Page 53 of Knot Their Safe Haven

The way she said my name, like she was tasting it after years of famine, made something in my chest tighten.

"Velvet 'Scarlett' Morclair," I replied. "Though legally, you might want to consider adding Noctuary to that. The paperwork would be cleaner."

She actually rolls her eyes, the obvious annoyance only making my heart feel a tad giddy. She was igniting that blur of excitement I used to have all the way back then, and it was one of the many reasons I liked her. Pushing her buttons never really pushed her away. It made her annoyed sure, but deep down, she could handle the bickering so long as our intentions were clear.

Now I’m older. We’re no longer tutor and student. I can actually stand by her side, despite the age gap. She can actually see me as a man and not some little boy…

"You're serious. About... all of this."

"Dead serious." I leaned forward, close enough that she could see the truth in my eyes. "You texted that your biggest regret was assuming those men would commit. That you would have given that student your number if you could do it over."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Well, you can't go back. But you can go forward. With someone who won't hesitate, hide, or wait twenty more years to decide if you're worth it."

"I'm almost forty."

"And?"

"That's... old. For an unclaimed Omega. Past prime. Past?—"

"Past nothing." The words came out harder than intended, but she needed to hear this. "You're mine now. That means you're perfect exactly as you are. Silver hair, battle scars, trust issues, and all."

“Trust issues,” she huffs a bit dramatically but pouts the longer she thinks about it. “Okay, yeah. A little bit.”

She stared at me, and I saw her rebuilding herself in real time.

The Rebel Queen rising from the ashes of whatever dreams she'd had about those three cowards.

“Do…you have a pack?”

“Yes.”

"Do they know?"

"They're eager to meet you,” I reassure her. “Alexia is flying in tonight. The twins have a recovery cottage ready if you want privacy."

"Twins?"

"Dante and Damon. They're..intense. But loyal."

"And Alexia?"

"Is a female Alpha who'll probably want to paint your nails and discuss overthrowing the patriarchy within five minutes of meeting you."

That got an almost-smile, quickly suppressed.

“Do you have anything against a female Alpha?”

“Nope,” she admits and manages a slight lift of her shoulders that are probably stiff from her laying down for so long through surgery. “I’ve never been strict with whom I dated when it comes to the genders, though this is a first actually being romantic with a female which will be peculiar.”

“But again something you’re open with.”

She nods and even smirks genuinely. “I’m open to it. It’s not against the rules if she’s an Alpha, right?”

“We both know that even if it was against the rules, that wouldn’t stop you, would it?”

“No,” she admits almost gleefully, her tired eyes twinkling with a hint of excitement.