Page 117 of Knot For A Moment

Bonded.

The word hit me straight in the chest. Fuck. I wanted to be bonded to Sloane more than I wanted to keep breathing.

I pulled the feeling back and set it aside, trying not to be distracted by the idea of feeling her in so many more ways. “And all the shit he’s pulled isn’t enough?”

“I’m working on it, Ash.”

“We’re done,” Addison said, appearing behind me. “We’re going to clear out. But I’d love to know what she thinks.”

Gabriel came over and shook her hand. “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure to tell you everything. Thank you, Addison. Truly.”

“You’re welcome. I’m going to go take the longest shower of my life.”

We watched her go. I glanced over at Gabe. “Did Roman get the—”

“Yup.”

I smiled. “Good.”

Given the season was slowly shifting into fall, it was getting darker earlier. The sun was already setting, and I looked out the window, just to watch. Jace and Sloane would be back soon. But I didn’t see them. I saw what I hoped I wouldn’t. “Gabe.”

At first glance, it was just a person walking down the street. But it wasn’t just any person, it was Craig. Walking slowly, hands in his pockets, looking where Addison and her team were packing up and finally moving the trucks that had blocked the street. The fucker.

“I’ll call Harrison,” he said, lifting his phone to snap a picture.

“I’ll call Jace.” I was already dialing.

“Hello?”

I kept my eyes fixed on the Alpha below. “Where are you guys?”

“We’re on our way back. Why?”

“Craig is outside the house.”

Jace didn’t let anything leak into his voice. “Got it. We’re almost there.”

“Everything is ready. See you soon.”

Outside, Craig looked up and saw me watching. In the darkening light I saw him smile. The fucker was toying with us on purpose. I shook my head. Whatever he thought the end result was going to be? He was wrong. There was nothing that would make Sloane go back to him, and that wasn’t coming from us, it was coming from her.

Craig turned and kept slowly walking down the sidewalk, eyes fixed on our front door.

Roman came down the stairs as I exited Gabriel’s office. “She’s almost here.”

He just smiled.

A few minutes later, the sound of the back door opening faintly reached me. I watched the street from a different window. Craig wasn’t in sight anymore, but it didn’t mean much. I suppose it was too much to hope that he’d actually listened to Sloane, despite his promise not to.

“You don’t have to carry me all the way upstairs, Jace,” Sloane laughed. When she came into view her cheeks were pink, her eyes sparkling, and holy shit, my Omega was fucking gorgeous. I only ever wanted to see her like this, and I wasn’t going to ruin the moment with Craig. It could come a little later.

“You’re right, I don’t have to,” he said, bringing her to me. “We can all take turns.”

Jace locked eyes with me before setting her in my arms, and I tried to show him I was grateful. Between Ian and Craig, I needed to hold her, and he saw it.

Sloane looked up at me as I took her in my arms. “Hi.”

“Hey, sweetheart.”

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