Page 94 of Knot Happening

"Tomorrow is going to be different," she says simply.

"Different how?" Felix asks, leaning forward slightly.

"It's my heat cycle," Belle says, and the words hang in the air for a moment before their full meaning hits. "My first natural heat since we bonded. And I want to share it with you. All of you."

The silence that follows is deafening. I can hear my own heartbeat, can smell the way our combined scents shift toward something more intense and focused.

"Belle," Theo says carefully, "are you sure? Heat cycles are intense, especially the first one after bonding. If you're not ready..."

"I'm sure," Belle interrupts, her voice gaining confidence. "I've been thinking about it for days, even while we've been focused on the campaign. I want to experience this properly, with my pack. I want to understand what it's like to go through heat when I'm not afraid, when I'm not alone."

"When does it start?" I ask, my voice rougher than I intended.

"Tomorrow evening, probably around dinner time," Belle says. "I can already feel the early signs building."

Felix runs a hand through his hair, and I can see him processing the implications. "Do you want to stay here, or would you be more comfortable in your apartment?"

"Here," Belle says immediately. "In our home. I want to nest here, be claimed here, bond with you here where we're all most comfortable. Where we've been building something together."

The casual mention of being claimed makes something primitive and possessive unfurl in my chest. "Belle, you know what that means, right? What you're asking for?"

"I know exactly what I'm asking for," she says firmly. "I want to be claimed by my pack. I want to form permanent bonds with all three of you. I want to make this official in every way that matters."

"Holy shit," Felix breathes, and for once, his usual eloquence has completely abandoned him.

"Eloquent as always," Theo says dryly, but I can see the satisfaction and anticipation in his expression.

"Sorry," Felix says, shaking his head. "It's just... Belle, are you sure you're ready for that? Permanent pack bonds aren't something you can undo."

"Why would I want to undo them?" Belle asks, genuine confusion in her voice. "You three are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you, I trust you completely, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that every single day. Win or lose with the courthouse campaign, this is where I belong."

The simple honesty of it hits me harder than any business deal I've ever closed. "Belle..."

"Besides," she continues with a grin that's pure mischief, "someone needs to keep you three in line. Might as well make it official."

"Keep us in line?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Marcus, you've reorganized the campaign filing system three times this week," Belle points out. "Felix has color-coded all the historical documents by architectural periods, which isn't even necessary for our purposes. And Theo installed a security system on the campaign laptop that requires three different passwords just to check email."

"Those are all helpful improvements," Theo protests.

"They're all classic alpha behavior," Belle corrects with amusement. "You're all trying to take care of me and the campaign in increasingly elaborate ways. Imagine what you'll be like when you can actually claim me properly."

"Insufferable," Felix admits with a grin. "We'll be absolutely insufferable."

"Good thing I like insufferable alphas," Belle says, reaching for more popcorn.

"Speaking of taking care of you," I say, an idea forming, "how are you handling the transition? From having Adam as your constant companion to living here with us while running this campaign?"

Belle's expression grows more thoughtful. "It's been an adjustment," she admits. "Adam and I had routines, you know? Little traditions that made the day feel structured."

"Like what?" Theo asks gently.

"Well, we always had chocolate together at two in the afternoon," Belle says, a note of wistfulness creeping into her voice. "It sounds silly, but it was this five-minute break where we'd sit in the staff room and share whatever chocolate one of us had brought, and just talk about everything except work."

"That doesn't sound silly," Felix says immediately. "That sounds like exactly the kind of ritual that makes a long day manageable."

"I miss it," Belle confesses. "I mean, I don't miss the drama and uncertainty of whether Adam was going to disappear on me again. But I miss having that little moment of sweetness in the middle of the day. Especially during intense campaign days when we're dealing with city council politics and media interviews."

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