Knot Happening Again (Claimverse Book 2)

My heart pounds in my chest as I pace the living room, unable to sit still. The others are scattered around, tension radiating off them in waves. Mace stands by the window, peering out through a gap in the curtains every few seconds. Troy sprawls on the couch, his usual cocky demeanor replaced by a tightness around his eyes. Rhys and Maddox hover near me, their concern palpable.

‘Effy, sweetheart,’ Maddox says softly, reaching out to touch my arm. ‘Why don’t you let me give you a massage? It might help you relax.’

I shake my head, my stomach churning with anxiety. ‘I can’t. Not until we hear from Leon.’

I turn to Rhys, searching his face for reassurance. ‘Do you think it’s a problem that we haven’t heard from him yet?’

Rhys forces a smile, but I can see the strain behind it. ‘I’m sure he’s fine, Ophelia. He’s probably just leading the paparazzi away from us, making sure they don’t follow.’

But I can feel the worry radiating off him through our bond. Leon is his bondmate, after all. If anything happened to him…

I shake my head, trying to banish the thought. Leon’s fine. He has to be.

The silence in the room is oppressive, broken only by the ticking of the clock and the occasional rustle as someone shifts position. I resume my pacing, unable to stay still. My mind races with worst-case scenarios.

What if the paparazzi cornered him?

What if he lost his temper again and did something he can’t take back?

Just as I’m about to suggest we go out looking for him, the front door opens.

We all freeze, holding our collective breath.

Leon steps into the room, looking tired but unharmed. Relief floods through me, so intense it makes me dizzy. Before I can think better of it, I’m rushing toward him, throwing my arms around his neck.

He stiffens for a moment, clearly surprised, before his arms wrap around me, pulling me close. I breathe in his scent—pine and winter air—feeling the tension drain from my body.

My omega instincts to want my whole pack here, home and close and safe, are immediately sated. But there’s still so much I don’t know. So much that could go wrong, because those vultures out there still can’t accept the idea that a pack like this could want someone like me.

And somehow, they keep figuring out what our next moves are.

‘Well,’ Leon chuckles, his voice rumbling through his chest, ‘I could get used to this kind of reception.’

I pull back, suddenly aware of what I’ve done. Heat rises to my cheeks as I step away, but Leon’s hand lingers on my waist, his touch warm through the fabric of my dress.

The others crowd around us, their voices overlapping as they pepper Leon with questions.

‘What happened?’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Did anyone follow you?’

Leon holds up his hands, a wry smile on his face. ‘One at a time, guys. I’m fine. No one followed me.’

‘What did you do?’ Rhys asks, his voice tight with concern.

Leon runs a hand through his hair, messing it up even more. ‘I gave them a bit of a show,’ he admits. ‘Nothing I’ll get in trouble for—well, no more trouble than I’m already in, at least.’

I frown, worry creeping back in. ‘What kind of show?’

He shrugs, but I can see the mischief dancing in his eyes. ‘Oh, you know. A few choice words, maybe a rude gesture or two. Then I pretended to go back to my old apartment—the one I was using when I was living separately from the pack.’

‘And then what?’ Troy prompts, leaning forward.

‘I waited it out,’ Leon says. ‘Gave them time to get bored and leave. Once the coast was clear, I took my motorcycle and came home.’

‘You have a motorcycle?’ The question slips out before I can stop it.

Leon grins, and for a moment, I see a flash of the cocky alpha I remember from our youth. ‘I do indeed. Among other hidden talents.’

‘Yeah,’ Troy snorts, ‘not getting laid for seven years will do that to a guy.’

Leon flips him off, but there’s no real heat behind it. The tension in the room dissipates, replaced by relieved laughter.

‘You could have called,’ Rhys mutters.

Leon shakes his head. ‘About that… I think I need a new phone. We all do.’

‘What?’ Mace asks, frowning. ‘Why?’

‘No matter how careful we are, no matter how last-minute the plans we make, those assholes still keep finding out where we’ll be,’ Leon says, his voice harsh with frustration. ‘We have to start thinking about the possibility that they’ve got one of us bugged, as paranoid as it sounds.’

‘It does sound pretty paranoid,’ Troy mutters.

‘Do you have any better ideas, smartass?’ Maddox asks. ‘

Troy shrugs. ‘Maybe we’ve got a mole.’

‘A mole?’ Rhys echoes doubtfully. ‘Within the pack?’

‘No,’ Troy says. ‘Of course not.’

‘None of our families would do that,’ Mace insists, pausing. ‘Although Troy’s nana is a little shady.’

