Page 120 of Knot Going Down
“Nah, we’re out.”
“Good. A team’s headed that way now.” There’s a noise in the background and Curtis’s voice becomes muffled as he speaks tosomeone else. “How far out are you?” he says, back on the line now.
“I’m not coming in.”
“What the hell do you mean, you’re not coming in?” Curtis snaps. “You need to give your statement and?—”
“I’m not coming in.” Declan’s voice is as cold as ice. “My pack was in there. They need me. We’re going home.”
“What?” Curtis snaps. “You’re pack?! Since when?—”
“We’ll talk tomorrow, Curtis,” Declan cuts him off. “Right now, my omega is exhausted and bleeding. My betas are scared. And my alpha’s shoulder…” He pauses to catch his breath, and I can feel the swirl of his emotions. He’s worried about me too.
“Look,” Curtis says, “if they’re hurt, that’s all the more reason to bring them in.” The former harshness has gone out of his voice, and now he seems like he’s trying to talk down a wild animal.
Declan meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Can you reset a dislocated shoulder?” I ask him.
“Yeah.” He blows out a breath. “Done it a few times.”
“Great. Then we’re going home.” I hold Ava a little tighter with Emily leaning into my side. Declan nods.
“That your pack?” Curtis asks through the speakerphone.
“Yeah, you heard him, Curt. I’ll get them all checked out tomorrow and have my report on your desk by morning.” Declan hangs up before his boss can say anything else.
We’re quiet for the rest of the drive to Emily’s apartment. Ava is still asleep, so Declan carries her upstairs as I cradle my arm and help a drowsy Emily. Lucas unlocks the door, and we all follow him in, stumbling on tired feet.
It’s the first time I’ve seen Emily’s place, and it’s different from what I imagined. But it feels like her. The apartment’s modest, two bedrooms, nothing flashy, but every inch feels lived-in and loved. Glittery throw pillows crowd the couch likethey’re trying to make the space sparkle. The kitchen counter has a stash of open cereal boxes and a pink tea kettle on the stove. There’s a quiet warmth, a mix of chaos and calm, like the person who lives here. Unpretentious, genuine, with just enough charm to make you want to stay a while. Or forever.
Emily leads us back to her room, stumbling out of her clothes as she does. It’s not sexual, just the exhausted hurry of wanting to be in bed. Down to her underwear, she throws back the comforter, crawls in, and reaches for Ava. Her eyes are already half-closed, adorably cute.
Declan sets Ava down next to Emily, who immediately curls into her side.
“We should clean her up,” I whisper.
But neither of us move right away, we just stare at the women we love. Yeah, love. I can feel it through the bond, the same emotion that pours from my heart, too.
“First, your shoulder.” Declan doesn’t give me time to anticipate, moving so quickly there’s no chance to tense up. Gripping my elbow and wrist, he manhandles my arm and snaps the joint back into place. It fucking hurts but the pain ebbs with the joint back where it belongs. “Tomorrow, I’m taking you to the doctor.”
“But not tonight.” I give him a peck on the lips.
“No, not tonight.” He smiles softly.
Declan wraps both arms around me, resting his chin on my uninjured shoulder. “We almost lost them tonight.”
My throat tightens even thinking about it.
“But we didn’t,” Lucas says. He’s holding a damp rag, some rubbing alcohol and bandages. I’m not sure when he got them, but I’m grateful for our beta’s sweet care and pull him into my chest.
Declan opens his arms to engulf both of us. He kisses Lucas’s forehead over my shoulder, then my cheek. “It’s over now.”
There’s still a lot I’ll need to figure out about how to live this new life. I’ll need a new job. My sister will still need suppressants—hopefully legal ones now—and we’re gonna need to figure out where we live. But we’ll deal with all that tomorrow. Together.
As carefully as possible, we clean and bandage Ava’s bloody knuckles. She wakes up and hisses when we dab on the rubbing alcohol, but Declan kisses her back to sleep.
Once we’re done, I pull Lucas out to the living room, and Declan follows. The bond hums steady between us, synced and certain. There’s no need to talk about what comes next. We’re already moving like one pack, one instinct.
