Page 63 of Knotting else Matters

My heart twisted, a faint, breathless laugh slipping out, and I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or laugh or throw myself into his arms.

But I didn’t have to choose.

Because the warmth of his hand against my cheek, the quiet, fierce pride in his eyes… it was enough. More than enough.

Lena stood there, frozen, her sharp, calculating mask shattered, her wide, wild eyes fixed on me.

The door burst open, and Sophie’s voice rang out, bright and anxious. “Mom, have you seen the earrings? Evelyn said—” She stopped mid-sentence, her bright, blue eyes sweeping across the room—first to Lena, then to me, then to Adrian’s tall, imposing figure standing protectively beside me, his fingers still brushing against my cheek.

Her gaze dropped to our joined hands, her eyes widening, and then a slow, triumphant smile spread across her face. “Oh. Oh, I knew it. I knew it.”

“Sophie—” I started, but she raised a hand, her smile turning into a wicked, knowing grin.

“No, don’t even try to deny it.” She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe, her gaze darting between me and Adrian. “I was right. And Karl and I deserve an apology from the both of you.”

Lena’s face twisted, her fingers dropping the delicate, silken fabric she’d been smoothing, the material crumpling in a soft, shimmering heap at her feet. “So this isyourdoing?”

“Don’t act so surprised, Mom.” Sophie’s voice was a sweet, sharp, playful sing-song, her smile a perfect, mischievous curve. “I didn’t just inherit your good looks. I got the scheming and plotting DNA, too.”

Lena’s face darkened, her lips pressing into a thin, sharp line. “If you had played your cards right, you could have been the leader of this pack. You could have been Luna.”

“I never wanted that!” Sophie’s voice rose, a fierce, wild edge slipping into her voice, her bright, blue eyes blazing. “I told you a thousand times, I never wanted that. I wanted someone who loves me, who cherishes me, who doesn’t just see me as some perfect little Omega to parade around.”

Her voice softened, the fierce, desperate light in her eyes faltering. “And that’s Karl. He’s not a perfect Alpha. He’s messy, and loud, and stubborn, but he loves me. He makes me laugh. He makes me happy.”

Lena’s jaw tightened, the faint, desperate spark in her eyes flickering, but she didn’t speak.

“If you can’t be happy for me, then maybe you should just leave.” Sophie’s voice was a quiet, fierce whisper, the wild, aching tension twisting in the room.

I leaned closer to Adrian, a faint, wild smile tugging at my lips. “This is your chance. Flex those muscles, big guy. Show off those bouncer skills.”

A slow, wicked smile spread across his face, a faint, warm light flickering in his dark, intense eyes. “Banter? Does that mean you’re no longer mad at me?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” I whispered, feeling the fierce, wild warmth of his presence beside me, the quiet, steady pressure of his fingers brushing against my cheek. “But I wouldn’t mind seeing you toss someone out.”

Adrian’s smile widened, a faint, dark chuckle slipping out, and he straightened, his tall, broad figure a quiet, imposing shadow beside me. “Lena, I think you heard your daughter.”

Lena’s sharp, trembling gaze darted between Sophie and Adrian, her thin, painted lips pressing into a tight, bitter line. But the fight in her eyes had faded, the cold, calculating light dimming, leaving only a faint, desperate ache.

“Fine.” Her voice was sharp, clipped, and she turned, sweeping past Sophie without another word, her heels clicking against the polished floor, the door swinging shut behind her.

Sophie let out a long, shaky breath, her shoulders slumping, her bright, fierce gaze softening. “Gods. I thought she’d never leave.”

“Honestly?” I forced a laugh, shaking my head. “Neither did I.”

Sophie’s smile softened, her eyes darting between me and Adrian, her gaze lingering on our joined hands. “So… you two.”

“Yeah.” Adrian’s voice was a low, lazy rumble, and his fingers slipped from my cheek, curling around my hand, his warm, steady grip a quiet, soothing balm against the wild, desperate ache in my chest. “Me and her.”

A wild, breathless laugh burst from Sophie, and she launched herself forward, wrapping me in a tight, fierce hug, her arms squeezing me, her wild curls brushing against my cheek. “Finally. Finally, Liv. You deserve this. You deserve someone who loves you, who fights for you.”

I swallowed, my heart pounding against my ribs, the fierce, desperate ache crashing into something warm, something wild, something perfect. “Sophie—”

“And you.” She pulled back, pointing a finger at Adrian, a fierce, playful spark in her eyes. “If you hurt her, I will hunt you down, Alpha or not.”

“Noted.” Adrian’s slow, crooked smile lingered, his dark eyes never leaving mine, but then his expression shifted, a faint, wicked glint in his gaze. “But there’s just one problem.”

Sophie’s smile faltered, her gaze darting between us. “What problem?”

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