Page 182 of Knot For A Moment

“Is this another surprise? You have to give me, like… at least two weeks in between them.”

Ash laughed. “It’s a surprise, and it isn’t. You already know about it, but may have forgotten.”

Watching him through the flames, I picked his bond out of the hum in my chest. He was doing a little better. Sadness still tinged the edges, grief underlying everything, but he was dealing with it. It wouldn’t be an overnight thing, nor did I expect it to be.

He had an appointment for another tattoo—with Esme’s Alphas at their tattoo studio—to get a memorial piece, and I knew it would help.

Gabe came out of the house with a wooden box that looked like a cigar case. But it wasn’t. Gold lettering spun across the front of it.

Vernier

I did a double take. Vernier, the jewelry smith, was world renowned and exclusive. I needed to learn to stop being surprised about them having connections like this, because every time I didn’t think something could be achieved, they did it and made it look easy.

Suddenly, it clicked. “Those are the rings?”

Gabe grinned. “They are.”

I pushed my blankets to the side in spite of the temperature and sat up. My Omega needed to be closer to them. All of me did.

“First,” Gabriel said, setting the box on his chair and opening it, “There’s one for you.”

“But I already have one.”

“This is in case you don’t want to wear your great grandmother’s ring all the time,” he said. “Either if you want to protect it, or you want something simpler for any reason. You don’t ever have to wear it, little one, or you can wear both, but I still want you to have it.”

He held his hand out for mine, and I gave it to him. Gently, he slid off my current ring, placing a thin silver band on my finger. It glimmered in the firelight. Not quite shining, but that was because there was a pattern on it. When I looked closer, I saw a hint of what looked like… petals? “What is it?”

“Lilies,” Roman said. “Like our name.”

A smile stole over my face. They told me the history of the pack name that was now mine. It was perfect. Subtle enough to just look decorative, but that extra layer of meaning made me feel so loved.

Pulling it off, I looked closer, spying something on the inside.

Forever yours.

The date of our bonding was etched beside it.

I looked up at them, meeting each of their eyes. “Do yours say anything?”

Jace stood and crossed to the box, carefully picking up a ring before sinking to one knee in front of me, holding it out. “This is mine, baby girl.”

Warm gold, a thicker band than mine. The same subtle pattern on the outside, and on the inside…

Forever mine.

Along with the same date.

“Do I get to put them on you?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Grabbing his hand, I pulled him closer, putting the ring on his finger. It fit perfectly, and lookedgood. Possession dropped through me, along with desire. They weremine, and I loved seeing the evidence.

I kept staring at it, and Jace chuckled. “What’s going through your head?”

“I’m thinking looking at a ring shouldn’t be making me feel these kinds of things.”

“I’m glad it does,” Jace said. “Because I love it just as much. I want everyone to know you’re fucking mine, and I’m only yours.”

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