Page 30 of Knot Only His (Knot Forever #3)

Chapter 30

Oliver

Two weeks later

The fire crackles, sending sparks up into the darkening sky.

I breathe in deep, taking in the mix of wood smoke, pine needles, and our combined scents swirling in the cool mountain air.

Harlow’s perfume drifts stronger than usual, making my mouth water.

“Another marshmallow?” I hold out the bag of speared sweetness to Jagger, who’s nestled between Harlow’s legs on the log.

“Yes, please!” He grabs two and heats the marshmallow over the fire, much more careful than he had previously.

He passes one back to Harlow.

“Thank you.” She kisses his temple.

Parker paces behind Harlow, his pineapple, and coconut scent spiking with anxiety. “Your skin’s flushed. We should pack up.” He holds his hand on Harlow’s forehead.

“Stop fussing.” Harlow stretches her legs toward the fire. “I’ve got at least two days before it hits.”

“She’s right.” Asher tosses another log on the flames. “Her scent’s only just changing.”

Carver strums his guitar, the melody mixing with the pop and hiss of burning wood. “Remember this one, Harlow?”

He plays “Paradise” by Coldplay and Harlow laughs, swaying side to side with Jagger.

“Mom, sing!” Jagger tugs her sleeve.

My chest tightens at how natural that word sounds now.

Harlow’s voice joins Carver’s guitar, slightly off-key but full of joy.

Parker stops pacing to watch her.

“If you don’t stop hovering and sit down, you’ll miss all the s’mores.” I pat the space next to me.

Parker runs a hand through his hair. “I just want to make sure—“

“Our omega is safe.” Asher pulls him down. “Look at her. She’s fine.”

Harlow winks at me across the fire, her turquoise eyes reflecting the flames.

She turns and leans forward to help Jagger with another marshmallow, her forehead dotted with sweat despite the cool evening air.

“Dance with me!” She pulls Jagger up, twirling him around the fire while Carver switches to an upbeat country song .

I catch Parker’s slight smile as he watches them. His protective instincts are working overtime, but even he can’t deny how perfect this moment is. Now that our pack is whole and happy under the stars.

Jagger settles beside Carver, the boy’s small fingers fumbling over the guitar strings.

“Can you teach me that song?” Jagger beams up at him, all wide-eyed wonder.

Carver’s blue eyes soften. “Sure thing, buddy.” He guides Jagger’s hand, strumming a simple tune.

“Can I call you daddy now?” Jagger asks when he finishes, glancing back and forth between us before he eyes lands on Parker. “My daddies and mommy?” His little voice is still unsure.

I wait for Parker to decide.

Parker chuckles, but there’s something deeper behind it. “I’d love that.”

Jagger blinks, surprise etched across his little face. “Really? I thought you’d be angry.”

Parker’s smile falters for just a second before he kneels down, arms open wide. “Never. You’re my family. We’re all family.”

Jagger jumps into Parker’s embrace, and the sight of my best friend holding him tight breaks something inside me. I realize how much this little boy needs to know this is his family—our family—our pack.

Harlow slips beside me, her head resting on my shoulder. The warmth of her presence steadies me as she watches Parker and Jagger with shining eyes.

“He loves you all so much,” she whispers.

Jagger must have super hearing because he chirps back. “Yeah!” A big grin widens across his face.

“We love you,” I tell her.

She turns, staring around my face. In my eyes. My nose… My lips .

My heart stutters as I take in her beauty. Her hair cascades around her shoulders like dark waves. Her turquoise eyes on mine and I can’t help but hold her close, promising myself to never let her go.

“I love you, Oliver,” she murmurs, looking up and into my eyes before turning back to Parker and Carver. “I love you all with every…” She stares at Carver, uncertainty in her gaze.

Carver places his guitar on the floor and strides over to Harlow with an intensity I’ve never seen from him before.

It’s at that moment that I see something for the very first time—the ice-man cracked—tears stream down his face as he cups her cheeks in his large hands.

“I love you more than life itself. I love you have so much love to give. Give it,” he says fiercely before pressing a kiss against her lips. “Thank you for making me complete. For making us complete. Not just me and you.” He turns to look at his pack. “All of us.”

Carver’s raw emotion sends such a rush through me I can’t comprehend it. Only now do I see they need each other in ways I can’t fully understand yet. Maybe what I’m seeing is how much he needs, not only his omega but also this pack.

But Harlow tenses beside me as a sharp gasp slips from her lips. I look at her. Her face grimaces as pain flashes across her face. She clutches her stomach. “Uh-oh,” she breathes out as slick gushes down her thighs.

The engine hums beneath us, the roads whipping by as Asher drives like a man on a mission gripping the wheel, which is funny considering how he complained about Carver’s driving.

“Mom, we’re on our way,” Parker says from the front passenger seat. “Harlow’s going into her heat.”

