Page 30 of Knotted By my Pack (North Coast Omegaverse #3)

CORA

We sit side by side on the worn couch, the faint scent of sweat and something darker lingering between us.

My skin still tingles from the way he buried himself inside me, the knot still a sharp, wild memory. Julian’s chest rises and falls beside me, breaths uneven but calmer now.

His fingers graze mine, rough and warm, before he breaks the silence.

“I don’t know how the knot released so fast,” he admits quietly. There’s a flicker of something in his eyes—frustration, or maybe confusion, but mostly it’s raw honesty.

I glance at him, biting down on my lip. “Have you ever knotted someone before?” I ask. The question feels heavy, like crossing an invisible line.

He shifts, and his voice drops low. “I make an effort not to.”

“Did you want to?”

“More than anything, Cora.”

The admission hangs between us, stirring something strange inside me. My gaze lingers on him—his tense jaw, the way his dark eyes flicker with a storm barely held in check.

There’s a roughness beneath his calm, something wild that matches the restlessness inside me.

“Why did you come here?” I ask, voice steady though my mind is racing. “After last time?”

Without hesitation, he takes my palm in his large hand and presses a kiss to it. I don’t pull away. Instead, I watch him, curious and cautious.

“I owe you an apology.”

“Yeah, you do,” I agree.

“I know we never see eye to eye,” he says, eyes locking with mine. “But that night... it wasn’t just about breaking the heat.”

“It wasn’t that to me either… or Elias and Noah,” I whisper, voice softer now.

“No, I’m sure it wasn’t,” he says simply. Then his lips are on mine again—slower this time. His hand slides up, tracing the curve of my neck with slow, possessive pressure. He left a faint mark when he bit me.

I meet his gaze, breathing uneven, then ask, “Now that you’ve claimed me, what does this mean?”

He pauses, his fingers tightening just a bit before he admits, “I’m not sure.”

The uncertainty sharpens the moment. He leans in and kisses the spot just below my ear. The heat spreads from his mouth, igniting a wetness between my legs.

His hand slips between my thighs, fingers moving slowly. The slickness there presses to him as he strokes, building the tension that’s been simmering since before we even touched.

His teeth sink harder into the skin of my neck. The bite burns hot, fierce, a brand marking me.

I arch toward him, hungry for more even as my mind struggles to keep pace with the fire roaring through my body.

His hands and mouth map me out—claiming, marking every inch—making it clear this isn’t just passion, it’s something sacred and dangerous.

He pulls back just long enough to whisper against my skin, “This is mine.”

Then he bends me over the sofa, pressing me down on the soft cushions. My legs spread instinctively as he parts me again, harder this time—bigger, heavier, and holding steady in a way that leaves me trembling on the edge of control.

The fullness crashes through me—deep and endless. I try to focus on the sensation, the way he stretches me, fills me perfectly.

My body is sore, bruised in the best way, but I want more, need more, even though my cunt is bruised and tender from Noah’s knot yesterday.

That thought flickers through my mind—a sharp contrast between two men claiming me in such close succession, both leaving marks everyone will see and understand.

The ache deepens, blending pleasure and pain in a way that’s almost overwhelming.

Julian moves inside me with steady, brutal thrusts, each one a reminder of the claim he’s laid on my body and soul. He whispers my name like a prayer, voice rough with need and something darker, more possessive.

The room tightens around us, filled with the sound of skin slapping and ragged breaths tangled together.

I grasp the edges of the couch, nails digging into the fabric as he drives harder, deeper, until I’m lost in the endless fullness, the overwhelming heat pulsing between us.

When he finally comes, it’s with a guttural growl, the knot swelling inside me like a living thing. I cry out, voice raw and desperate, my body trembling as it rides the wave of his climax.

We collapse together again, bodies tangled, hearts syncing in a fierce, fragile rhythm. I press my cheek to his chest, hearing the thunderous beat beneath my ear.

The knot inside me reminds me that that this is more, a tether that ties me to Julian in ways I’m only beginning to understand.

I close my eyes, letting the haze wash over me. For all the uncertainty, the wildness, and the danger, part of me is desperate to hold onto this moment—this fierce, untamed connection that neither of us can deny.

It takes another three orgasms before he’s finally satisfied. My legs ache, body slack and overheated, but there’s something in the way he moves now—slower, quieter—that makes everything settle differently.

He brushes his mouth over my collarbone, then trails soft kisses along my jaw before rising.

He leaves for a moment, only to return with a warm cloth. He kneels between my thighs, eyes unreadable as he cleans me up. Not rushed. Not cold. His touch borders on reverent.

I shift a little, sensitive and raw, but he only shushes me with a palm over my hip and finishes carefully. Then he’s tossing the cloth aside, reaching for my clothes like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Come here,” he says.

I sit up slowly, flushed and sore, as he fastens my bra, his knuckles grazing my skin like it’s made of silk. Next are my panties—fresh ones, plucked from my bag.

He lifts one of my legs, then the other, sliding the fabric up with both hands. His fingers smooth the elastic along my hips like he’s sealing a promise.

He helps me into my skirt, tugging it up and then pausing to brush his knuckles along my thigh, lips twitching into something I can’t quite decipher.

Then comes my blouse. He threads my arms through the sleeves one at a time, then pulls it down over my body before pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

“There,” he murmurs. “Perfect.”

Once I’m dressed, he finally stands and buttons his own pants and shirt, still watching me with that unreadable expression.

“I’ll talk to you later, princess. Okay?”

I nod. He leans in and softly kisses my lips before brushing them over his mark on my neck. Then he leaves, quiet and sure, shutting the door behind him.

When I step out from the back room a few minutes later, Grace is already here.

She’s leaning by the counter, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Well, well,” she hums. “Looks like someone’s been busy.”

I freeze mid-step, cheeks lighting up with a heat that climbs fast. “Grace,” I say, voice tight with embarrassment. “I didn’t hear you come in. Have you been waiting for long?”

She laughs, waving me off. “Relax. I just stopped by to check on you after everything.” Her smile softens. “You good?”

I nod quickly. “Yeah. Just… I think I need the rest of the day off. I’ll be back baking tomorrow.”

She tilts her head. “Understandable. Any update from the cops?”

“Not yet.”

She clicks her tongue. “They’ll figure it out. I know they will.”

There’s a small pause before she moves toward the door. “We should go out soon. Drinks, maybe. Blow off some steam.”

I nod, feeling a sliver of calm at the offer. “Yes. Please.”

The door clicks shut behind her. I cross the room slowly, heart settling into a quieter rhythm. When I finally check my phone, there’s a message from Elias.

How’s your morning?

I call him. He picks up immediately.

“I was coming to see you,” he says.

“Don’t,” I murmur, voice low. “Can I come to the cabin instead?”

A beat. “Yes.”

I exhale and hang up, already heading for the door. I need to relax, and I think I know exactly what to do.