Page 109 of Knot Your Sunshine
The blood drains from Chadwick's face.
"Get out," Noa growls. "Now."
Chadwick scrambles for his laptop, shoving it into his briefcase with shaking hands. Papers scatter. He doesn't stop to collect them. The door slams behind him.
The silence that follows feels like the first clean breath after being underwater.
My shoulders drop, and air fills my lungs properly for the first time in hours.
"You were incredible, Mia." Keanu's eyes shine.
"We're so sorry about everything." Noa leans forward, hope written across his face. "But now that you've proven you were right, we can—"
"Wait."
My hand rises, and their expressions freeze.
"There's something else I need to say."
The air shifts, thickens. I pull in a breath that expands my ribs. Their scents intensify even through the de-scenter, longing and fear tangled together. It would be so easy to fall into them, to accept their apologies.
But I'm done with easy.
"I appreciate what you just did." My voice thickens despite my efforts. "I can see how hard you've been working. The exhaustion is written all over you."
They exchange glances, hope and fear warring on their faces.
"But how can I trust you?" The question cracks something open in my chest. "I want to. God, I want to. But you hid things from me. Made decisions about my business without me. How do I know you won't do it again the next time you think I need protection?"
Josh's face crumples. Keanu drops his head into his hands. Noa closes his eyes like I've punched him.
"I'm not a resentful person. I can forgive." My throat tightens around the words. "But we need to reestablish trust. Real trust. And I don't see how we can do that from where we are now…"
My voice breaks, but I force myself to continue.
"I'm prepared to dissolve the partnership and walk away."
They flinch in unison. Josh's chair scrapes as he jerks back. Keanu's hands clench on the table. Noa goes completely still.
"I know I'd be within my rights since you hid things from me, and that's clearly a contract breach." Each word feels like swallowing glass. "It'll set me back years in my franchise project as I'll have to start from scratch. But I'd rather do that than be with a pack that doesn't truly believe in me. That doesn't treat me as an equal."
I meet each of their eyes in turn. "This is who I am. Ambitious. Driven. Someone who can handle the hard stuff and will prioritize her work over fun in tough times. If you can't handlethat, if you need me to be softer, easier, less... then we can't be together."
The last four words hang between us and my breath turns ragged as I struggle to hold back tears.
Noa stands slowly. "Mia, our initial reasons for inviting you here were selfish. "We wanted you. Your scent, your presence, everything. And in our desire to keep you close, to pamper you, we tried to handle the hard parts so we could just... have you." His hands clench and unclench at his sides. "But our instincts to protect they weren't what you needed. Hell, they weren't even what you wanted. We let our own desires override your autonomy." His voice cracks. "And we are so, so sorry."
"I appreciate that Noa, but—"
"Let us make you one last proposition."
Keanu pulls out his phone. A moment later, the door opens.
An omega strides in with confidence that commands attention, with auburn hair in a sharp bob and an expensive-looking navy suit. But her smile warms her whole face.
"Naomi?" My breath catches.
She crosses to me, extending her hand. "Nice to finally meet you in person, Mia."
