Page 76 of Knot Forever

They’re mine. All three of them.

A sleepy smile curls my lips as I persuade Asher not to move us and he covers me with his weight, like a heavy blanket. I feel pinned, full, content, happy.

He rocks his hips gently, and I stir as the embers begin to flicker again.

“No,” I groan, burying my face in the crook of my elbow. “No more, you sex fiends.”

There’s laughter from around me, and then the haze drags me under again.

Chapter thirty-four – Nova

There’sashufflingsoundnext to me, and I crack an eyelid open, waiting for the familiar fire to race along my insides.

But there’s… nothing. Just a warm contentment, a slow, pleasurable throb from the mating marks circling my neck and shoulder.

My heat has broken.

Marcus pauses, looking down at me. He looks exhausted, dark circles under his eyes. “Nova?” he murmurs. “Do you…,”

He looks half-hopeful, half-petrified, and I laugh sleepily. “You’re safe, Marcus. It’s over.”

Marcus leans down, pressing a firm, gentle kiss against my lips. “We’re mated now, Nova. For life.”

For life.

“I couldn’t have chosen anyone better to be my mate, Marcus,” I whisper, turning so I can see him fully. Leaning my head against his leg, I breathe him in, fresh and clean against the chaos and mess of my post-heat nest. “You would always have been my choice.”

“Thank you for saying that,” he whispers back. “It’s time for breakfast.”

The pillow makes a satisfying thump as it hits him, but it saps the last of my energy from me.

“Stick a fork in me,” I grumble, burying my face into one of Seth’s shirts. “I’m done. I’m never moving again.”

Hands slide underneath me, and I bat at Marcus’s chest in complaint, but he doesn’t budge. “We’re going to clean you up and feed you.”

My stomach growls, and I decide that getting up might actually be a sacrifice worth making.

Seth and Asher look up as I wander in. I’m surrounded by fussing alphas in seconds, and I shiver as Seth runs a finger across his mating mark.

“My teeth look good on you, sweetheart.”

Marcus pulls me away. “No flirting. Nova needs to eat.”

I’m sitting on Asher’s lap, demolishing my second plate of eggs and toast which might be the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted when my phone buzzes on the table.

“It’s your mother,” Asher murmurs in my ear. “She’s been calling on and off.”

I frown. “How long was my heat?”

“Four days.” Seth wiggles his eyebrows at me. “But I’m keen for another round whenever you’re ready.”

I bite back my smile as I reach for the phone. “Hello?”

“Nova. Are you well?”

My mother sounds stilted, formal.

Just like that, my contentment threatens to disappear. I’ve spent too many years tiptoeing around my mother to feel comfortable with her. I haven’t even heard from her for months.

---