Page 15 of Knot the Last Chapter

“I’m cautious.” Her voice is still light, but there’s a thread of seriousness beneath it. “You’ve been through a lot lately, Lila. You’re still finding your feet. A new bond—any kind of connection that deep—can throw you off balance.”

“I’m not planning to bond with anyone,” I mutter. “Especially not someone I’ve never met.”

“You say that now. But the body doesn’t always wait for the mind to catch up.” She taps a finger gently against the mug. “You haven’t gone into heat before. It might be starting.”

“I know,” I whisper.

We sit in quiet for a moment, the kind that settles between two people who know silence doesn’t mean distance.

Finally, I look up. “Were you scared? When it first happened to you?”

She nods. “Absolutely. I was terrified. But I had your dad. And before that, I had your grandmother. I wasn’t alone.”

“I don’t feel alone,” I say softly, “when I’m talking to him.”

“That’s what makes it dangerous.”

She squeezes my hand again, then lets go, giving me space. “I’m not saying don’t talk to him. I’m just saying… keep your heart behind a gate. At least until you know who he is, and what he wants.”

I nod, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. “I’ll be careful.”

“I know you will.” Her eyes crinkle as she smiles. “You’re your father’s daughter. Smart, stubborn, and a sucker for people who use their words well.”

I laugh, wiping at my eyes. “Why is that so accurate?”

She winks. “Because I’ve met you.”

My phone buzzes against the table. I don’t check it right away. Just stare at it, warmth blooming somewhere in my chest.

“I should write today,” I say finally.

“You should,” Mom agrees. “But if you text first, I won’t judge.”

I grin. “Thanks.”

“For the tea?”

“For the warning.”

“Of course.” She stands, ruffles my hair affectionately, and heads toward the sink. “Just remember—real life is full of better twists than fiction.”

When I finally glance at my phone, I see the waiting text from Pine.

Just wondering how my favorite mystery writer is doing. Any new bodies? Any new clues?

My fingers hover over the keys, and I smile softly.

Maybe a few new clues have made themselves known.

Chapter nine

Tyler (Pine)

The scent of varnish clings to my hands no matter how many times I scrub them. Cedar oil and sunbaked wood, mingled with the faint bite of metal dust. It’s a good smell—honest work, steady hands, muscle memory. But today it’s not grounding me the way it usually does.

Today, everything smells like her.

Or rather… what I imagine she’d smell like.

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