Page 103 of Knot the Last Chapter

Jake scrubs a hand down his face. “Lila.”

“I know.”

He doesn’t say anything at first. Just stares at me. Then he leans back in the chair, exhaling long and slow. “You know I’ve always been protective. Overly so.”

I smile. “A little.”

“But I’m not gonna pretend to understand everything that’s happening here. Or how you… got here. But I can tell when something’s real.”

I blink back the burn in my eyes.

“And whatever this is,” he continues, “with those three? It’s real.”

“It feels that way.”

“Are you okay with it?”

I nod. “More than okay.”

He runs a hand through his hair, clearly still trying to wrap his head around it, but eventually, he chuckles.

“Well. That’s not how I expected this trip to go.”

“You and me both.”

He stands and pulls me into another hug, tighter this time, more relaxed. “I’m happy for you. As long as you’re safe and happy.”

“I am.”

He kisses the top of my head. “I’m gonna go and check our island and cottage. We’ve got some wind damage, but nothing serious. I’ll call if I need anything.”

“You sure you don’t want to stay?”

His face twists. “With three alphas who are clearly—”

“Okay, okay,” I laugh. “Point taken.”

He leans toward the door. “You better tell Mom soon. You know she’s going to hover until she knows everything.”

“I will.”

Jake gives me one last look before heading to the front door. The alphas are all waiting—probably eavesdropping—but Jake just grins as he passes them.

“Take care of my sister,” he says, firm but respectful.

“We will,” they say in unison.

When the door closes behind him, I stand in the middle of the house, strangely still. The storm is gone. The night is quiet. And I feel more settled than I have in years.

Rhys wraps his arms around me from behind, chin resting on my head. Tyler presses a kiss to my temple. Corwyn slides his fingers through mine.

“I guess I’m staying a little longer,” I murmur.

“Good,” Rhys says.

“You’re exactly where you should be,” Tyler agrees.

Corwyn grins. “Now, back to the mystery?”

---