Page 162 of Down Knot Out
The word hangs between us. Of the five of us, only Holden grew up knowing what it really meant. The rest of us have spent years trying to catch up.
My fingers twist in the soft knit blanket. “The money’s sitting in my account doing nothing. And I don’t want any debt hanging over our heads, especially not one with a clause that could force you and Blake out if the resort doesn’t open on time.”
Blake leans forward, elbows on his knees, his face lined with concern. “That’s your money. Your future. You don’t have to do this.”
“It’s our future,” I counter. “This feels like the next step, setting our pack up to move forward,with nothing holding us back. And I want to invest in the pack. In us.”
I give him a cheeky grin. “Besides, I still have the first deposit the publisher gave me before canceling my trilogy. So it’s not like I’m giving up everything. And Grady has reluctantly confirmed that monster smut is trending, so my new series will do well.”
Dominic sets his tablet aside and swings his feet to the floor. “It’s a good investment, but we’ll only accept it if your name goes on the deed.”
I blink. “That’s not why I offered.”
“I know,” he says. “But we’re not letting you pour your inheritance into this without protection. Not just for your sake, but so no one can twist this into something it’s not.”
Nathaniel nods in agreement. “You’re not an investor or a donor. You’re part of the foundation. We want your name on the deed. Or, better yet, a share in the LLC. It’s cleaner.”
“And we set terms,” Dominic adds. “You have full autonomy if you want to sell your share or donate it back.”
My throat tightens. “You think I’d do that?”
Dominic shakes his head. “No, but you should still have the option to.”
My throat tightens. “We’re bonded already.Why would you want to put such a thing in writing?”
“Because we love you.” Nathaniel shifts on the couch to be closer to me. “And real love doesn’t trap, it protects.”
Nathaniel focuses on his closed laptop, calculating numbers in his head. “The full amount would clear not just the construction loan but allow us to launch Phase Two right away.”
“Exactly.” I spread my hands. “This is a clean slate. No holding back. No obligations to anyone but ourselves.”
Dominic moves across the sofa, closing the distance between us. His hand finds mine, warm and solid. “You want to burn Gregory’s money on us?”
I lace our fingers together. “I want to use it to help build our future.”
Holden reaches across the coffee table to touch my knee. “You’re sure about this? Really sure?”
I laugh, not having thought they’d need this much reassurance to take the money.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I repeat, heart full as I take in the presence of my pack. Myfamily. “Let me do this for us.”
Blake’s expression shifts, the concern giving way to relief, and he moves to kneel in front of me,taking my free hand in both of his. “If this is what you want, then thank you.”
“We accept.” Nathaniel places a hand on Blake’s shoulder, another on mine. “And we’ll make it worth every penny.”
Dominic squeezes my fingers, his citrus scent wrapping around me. “No more Harris influence. No more Burton debt. No more Sinclair shadows.”
The tension that’s been coiled in my chest for days loosens. I hadn’t realized how much I needed their acceptance, their understanding. I look at each of them in turn, these Alphas who chose me, who fight for me every day.
“You know, with Chloe now as our bondmate, we need to finally settle on a pack name to register.” Dominic glances around at all of us. “I’d like to suggest becoming the Wright pack of Misty Pines.”
Holden sputters, his face turning pink. “What? No, that’s ridiculous.”
“No,” I cut in. “It’s perfect. I love it.”
“Me, too.” A grin spreads over Blake’s face. “I, for one, don’t want to be associated with the Harris pack anymore.”
“Can’t say I want the Burton name, either,” Nathaniel rumbles. “Being the Wright pack sounds wonderful.”