I catch Harlow’s eye as she sits beside me on the backseat. Her face pales, a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

“Is she okay?” his mom’s voice crackles through the speaker as worry threads her words.

“She’s with us, but we need to get to you fast. Jagger’s fine, but Harlow…she needs space. She needs to get home.”

“She needs her nest,” his mom adds.

Jagger leans forward from his booster seat. “Are we going to Grandma and Grandpa’s? I can’t wait to see them!”

“Yes, buddy,” Parker assures him, but there’s an edge in his voice that only I notice.

As we pull into the driveway, Parker’s parents rush out of the house like a whirlwind.

“How come the heat came on so quickly?” His mom stares at Harlow in the back of the car as Jagger unbuckles himself.

“No idea, mom but it’s coming on strong,” Parker replies as he exits the car.

His dad takes a step back. His nostrils flaring as Harlow’s scent emits like wildfire in the air. “Is she alright?”

“Jagger, can you be a good boy for your grandparents for a couple of days?” Parker’s voice sounds strained as his other two dads rush out of the house.

Jagger beams up at his grandparents, oblivious to the tension. “I’ll be fine! I’m the happiest boy in the world! ”

Jagger’s feet land with a thump as he jumps from the back of the car.

Parker’s mom takes his hand and says, “Just go. But call me to let me know she’s okay. And be careful with her.”

The engine is still rolling, Asher eager to get away. Seconds later, and the car roars to life the moment we’re all back inside.

Harlow cries into Carver’s chest as I take her legs and place them across mine.

I can’t keep my eyes off Harlow as she writhes on the seat, her vanilla scent flooding the car with every passing second.

“Please,” she begs, her turquoise eyes pleading with us. “I need... I need to be touched.”

Asher’s jaw tightens, his grip on the steering wheel white-knuckled.

He growls through clenched teeth as he speeds up. “Just a little longer, Harlow. Almost home.”

Harlow whimpers, arching her back in frustration. Her hands fist in her skirt, bunching up the material around her thighs.

“I can’t... I need...” She trails off into a moan, her hips bucking involuntarily.

Before I can stop myself, my hand reaches out to steady her.

“Oliver!” Parker snaps.

But it’s too late. The touch sends sparks through me, igniting something primal deep within.

Harlow grabs my hand, pressing it against her core. Heat radiates from her even through the fabric of her clothes.

She grinds against my palm shamelessly as Carver turns to watch us with hooded eyes.

“Pull over,” he commands Asher without looking away from Harlow.

Asher slams on the brakes and swerves to the side of the road, gravel crunching beneath the tires.

The instant we’re still, Carver is on Harlow in an instant. He yanks her top up with one hand while tugging down her panties with the other.

“Holy shit.” His voice is thick as he shoves two fingers inside her slick heat. “So fucking wet.”

Harlow cries out at the sudden intrusion but quickly settles into a rhythm as she rocks against his hand. Her head lolls back as she chases more contact.

“More,” she gasps between breathy moans. “I need more.”

Carver’s free hand grips her hip possessively as he works another finger inside her.

Parker curses under his breath, but remains frozen in place beside me.

Asher unbuckles his seatbelt and turns to watch her.

The car smells like vanilla, pineapple, coconut, rum, and something primal, something urgent.

My cock strains painfully against my zipper, but Harlow takes all my attention right now.

“Just enough to get her home.” Parker’s voice sounds like it is scratching against his throat.

Her face contorts beautifully each time Carver pumps his fingers into her tightness and then pulls out teasingly slow.

I push him to one side and plunge my tongue inside her, adding a finger and sliding it over her inner wall, feeling her sweet spot just enough. And she cries out as she comes hard and fast.

“Drive.” I yell. “We need to get her home now.”

Asher floors it, the tires spitting gravel as we tear down the driveway .

Harlow is pacified for now, but soon those whimpers are going to echo around the enclosed space of the SUV, and next time I doubt her alphas are going to be so restrained.

The car screeches outside the house.

Parker scoops up Harlow as if she weighs nothing, urgency fueling him.

Harlow shudders in Parker’s arms and pants. “I can’t…” She bites her lip as another wave of heat rolls over her.

“Hold on.”

I jog alongside them as they head inside.

“Let me help you.” I take charge as soon as Parker sets her down gently on her nest in her room.

Harlow looks around wildly—pillows tossed everywhere—and finally meets my gaze. “I need...everything! Where are the cushions?”

“You have everything here,” I reassure her while picking up a few stray pillows. “Just tell me what you need.”

She shakes her head frantically. “No…no… I only need them.” Her eyes glisten with desperation and longing.

“We’ll be waiting for you,” I promise softly, before leaning down to kiss her lips. “And trust us,” I whisper against her mouth before stepping back and watching as she starts to prepare her nest.