Page 148 of Trick Knot Treat

“Of course, we will.”

“Nothing stays the same. Not for any of us. Growing up is hard, and everyone faces a moment like this. A choice. You are choosing a future that is brave and courageous and everything we raised you to be. Don’t be ashamed, and don’t you dare look back at us old alphas and regret leaving.”

He brushes away my tears.

“We all love you, and we all want what’s best for you. Just give us a minute to realise that your best isn’t with us. Let us be mad and sad, but you don’t change your mind. You chase that golden glow.”

I nod.

I turn away and then scream as a cramp rips through me. It’s worse than anything I’ve ever felt, and it’s followed by a searing, agonizing heat.

The blinding pain eases, and I find myself curled up on the floor, surrounded by alphas. Oh, shit.

I should not have suppressed my heats.

“Get her to her nest,” Gummy tells Dad, who is already hoisting me up into his arms. “Everyone out. Now!” he says, pushing through, his voice an absolute command. But this is the beta fate gave to my father, and he’s a force. No one disobeys Gummy and lives.

I’m safe.

“Okay, boys,” Teddy says, looking around. “What are the names of her pack? Let’s go bring home our new family.”

Harvest grabs his helmet. “I’ll take you.”

I don’t see anything else. Another cramp grips me, and all I can do is scream and fall into the sudden blazing heat.

Chapter 36

Felix

Ifight the arms that hold me off the ground and then drop me heavily onto cold concrete. I think we must be inside a building because I can hear the echoes of people moving. There’s a grunt, and someone slams into me. I’ve got a bag on my head, and my arms are tied up. I have no idea where we are, but we are a long, long way from home.

Slow, heavy steps approach and stop close to us.

“Right, get 'em up, let’s have a look at these lads.”

I’m grabbed by my arms and yanked up. The hood is ripped off my head, yanking out hair, but I’m met by a crowd of thirty smiling, leather-vested men with long beards.

“Is this a Santa audition?” Clint asks. “I can be Santa, too. Can’t quite manage the beard, but I can grow a belly.”

All eyes inspect my alpha, and I’m distracted as Zaire moves up and steps in front of me, growling.

“Oh, my god! Small world!”

A big giant of a man rushes Zaire, and the two hug.

“Um, what?” Clint murmurs. “Zaire, there is a bad guy hugging you.”

“This is the firefighter who saved my girls!” The incredibly dangerous-looking alpha says. “They opened the door, but you covered them, and you carried them out. You gave them their lives back. Marie is in high school now. She wants to help people like the alpha who saved her. She’s thinking about paramedics, and little Rosa, those wounds healed, skin grafts, you can’t even tell. My girls would have been gone, dead, but for you. You saved them.”

Zaire struggles to breathe, and Spectre breaks free of the person holding the leash to press against him.

“We heard about you leaving, about not being able to continue. Look, brother, you saved so many people. There’s no shame in walking away. But I’ve been searching for you for a long time. I wanted you to know that the girls are fine. Good. Thriving. They will have a chance to grow old, have babies, and fall in love. And that’s because of you. I owe you.”

“No, I’m just glad I could save them.” Zaire swallows hard, and I ignore the glares and step up, leaning into him.

“Teddy?”

The big biker wipes his eyes. He’s got as much muscle as softness, and he looks exactly like his name. He’s got long brown hair, honey-coloured eyes and a beard that makes him look mean. “Prez, he’s the fucking hero I've been searching for. There’s no one better for our girl. On my word, on my bike, this one, he’s a good one.”