Page 85 of Knot All Is Ruined: Part 2

Four months later…

If there was another time I’d been more excited I couldn’t think of one. After months of hard work, we’d shut down all the bases save one since it wasn’t smart not to have a military at all. The rebels moved out of their mountain oasis and joined us in the valley, using all they learned to help us turn this country around. With the weapons factory shut down, Toma and a group of people from the South have been working nonstop on the power plant. Yesterday they finished the final repair, and now a quarter of the country has consistent, reliable power.

It might not seem like much, but this allowed us to start changing the infrastructure bit by bit. We’d be building more and using the knowledge that the South has to benefit both sides. Power was only one of the significant hurdles to cross. Next was agriculture. The North needed to start producing its own food, but thankfully the South was more than willing to help out in the meantime.

I honestly thought the greatest struggle we’d have to face was the people. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been hell and there is lots of predisposed prejudice. However, they saw the leadership working together and so many of the people at their wit's end having hope again. The more they saw the benefit of working together with power, food, water, and clothing. We needed it, and the South was willing to give it. Oscad was instrumental in supplies for building since we decided to create a new capital city near the river on the border of the two countries. Our reasoning for that was when Sorin’s father passes, the duty will fall to his son. This plays into our next dream, a dream where there was no north or south, just Asturg as it was always meant to be.

Today we were taking a much-needed break, and the guys woke me up crazy early this morning and dragged me out of my newly created nest for this. Each of them promised that I would love this surprise, but I wasn’t so sure about that as they forced me to get in a helicopter once more. However, when I realized we were headed to Oscad my attitude changed. I had no idea what they had up their sleeve, but this would be the first time I’d be back in my home country in four years.

We landed in the city on the roof of the Oscad Capitol Building, and when I hopped out, I was instantly wrapped up in a double hug with squealing, shrieking girls. The last time I’d seen Tori and Violet, I sent them home with their children. We’d set up a program to help match children with their mothers if the mothers wanted to be reunited. The joy of giving children real homes and parents fulfilled all the needs I had for that part of my life. I wasn’t cut out to be a mother. I was a soldier who would spend the rest of her life fighting for everyone’s freedom. If I felt the need for a baby fix or to be around children, I would just go to the group home and love on the little ones there who were still looking for families.

“Can you believe it? Here we are in Oscad together again,” Violet gushed as she stepped back, clutching her hands to her chest like she was worried her heart would pop out. “You told us we’d see our home again and I never should have doubted you.” She grabbed for another hug, rocking me from side to side in her excitement.

“Let her go, you’re gonna squeeze her to death,” Tori scolded with a laugh. “There’s someone else who wants to meet her too.”

That made me curious as my two best friends freed me at last, stepping to the side to reveal a woman standing next to Savo. She was stunning, with a heart-shaped face and warm, bright blue eyes with shiny blond hair that had a thick streak of teal right up in front. Her smile made me feel like I’d known her forever, even though I knew we’d never met. Slowly she walked up to me and reached out a hand, yet I already knew who she was so I wrapped her up in a hug.

“Hi, Cambrie,” I whispered as she returned my hug just as fiercely. “It’s really, really, nice to finally meet you.”

“I just knew we’d be best friends the moment we met,” she said with a chuckle and pulled back still holding onto my shoulders. “Come on, we have somewhere important to be.”

Frowning, I looked from her back to my guys, who all had stupid happy smiles on their faces.

“Let’s go, girl. You don’t want to be late for this, trust me,” Cambrie urged, grabbing my hand and hauling me after her. “Now tell me, did my suggestions for the nest work?”

The house we were now living in was the first one to be built in the new capital city that didn’t have a name yet. My guys wanted to surprise me with it and only filled it with the most basic of things so I could design the whole place to my liking. Problem was, I had no idea what I wanted or liked. Stressing out about the situation, Cris brought his mother over, and then we called Cambrie. After that, the three of us planned it out.

“It’s so amazing. I think I spent the last two days just napping in my nest. I was so pissed when the guys pulled me out this morning but this is one hundred percent worth it,” I shared.

“While you’re here, I wanted to show you some things I think you might like. Spencer is brilliant with this stuff too, so I thought we could do a shopping day tomorrow,” Cambrie rattled on as we walked through the maze that is the capitol building.

“Um, no one told me how long we were going to be here,” I said, trying to keep up with everything she was talking about.

Cambrie stopped in her tracks and faced the guys. “You dragged her out of her nest and all the way here without telling her a thing? Shame on you. Did you even pack a bag for her?”

“I did,” Cris spoke up as he showed the duffle. “Three days’ worth, but I figured you would probably get more while we’re here.”

My jaw dropped. “How long are we staying?”

“The answer I will give you now is a week,” Sorin said. “I will be more specific once we get through tonight.”

“What does that mean?” I demanded. “You can’t just go around being all cryptic like that.”

He chuckled and caught my chin in his grip. “Do you trust me, Dani-girl?”

“Yes…”

“Good, then there’s no issue, right?” he teased.

Batting away his hand, I scowled. “Just so you know, you’re not sleeping next to me tonight.”

“Something tells me you’ll think differently later, but I’ll take my punishment as long as you take yours,” Sorin warned.

Cambrie tried to cover up her laughter, but she was failing miserably. “Oh man, you guys remind me of how my pack must look to people. Now no more interruptions. We have things to do.”

The things to do included going to a spa, getting my hair cut, a facial, getting a massage, and getting my makeup done. During this time, the guys went to hang out with the rest of Cambrie’s men as Savo watched over us. When my nails were dry, I was escorted to a dressing room where a beautiful silver cocktail dress was waiting for me to change into. Never in my life did I feel more pampered than I did right now. The dress showed off all my marks from my Alphas making it even more special to me.

Leaving the spa, we climbed into a limo where all our guys were already there. Cambrie introduced me to her three men that I hadn’t met Oscar, Bodie, and Spencer. It was clear to see just how in love all of them were with her and a few with other members of the pack. It created this warmth that I understood and experienced daily with my pack.