Page 134 of Knot Her Cowboys
“You’re not going to out-stubborn me on this one.”
Riley squeezed me tighter. “I’m sure going to try.”
Iwoke the next day feeling like I’d been run over. It wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. My pack had made sure I was scrubbed down before bed, and I’d gotten purrs and cuddles until I drifted out of consciousness.
Sleep hadn’t been particularly cooperative. Cooper had woken up a half dozen times in a panic, dragging me closer like he had to remind himself I was safe. My brain woke me upequally often with my heart pounding and my skin slicked in cold sweat from nightmares about what my life could have been like if Darrell had succeeded. Cash startled awake every time I did, Dakota and Levi sitting bolt upright in response to the wave of panic through the pack. Each time, it took us all a while to settle back down.
I groaned, shifting slowly and testing my muscles. Apparently my body didn’t appreciate getting kidnapped and dragged out of a truck window. My eyes burned with exhaustion, but the scent of coffee lured me to open them.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Levi said softly as he set a cup on the bedside table. “How’re you feeling?”
I grumbled, accepting his help to sit properly so I could sip his caffeinated offering.
“I already ran you a bath. I figured another soak might help.”
Big tasks or small, these alphas never hesitated to go the extra mile to help me feel comfortable. I had never needed grand gestures. I just needed to know I was thought of, and that was a skill this pack had in spades. “You really are an angel, aren’t you?”
He beamed back at me. “Staying busy helps me cope. I rescheduled all my appointments for the rest of the week, and got some of my vet friends to take over for me on the ones that couldn’t be pushed. I don’t plan on leaving your side for a while.”
“You didn’t have to do that, but I’m selfishly glad that you did.”
Cooper bolted awake and I laid my palm on his chest. “It’s okay. I’m right here.”
His first move was to roll over and put his head in my lap, his arm wrapped around me. “How many times am I going to have to dream of you in that fucking truck?”
“Probably a few more since we’re twins with that nightmare.”
Cash rolled over, mumbling into his pillow. “More sleep.”
Dakota yawned and stretched next to him, not looking any more awake than I felt. “What time is it?”
“Noon,” Levi replied. “Grocery delivery for the kitchen has already been reviewed and put away. I told our team that Riley will be off work for at least a week and to continue with the rotating roster we had in place before she arrived.”
My first instinct was to protest that I didn’t need the time off, but my brain forced me to remember what Darrell had done. “Probably longer.”
“Are you in that much pain, petal?” Dakota asked, his mouth drawn into a frown. “We should take you to the clinic in town.”
“I mean, Iamin pain, but Darrell gave me a suppressant neutralizer.” I rubbed my hand over the spot on my side where he’d forced the shot on me.
My alphas stiffened and Cash’s righteous fury lit up the bond.
“I don’t think a new round of suppressants is going to stand a chance this time. It barely held on with one missed dose.”
Cooper growled. “If he wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him.”
Warmth filled up my chest. Cooper had always been willing to throw down for me regardless of what it cost him. “I think you’ve committed enough crimes on my behalf, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
“How long do you think before your heat starts?” Cash asked. “You’re not feeling super close in the bond like when you had the flares.”
“Fuck if I know.” I shrugged. “I avoided suppressants as much as possible, so I have no idea what my body is going to do.”
Dakota rubbed his eyes, looking like he was trying to collect every wayward exhausted brain cell. “Okay. First question is, who do you want to be involved with the heat?”
“Obviously all of you.”
“We don’t take obvious into account since that would be taking your desires for granted. It’s fully your decision which of us you want in your bed at any given time,” he insisted.
“I want everyone.” I couldn’t even imagine going through my heat and having one of them missing. My pack needed to be complete and with me.
