Page 79 of Knot So Lucky

"I do," he admits with a small smile. "But this is different. This is your future."

Instead of arguing further, he pulls me into a hug.

The movement is careful, mindful of my injuries, but the embrace is tight enough that I can feel his heart hammering against his ribs. His face buries in my neck—inappropriate given that I'm supposed to be male, but we're alone and he needs this—and his breath is warm against my skin.

"I'm so fucking lucky you're okay," he whispers directly into my ear, voice rough with emotion. "If you'd died in that crash, I would've lost my mind completely."

The raw honesty makes my chest tight.

I hug him back as best I can with IV lines and monitor wires restricting movement, one hand coming up to cradle the back of his head.

"I'll get dismissed soon," I tell him, trying to inject normalcy into the moment. "Back to the garage, back to work. Everything will go back to normal."

Cale groans, the sound vibrating through both of us.

"Do you knowanythingabout resting?"

"Fuck rest."

"Of course, that's your answer." He sighs, the exhale making my hair flutter. "Fine. But don't work too hard. Understood?"

"Understood," I agree, because it's easier than arguing, and I can always break the promise later.

Cale pulls back at a knock on the door, movements reluctant as he separates from the embrace.

We both turn to see Elias standing in the doorway, holding several takeout containers that smell absolutely divine.

The scent hits my nostrils like a physical force—something savory and rich with notes of garlic and herbs, and protein that makes my mouth water immediately. My stomach chooses that exact moment to growl like it hasn't been fed in years, the sound embarrassingly loud in the quiet room.

I blush, heat flooding my cheeks at the betrayal of my own body.

Elias smirks—soft and endearing behind those round spectacles.

"I guess I got here on time."

Cale immediately moves to leave, shoulders tense with that same awkward reluctance from earlier.

But I grab his hand before he can take more than a step, fingers closing around his wrist with enough pressure to stop him in his tracks.

"If this is going to work," I say clearly, looking directly at Elias so there's no confusion about my intentions, "Cale has to be included."

The words hang in the air with finality.

This is non-negotiable.

Cale's part of my life, part of whatever complicated dynamic I'm building, and if Elias's pack can't accept that, then we need to establish boundaries now before anyone gets more invested.

Elias stares at Cale for a long moment.

His soft green eyes assess, calculate, and measure in ways that probably involve complex social dynamics and pack politics that I'm too tired to consider. His scent shifts slightly—becoming more contemplative, less immediate.

Then he nods.

Just... nods.

"Sure," he says simply, like I just asked him to pass the salt instead of demanding he integrate a non-scent-matched Alpha into his pack structure.

Cale frowns, suspicion evident in every line of his body.