongue. Daring her not to accept her basic need and desire as an omega.

“Okay,” she says.

I smile at her, glad to see her cheeks glow with more color. Floral honey blooms around me, unmistakably warm and musky with desire. My cock thickens, swelling against my pants. I don’t give a shit how uncomfortable I am. She shifts her stance and drops her gaze. That unease is something I definitely give a shit about.

I put my knuckle under her chin and lead her gaze to me. “None of that, Omega. I love it when you desire me. I love it when your scent fills my space. There’s nothing wrong with showing how you feel about your alpha. Do you understand?”

Her pupils dilate, deepening to pools of velvet black that swallow the clear summer-sky blue. Shock jolts through me, freezing me in place because it's there, bright and undeniable. The first glimmer of real heat. Not just a passing spike of arousal. The bond between us flares in recognition, something deep and primal and unexpected.

I exchange a stunned look with Asher and Phoenix, catching the mirrored astonishment in their eyes. Emma's body shut down fully after everything that was done to her. Dr. Chen wasn’t sure if her heat cycles would ever return.

This isn't just biology asserting itself. It's a sign we've earned her deeper trust. Proof that she's starting to feel safe enough, emotionally and physically, to ease the iron-tight grip protecting her instincts. Astonishment mixes in my gut with a cautious pride. Hope, too, fragile and tentative. Maybe what we're doing, how we're caring for her, is precisely the healing she needs.

A heat spike of need is one thing. If she’s truly reaching toward a full heat cycle, that's something else entirely—we'll need to tread carefully with her heart.

Gazing down into her softened, tentative expression, feeling her hands resting at my waist, I smile, unable to disguise the warmth her gesture sparks. It's exactly here, against my chest, safely within my arms that I want this brave, beautiful omega every moment of every day.

I pull her close, knowing she has freely chosen this. Chosen me. Desires me.

And fuck if mornings have never felt sweeter.

I press a soft kiss on her lips. As I reach out to turn the bacon once more, Emma’s voice breaks through the cooking sizzle. “Could I…could I help, Soren?”

Blue eyes gaze at me, ready to withdraw at the smallest hint of hesitation.She wants to do this with me. It takes everything in me not to send a gloating look at Asher and Phoenix.

“I told you. Anything you want, you can have.” I guide her in front of me, between my body and the stove. Her slim form fits perfectly within my frame, my arms lightly caging her as I hand over the spatula, my heart hammering strongly beneath my ribs.

“Here.” I guide her delicate wrist carefully over the sizzling pan. “Tilt, then flip.”

Her hair brushes along the edge of my jaw and my dick lets me know how much I enjoy it. I shift back a little, not wanting to scare her away. She carefully slides the spatula under a piece of bacon, hesitating as it sticks. I place my hand over hers, steadying and guiding under and up until we flip it together.

She tips her head back to look up at me, her expression thrilled. “Like that?”

“Exactly like that.” I’m not talking about breakfast.

Her hand is warm under mine, trust radiating from her every gentle movement as we flip bacon and turn eggs. Each slow and deliberate motion fills me with pride, my omega leaning easily into my secure hold as we cook together, her movements growing less hesitant and more confident with each passing moment.

Conversation flows around us as we bring our bounty to the island and start to eat, Emma fitting into the easy rhythm of our pack. She's still careful withher answers, but I watch her all the same, noticing she grows more at ease and meeting our gazes. Every sign of comfort, every indication of trust she gives us, sends potent satisfaction radiating out from deep within.

As the last bites disappear, Phoenix reaches across the table to grab an empty glass jar that once held coffee grounds. He holds it up with bright eyes and his boyish grin. “Hey, Tough Girl, sun's shining again. What do you say we go see if the waves left any good shells behind for us?”

Emma’s face lights with unguarded joy. Her eyes widen, sparkling bright and open. It's the first time I've seen spontaneous excitement burst so openly across her face and, fuck, it’s breathtaking.

“I'd love that!” Her gaze drifts down again to her oversized sweater, fingers nervously twisting in the sleeves. “Could I—could I go change first? I don’t want these clothes to get wet.”

“Emma, you don't have to ask. You can do whatever you want,” Asher says.

“I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” A relieved little smile curls her lips, brightening further as she leaves the kitchen.

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