Page 169 of Knot That Serious

“Are they not happy for you?” Raj asked quietly, leaning down to her.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” Eli said.

The sliding glass door led out to the deck and backyard, and Eli held her breath as Jack wrapped his hand around the handle and pulled it open.

Eli stepped out first, and paused just outside the door when she found every pair of eyes latched onto her.

“Uh… hi?” Eli said, waving to the crowd of her and Jack’s families.

The other three stepped out behind her and she moved out of the way to make room for them. And then the four of them were under scrutiny by far too many to keep count.

“This is… our pack,” Jack said, and wrapped a hand around Eli’s shoulder.

There was a pause and a sniffle from her mom, who was just by the stairs, and then the whole yard erupted into cheers, loud enough to rival a stadium.

Eli’s cheeks flushed bright pink at the shouts and wolf whistles, and she covered her face, hiding her grin and the sudden burst of relief within her. It was echoed by Jack, through the bond they now shared. He pulled her into him, squeezing her tight.

The whistles and shouts quieted down, and everyone went about their business—albeit with lowered heads and hushed whispers.

Ignoring them all, Eli turned to her mom.

“Mom, you scared me!” Eli hissed, and shook her head.

Her sneakers didn’t even make a sound as she padded back up the deck stairs to take her hands. “Sorry, honey. I just didn’t think this day would ever come.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, frowning.

But they were interrupted by a booming shout.

“Pinky!” a deep voice yelled, and Eli lowered her hands, glancing over her mom’s shoulder to find a familiar face bounding in their direction.

“We can talk later,” Beth promised, and trotted away to rejoin the dads over by the grill.

Eli braced herself for impact just as Jack said, “Don’t be alarmed, guys,” to Beckett and Raj.

Eli didn’t hear the rest of it because she was torn away from them by a truck-sized beta, who picked her up and spun her around.

“Hi, Jonah!” she yelped, tightening her arms around his neck.

She whooshed as he sat her down, patting her on the top of her head. “Good to see you, tiny.”

“Everyone’s tiny to you,” she drawled, and adjusted her askew jacket.

“Jonah, this is Raj,” she said, holding a hand out to said alpha, who actually wasn’t tiny at all compared to Jonah. He stepped forward and extended his hand.

“Niiiice, nice, nice,” he said, and shook Raj’s arm. “I’ll give you the shovel talk later.”

“Not necessary,” she sang, even as Raj nodded in agreement.

“I look forward to it,” he said.

Eli snickered, rolling her eyes at men. Whether they were family or not.

“Uh, hello, your actual brother is here, too,” Jack said, arms crossed and waiting to her right. Beckett was standing beside him with a polite smile on his lips.

Jonah’s eyes flicked over Jack quickly. “Oh, hey,” he said, his tone dry.

Eli’s lips twitched as Jonah finally swaggered right past Jack to the blond alpha.

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