Page 51 of Knot Your Karma
“Pack becomes family,” Adrian adds quietly. “The kind that actually supports each other instead of just demanding sacrifice.”
I think about Blake’s voice on that phone call, casual and cruel and completely unaware that he’d just described emotional terrorism like it was a weekend hobby. I think about our parents, who’ve spent thirty years expecting me to clean up Blake’s messes while treating him like their golden child.
Then I think about Karma’s face when she talks about antiques, the way her scent settles into something peaceful when she’s around us, the fierce claiming behavior that rosein my chest when that bastard at the auction looked at her like prey.
“Fuck Blake,” I say, and the words feel like freedom, like chains breaking. “Fuck our parents’ expectations. Fuck family loyalty that only goes one direction. I’m done being responsible for his disasters.”
“So we’re doing this,” Reed says. “Pack courtship. All three of us pursuing one very complicated woman who stole from her abusive ex and doesn’t trust us not to abandon her. This is either going to be beautiful or a complete catastrophe.”
“Both,” Adrian confirms.
“Definitely both,” I add, feeling lighter than I have since this whole mess started. “But we do it right. No competition, no jealousy, no making her choose between us like she’s some kind of prize to be won.”
“How do we do it right?” Reed asks, shifting into planning mode.
“We tell her we know about Blake,” I say, the plan solidifying like blueprints taking shape. “Not confrontational, not accusatory. Just honest. We let her know we understand what he did to her, and that we don’t blame her for whatever happened with that family piece.”
“And then we ask permission,” Reed adds, his diplomatic nature recognizing the importance of consent. “We explain that we want to court her—all of us, together—and we make it clear she can set the pace, the boundaries, hell, she can even turn down any of us individually if that’s what she wants.”
“She’s had enough of men making decisions for her,” I say, protectiveness mixing with respect for her autonomy. “Every step has to be her choice. Even if that means waiting months for her to trust us.”
“Where do we have this conversation?” Adrian asks.
“Her shop,” Reed suggests immediately. “Her territory. Somewhere she feels in control. Also, surrounded by things she loves, which can only help our case.”
“When?” Adrian asks.
“Friday,” I say, decision crystallizing into certainty. “We need to get our shit together first, figure out our approach. Also gives us time to plan our next move with Blackwater if she’s willing to work with us on getting the compass back.”
“And if she’s not?” Reed asks.
“Then we tell Blackwater and Blake to go fuck themselves and help Karma disappear if that’s what she wants,” I say without hesitation. “We choose her over the compass, over Blake, over family expectations. Pack over everything else.”
Reed stands up, extending his hand toward the center of our small circle. “Pack agreement. We court Karma Rose as our omega. We choose her over blood family obligations. We prove that not all men are manipulative bastards like Blake.”
“Are you about to make some kind of emotional speech?” I ask.
“Focus, Dec,” Reed says with a grin. “Pack agreement first, my emotional speeches later.”
Adrian places his hand over Reed’s without hesitation. “Pack agreement.”
I add my hand to the pile, certainty settling in my bones like truth. “Pack agreement. Karma over Blake. Chosen family over blood family. Pack courtship over individual competition. And Reed, we’re definitely discussing your emotional speeches later.”
“I look forward to that conversation,” Reed says with completely fake enthusiasm.
“All right,” I say, pulling my hand back and feeling the plan lock into place. “Friday, we tell her everything. We choose Karma Rose over Blake Mitchell and all the family bullshit that comes with him.”
“Best decision we’ve ever made,” Reed says.
“Only decision that makes sense,” Adrian adds, his quiet certainty anchoring us all.
I look at my pack—my chosen family, the men who’ve hadmy back through everything, who are now willing to put aside competition and ego to court one wounded woman with patience and care.
Friday, we start the careful work of showing Karma Rose that not all men are like Blake. That some men are worth trusting.
That some love is worth waiting for.
Karma
