Page 72 of Knot So Lucky

Now, looking at him with new understanding, I realize we need to do serious research.

Need to know exactly who this Alpha is and what kind of connections he has. What his family does in the shadows. What he's capable of beyond the nerdy tech persona.

Because I'm not letting some stranger enter Aurora's life without thorough vetting.

Even though said stranger is currently holding her like she's something precious.

Even though she looks more peaceful than I've seen her in months.

Even though my Alpha instincts are grudgingly acknowledging that she seemssafein his arms.

Roran clearly wants to say something—probably demand an explanation for why this Alpha is in Aurora's bed—but Elias speaks first.

"She requested I hold her," he says simply, no defensiveness or apology in his tone. Just statement of fact. "When she briefly woke up. Said it was calming."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

Auroraaskedhim to hold her?

Aurora, who barely tolerates touch from anyone except me and Roran on her best days? Who maintains careful distance even during sex, who needs control and boundaries and explicit permission before allowing intimacy?

Sheaskedthis stranger to hold her?

Before either of us can form a response—whether threat or question or demand for elaboration—Elias adds something that stops us cold.

"You can check the cameras if you don't believe me." He points casually to three locations in the room without even looking. "There's one in the upper left corner behind the ventilation grate. Another embedded in the smoke detector above the door. The third is in the monitor equipment—probably disguised as an indicator light."

Roran and I exchange glances.

Because he's right. We installed those cameras specifically because Aurora's parents insisted on 24/7 surveillance when she's in medical care. The locations are deliberately hidden, designed to be unnoticeable.

But Elias identified all three in less than five seconds.

"How did you—" Roran starts.

"Pattern recognition." Elias shrugs slightly, careful not to jostle Aurora. "Medical facilities that cater to wealthy families always have surveillance. You learn to spot them."

The casual admission that he's familiar with high-end medical surveillance raises about seventeen new questions.

But before we can ask any of them, Elias shifts slightly, his expression becoming more serious.

"I'm going to have to make some calls soon," he says, voice still quiet but carrying an edge of inevitability. "Let my pack know what happened. They'll want to be... protective."

The way he says "protective" suggests significant understatement.

He pauses, looking down at Aurora's sleeping figure with an expression that's equal parts reverent and pained. Like separating from her physically hurts.

The sight makes my chest tight with emotions I don't want to examine.

Then, with visible reluctance, he begins the careful process of extracting himself from the bed. Moving slowly, supporting Aurora's head as he shifts out from under her, arranging pillows to replace his body so she stays comfortable.

His movements are practiced, efficient, speaking to experience with injury care or medical protocol.

Aurora makes a small sound of protest in her sleep—a quiet whimper that makes all three Alphas in the room tense with the instinct to comfort.

But Elias just murmurs something too quiet for us to hear, running his fingers through her short blonde hair in a soothing gesture, and she settles immediately.

The ease of it—the way she responds to his touch even unconscious—makes my Alpha instincts want to rage.