Page 96 of Knot Happening

"We prefer 'persistent courting through campaign collaboration,'" Felix corrects with a grin.

"You prefer 'showing up everywhere I went until I agreed to move in and run your save-the-courthouse campaign,'" Belle counters.

"That too," I admit. "Though in our defense, you're incredibly easy to want to follow around. Especially when you're in full campaign mode, systematically dismantling opposition arguments."

"Stalker tendencies aside," Belle says, reaching for more popcorn, "I'm glad everything worked out the way it did."

"Even the part where you're about to spend your heat cycle with three alphas who are definitely going to be ridiculously overprotective?" Theo asks.

"Especially that part," Belle says with obvious anticipation. "Though I reserve the right to complain if you get too ridiculous about things like room temperature and snack distribution."

"We'll try to keep the ridiculousness to a minimum," I promise, though we all know that's probably a lie.

"What should we expect?" Felix asks. "For tomorrow, I mean. What do you need from us?"

Belle considers the question seriously. "Patience, mostly. And maybe some of those organizational skills you're always showing off, Marcus. I've never had a heat where I didn't have to manage everything myself."

"You won't have to manage anything," I tell her firmly. "That's what we're for."

"Food, water, temperature control, comfort items," Theo lists off. "We've got it covered."

"Don't forget the nest-building supplies," Felix adds. "I've been researching optimal materials for omega comfort."

"Of course you have," Belle says with fond exasperation. "Did you make blueprints?"

"I may have sketched some preliminary designs," Felix admits.

"He made blueprints," Theo translates. "Color-coded blueprints with material specifications and structural engineering notes."

"It's going to be the most architecturally sound nest in the history of omega heat cycles," I add with amusement.

"As long as it's comfortable and smells like all of you, I don't care if it defies the laws of physics," Belle says. "Though knowing Felix, it probably will."

"I prefer to think of it as creatively interpreting spatial limitations," Felix says with dignity.

"You prefer to think of everything as a design challenge," Belle corrects. "Last week you reorganized the campaign files according to 'optimal workflow patterns.'"

"And now we can find any document in under thirty seconds," Felix points out.

"I can't argue with results," Belle concedes. "Even if your methods are occasionally excessive."

"Speaking of excessive," I say, "should we talk about logistics for tomorrow? Do you want us all here, or would you prefer to start with one of us?"

Belle is quiet for a moment, and I can see her thinking through the options. "All of you," she says finally. "I know that's probably more complicated, but I want to experience this as a pack. I want to understand what it feels like to be surrounded by alphas who love me."

"Then that's what you'll have," Theo says simply. "All of us, for as long as you need us."

"Which will be forever," I add, because I need her to understand that this isn't just about her heat cycle. "Belle, after tomorrow, after we bond properly, you're stuck with us permanently."

"Promise?" she asks, and there's something vulnerable in her voice.

"Promise," all three of us say simultaneously, which makes her laugh.

"Good," she says, settling back into the couch with obvious contentment. "Because I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else."

We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes. I find myself studying Belle's face, cataloguing every detail I can see in the dim lighting from the television.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks softly, catching me watching her.

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