Page 122 of Knot Going Down

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EMILY

It’s been three weeks since Glenn was arrested and our guys bonded, solidifying Lucas’s place in America and eliminating any worries we had about Knox and Declan killing each other. Ava and I have begged them to bite us, too, nearly every day, but they keep telling us to wait. They’ve been veryhush hushabout why. Only telling us they have a surprise for us first.

“Can we take the blindfolds off yet?” I ask. “It’s making me a little carsick.”

Gunner’s panting in the back doesn’t help. The sound mixes with the motion in a way that has me gripping Ava’s hand.

“We’re almost there,” Lucas whispers, the warmth of his breath distracting enough to make my stomach flip for reasons that have nothing to do with motion sickness. “Do you need me to take your mind off it?”

“If that’s code for groping me in the backseat, I will throw up. Blindfold or not.”

Ava laughs beside me, her fingers lacing tighter with mine. “Emily’s right, this is ridiculous. Please tell me you’re not taking us to some janky roadside motel for some weird roleplay or an all-you-can-eat burger contest.”

The car comes to a gentle stop and Gunner gives a quick, excited bark.

“At least he’s happy,” I murmur, but can’t stop my curious smile. I really hope this is the surprise they’ve been waiting for. I want their bites like yesterday, and I know Ava feels the same way.

Doors open, and suddenly there’s cool air, warm sunbeams on my face, and the faint rustle of trees. Lucas helps me out first, carefully leading me from the car. Ava follows close behind, our fingers still linked. A brush of fur hits my leg as Gunner bounds past.

I can feel Knox behind us, a warm, solid wall of muscle and heat, his leather scent extra potent.

Last night, he stole me away for some time just the two of us. We went to the pizza place where we had our first date. Huddled in a corner booth, we scrolled through nearby college options on his phone, looking at the requirements, and laughing as he teased that he wanted a degree in ballet pedagogy or fashion merchandising.

“Watch your step,” Knox says, his hand at the small of my back as the ground shifts, pavement underfoot giving way to a slight incline.

We pause. There’s the sound of a key sliding into a lock, then the creak of a door swinging open.

The air changes again—cooler, shaded. Inside.

“Okay.” Declan’s voice is warm in front of me. “Take off the blindfolds.”

I lift the material and blink against the soft light. Ava gasps beside me.

It’s a house.

A real house. Warm wood floors, high windows casting gold across the open-concept living room and kitchen. The furniture’s sparse for now—just a few essentials—but the airsmells like fresh paint and cedar, and the walls are a soft cream color that reminds me of our omega.

There’s a fireplace, and a deck visible through the back sliding door. A fenced yard. A cozy nook in the corner already stacked with books and two mismatched armchairs.

My mouth falls open.

“Oh,” Ava gasps, stepping forward. “This is…”

“It’s ours.” Declan wraps his arms around me from behind. “And it’s only a few blocks from your brother’s place, Em. Close enough to visit. Far enough to be our own.”

Ava spins slowly in a circle, blinking like she’s trying to prove this is real. Lucas pulls her close, nuzzling into her neck.

“You bought a house?” she asks. “You guys bought us a house!”

“Not just a house,” Knox says, his expression so soft and open he looks as if every weight has been lifted from his shoulders. “A beginning.”

Heat floods my chest. “How is this possible? We’ve only been home a few weeks.”

“Declan’s got a friend who found the place on government auction,” Knox says with a shrug. “And we pooled our resources. Plus, our beta is apparently more well endowed financially than he let on.”

“Very well endowed,” Lucas beams. “Thick, hard portfolio.”