Page 135 of Knot So Lucky

"Your point?" Luca's voice is sharp, defensive.

"My point is I'm not your enemy." I meet his eyes, letting him see the sincerity. "But I'm a possessive fucker. Which I think you are too, based on the emotions bleeding through the bond. So we need to figure out how to coexist without tearing each other apart over an Omega who belongs to all of us now."

The words hang heavy in the air.

Belongs to all of us.

It's the first time either of us has acknowledged the reality out loud. That Aurora is pack now. That she's bonded to multiple Alphas through whatever unprecedented biological mechanism triggered during her heat.

That we're sharing her, whether we like it or not.

"I don't want any part in this," Luca says, but the words lack conviction.

I roll my eyes, pulling on pants with movements that are probably more aggressive than necessary.

"Well, that would have been all fine and swell before we all bonded in this pack shit." I turn to face him again, letting my frustration show. "But you don't get out now. The bond is established. Aurora claimed me, and somehow that pulled you in, too. So you better figure your shit out because this isn't going away."

Luca just growls—a low, threatening sound that makes my Alpha instincts sit up and take notice.

But I'm too tired and too done with posturing to care.

"I'm gonna change," I say dismissively, gesturing toward the door. "So unless you're into watching naked men, you can leave."

His scowl intensifies, and for a moment I think he's going to argue. Going to push this confrontation into an actual conflict that we'll both regret.

Instead, he grumbles something incomprehensible and stalks out, closing the door with more force than necessary.

I let out a long breath, tension draining from my shoulders.

That went better than expected, honestly.

No actual fighting. No challenges thrown that would require physical resolution. Just two possessive Alphas acknowledging the situation and agreeing to figure it out without killing each other.

Progress…I guess.

I finish getting dressed—comfortable clothes that don't require effort, because fuck if I'm wearing anything restrictive right now—and am just pulling on socks when there's a knock on the door.

"Come in," I call, expecting it to be Roran with updates or questions.

Instead, Elias slips through the door with a small smile that immediately makes the tension in my chest ease.

"Hey," I say, and I'm surprised by how relieved I sound. "Good timing. I just survived a conversation with Luca without bloodshed."

Elias's smile widens into something more genuine.

"I heard. Or felt, I guess, through the bond. It's weird, isn't it? Experiencing other people's emotions like they're your own?"

"Fucking disorienting." I sit on the edge of the bed, gesturing for him to take the chair by the window. "How are you handling it?"

"Better than Luca, apparently." Elias settles into the chair with that particular grace that suggests either dance training ormartial arts. "I've been in pack dynamics before, well sort of. Grew up with siblings and cousins in close quarters. This is more intense, but the basic principles are similar."

"Which are?"

"Communication. Boundaries. Recognizing that everyone's emotions are valid even when they conflict." He pauses, fingers drumming against his thigh. "And accepting that pack bonds mean compromise."

The word settles between us with weight.

Compromise.