Page 61 of Knot Gonna Lie
“Maybe it’s a treehouse,” Jaxom suggested from his position at the data terminal, inventory lists scrolling past his intent gaze.“Elevated platforms connected by bridges, integrated with the native ecosystem—”
“Or a cave system,” Xavier’s voice crackled through the comm from the bridge, amusement threading his tone. “Underground thermal pools, natural climate control, completely defensible—”
“You’re all wrong,” Stella declared with absolute conviction. “It’s going to be a fortress. Our alpha thinks like a warrior, not a vacationer—especially with everything going on. High walls, strategic positioning, clear sight lines for defense—”
“Against what?” Maia laughed. “Tera’s wildlife? The travel guides say the most dangerous things there are the singing fish that might annoy you to death. Tera’s under Alpha Zeke’s control. The government won’t touch it—and if they try, it risks open war.”
Elara frowned, glancing up from her cup. “Hopefully it never comes to that.”
A quiet fell over the table, the weight of reality settling in despite the earlier teasing.
“Still,” Tobias said, cutting through the tension with a lazy smirk, “no one would dare ruin the hottest vacation planet in the galaxy.”
Maia snorted into her drink. “You’re right. No one would dare.”
The laughter that followed was just what we needed. The mood lightened, the undercurrents of worry tucked away—for now.
The casual banter continued, washing over me as I prepared a fresh serving, adding an extra measure of the calming herbs that seemed to settle Elara’s increasingly restless energy. It was getting late, and I could see it in the way she shifted—restlessness edging into her movements, her body craving the quiet of nest-time. That sanctuary would help her unwind, helpher make sense of everything that had happened these past few days.
Claiming an alpha, escaping the station’s rigid structure, needing for pack bonds before her upcoming heat—any one of those transitions would stress an omega’s system. All three together created a perfect storm of biological and emotional upheaval that required careful management.
The teacup felt warm in my hands as I crossed to her, noting how her emerald gaze tracked my movement with the focused attention of someone craving exactly what I carried.
“More?” I offered, settling the fresh cup beside her with careful precision.
“You spoil me.” Her smile bloomed soft and genuine, the kind that made my chest tight. “But I think I’ve reached my limit for herbal remedies for the day.”
“The atmospheric pressure on Tera might affect your system,” I explained, though the clinical words felt inadequate for the growing concern I had for her. “Better to stay ahead of any discomfort.”
“Seth.” Her voice cut through the ambient noise of clan speculation, drawing every eye in the room with an authority that still surprised me. Something in her tone made my pulse stutter—not casual conversation, but intention weighted with significance. “Do you think you could maybe…help me settle in my nest? I don’t want to be alone.”
The tea mug nearly slipped from my hands.
Silence descended upon the clan as they exchanged glances heavy with meaning.
Stella’s psyblade stilled against its metallic rod. Maia’s stylus froze in midair, her vidtablet dimming as her gaze snapped to me. Even Tobias paused mid-gesture, that sly knowing grin stretching across his face—heat climbed up my neck before I could stop it.
They understood what this meant—what she was offering.
“I…” The words tangled in my throat. No one had ever invited me into their bedroom before—let alone their nest. Omegas didn’t welcome betas into that space unless they were in deep heat or deeply trusted.
Pack bonds weren’t casual invitations. An omega’s nest was sacred territory, shared only with those she trusted with her most vulnerable moments.
The invitation felt sacred, impossible—a gift I’d never dared imagine receiving, especially so soon. She’d asked me to be her first pack member, yes, but nothing was official yet.
“You’d be honored to help,” Jaxom supplied with barely contained excitement, earning a sharp look from me that he completely ignored. “Right, Seth?”
“I would be honored,” I managed, voice rougher than intended. The admission scraped my throat raw. “If that’s what you truly want.”
Elara’s smile bloomed slowly, soft and sure, transforming her entire face. She stepped out of the window alcove with quiet grace, moving toward me without hesitation.
Then her hand slipped into mine—steady, certain. Her fingers wove through mine, warm and real, sending a sharp current up my arm that stole my breath more than any words could.
“Then come with me.”
The walk from the mess hall to her sanctuary stretched simultaneously endlessly and far too brief. My clan’s knowing looks followed us down the corridor—Stella’s approval, Maia’s barely suppressed excitement, Sylas’s quiet nod, the others’ mixture of surprise and satisfaction.
Xavier’s voice crackled softly through the comm with something that sounded suspiciously like congratulations.
