Page 113 of Knot Happening

"And I can feel yours," Felix says softly, his fingers tracing the fresh mark on my throat. "Your love, your contentment, your sense of belonging. Belle, you have no idea how complete you make me feel."

"I think I do," I tell him honestly, pressing closer against his chest. "Because you make me feel the same way."

"How do you feel?" Felix asks. "Really feel?"

"Complete," I tell him honestly. "Like another piece of the puzzle has clicked into place."

"The heat?"

I take mental inventory and realize that while the need is still there, it's even more manageable now. The deep, aching want has been replaced by something warmer and more sustainable. "Better. Much better. Still present, but not overwhelming."

"Good," Felix says, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. "That's how it should be after the second bonding. Your body is learning to trust that it will be cared for, that the need will be met."

"And after Theo?" I ask, though I think I know the answer.

"After Theo, the heat should settle into something completely manageable. Still present during your natural cycles, but never again the desperate, frightening thing it was before you had us."

The thought of never again experiencing the terror of an unmanaged heat makes me want to cry with relief. "I can't believe this is real," I admit. "Six months ago, I thought I'd spend my entire life managing heats alone, never trusting any alpha enough to let them help. Now..."

"Now you have three alphas who would move mountains to make sure you never suffer through another heat alone," Felix finishes. "Belle, you're stuck with us. Permanently. No matter what happens, no matter how complicated life gets, you'll always have us."

"Good," I murmur, settling more comfortably against his chest. "That's exactly what I want."

As if summoned by our conversation, I hear movement in the kitchen, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the living room. Marcus appears at the edge of the nest, carrying a tray loaded with what looks like enough food for a small army.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, his eyes immediately going to the fresh mark on my throat. I can smell the satisfaction in his scent when he sees Felix's claiming bite next to his own.

"Perfect," I tell him honestly. "Absolutely perfect."

"Hungry?" Marcus asks, settling the tray on the coffee table where we can reach it without disturbing Felix's knot.

"Starving," I realize suddenly. The bonding process has left me depleted in ways I didn't expect, and my body is demanding fuel to recover.

"That's normal," Theo's quiet voice comes from the other side of the nest. I turn to find him sitting nearby, his dark eyes intense with carefully controlled desire. "Your body is working hard to form these bonds. It needs nutrients to sustain the process."

"Is that why you're keeping your distance?" I ask gently, noting that while Marcus and Felix are comfortable touching me, Theo is maintaining careful space.

"I'm keeping my distance because your scent is driving me insane," Theo admits with characteristic honesty. "Because watching you bond with Marcus and Felix is the most beautiful and torturous thing I've ever experienced. Because I want you so badly I can barely think straight, and I'm trying to give you time to recover before I completely lose control."

The raw need in his voice sends another wave of heat through my body, even as my heart clenches with affection for his restraint. "Theo..."

"I'm fine," he assures me quickly. "Belle, I'm not going anywhere. When you're ready for me, I'll be here."

"But you're suffering," I observe, able to smell the tension and barely controlled want radiating from him.

"It's worth it," Theo says simply. "You're worth any amount of waiting."

The simple honesty of it makes my chest tight with emotion. "Come closer," I request. "Please. I need all of you close."

Theo hesitates for a moment, then moves to settle on the other side of the nest. The moment he's within touching distance, I reach for his hand, needing the physical connection even though I'm still locked with Felix.

"Better?" Theo asks softly.

"Much better," I confirm, squeezing his fingers. "This is what I need. All of you here, all of you close."

"Speaking of which," Marcus says, offering me a plate loaded with scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit, "you need to eat. Your body is working overtime right now."

I'm suddenly ravenous, and I make quick work of the breakfast while the alphas talk quietly around me. The conversation is domestic and comfortable as plans for the courthouse campaign, Felix's latest architectural project, Theo's thoughts on security improvements for the construction sites.Normal pack conversation, the kind of easy communication that speaks to years of friendship and partnership.

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