‘Oh, fuck off,’ Troy grumbles in response to Mace’s joke.

The bigger alpha chuckles, but grows somber. ‘Leon is right. We’re going to have to start taking precautions. New phones is the bare minimum.’

I wrap my arms around myself, trying to stop the trembling that’s taken over my body. The others continue discussing precautions, their voices a low hum in the background as my mind races.

‘We should change our routines,’ Mace suggests, his deep voice rumbling through the room. ‘Vary our schedules, take different routes to work.’

Maddox nods, adding, ‘And we need to be more careful about what we post online. No check-ins or location tags.’

‘No what now?’ Mace asks in bewilderment.

Their words wash over me and grow distant, each suggestion feeling like another weight pressing down on my chest. This is all because of me. Because they chose to be with me. The world will never accept it, never understand why a pack like this would want someone like me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the guilt that’s threatening to consume me. But it’s no use. The shame burns hot in my veins, a constant reminder of how I’ve upended their lives.

‘Effy?’ Troy’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. I open my eyes to find him watching me, concern etched across his features. ‘What’s wrong, princess?’

All eyes turn to me, and I feel myself shrinking under their collective gaze. I want to lie, to brush it off, but the words tumble out before I can stop them.

‘This is all my fault,’ I whisper, my voice cracking. ‘You’re all going through this because of me. Because the world can’t accept… this.’ I gesture vaguely between us, unable to meet their eyes.

The room falls silent for a moment, and I brace myself for their agreement, for the realization to dawn that I’m not worth all this trouble.

But then Troy’s voice breaks the silence, fierce and unyielding. ‘Fuck the world.’

I look up, startled by the vehemence in his tone. He’s on his feet now, stalking toward me.

‘This isn’t because of you, Effy,’ he continues, his blue eyes blazing. ‘It’s because people are small-minded assholes who can’t stand to see others happy.’

Leon nods, stepping closer to me. ‘He’s right,’ he says softly. ‘Paparazzi are vultures, always have been. If it wasn’t this, it would be something else. They’re just jealous we have you.’

I shake my head, disbelief warring with a desperate need to believe them. ‘I doubt that,’ I murmur, but even as the words leave my mouth, I feel the conviction behind them wavering.

Rhys is at my side in an instant, his arm wrapping around my waist. ‘It’s true,’ he insists. ‘You’re extraordinary, Ophelia. Anyone would be lucky to have you. We’re the ones who hit the jackpot.’

Mace’s large hand comes to rest on my shoulder, his touch grounding me. ‘You’re pack,’ he rumbles. ‘Our omega. Family. And family sticks together, no matter what.’

Maddox moves in front of me, taking my hands in his. ‘We chose this, Effy. We chose you. And we’d do it again in a heartbeat.’

Their words wash over me, a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. I want to believe them, want to let their conviction seep into my bones and chase away the doubt. But years of insecurity don’t disappear overnight.

‘But your lives,’ I protest weakly. ‘Your careers. This could ruin everything you’ve worked for.’

Leon’s hand cups my cheek, gently turning my face to meet his gaze. ‘Nothing is more important than you,’ he says, his voice low and intense. ‘Not our careers, not our reputations, nothing. You’re worth it all, Ophelia. You always have been.’

The raw honesty in his eyes takes my breath away. I search his face for any sign of deception, but all I see is unwavering sincerity. And as I look around at the others, I see the same determination reflected in their eyes.

Something inside me cracks, a hairline fracture in the last standing walls I’ve built around my heart. It’s terrifying, this vulnerability, but there’s a part of me that yearns to let it grow, to let their love seep in and fill all the broken places inside me.

‘I… I don’t know what to say,’ I whisper, overwhelmed by the intensity of their gazes.

Troy’s lips quirk up in a small smile. ‘You don’t have to say anything, princess. Just let us take care of you.’

Before I can respond, Mace scoops me up in his arms, cradling me against his broad chest. ‘Come on, little one,’ he rumbles. ‘Let’s get you to bed.’

I don’t protest as he carries me up the stairs, the others following close behind. My body feels heavy, the emotional toll of the evening finally catching up with me. Mace lays me gently on the bed, and I curl up instinctively, making myself small.

But I’m not alone for long. The others join me, surrounding me with their warmth and their scents. Rhys settles behind me, his chest pressed against my back. Troy stretches out in front of me, one hand coming to rest on my hip. Maddox and Mace position themselves at the foot of the bed, their presence a comforting weight.

Leon hesitates for a moment, uncertainty flashing across his face. But then I reach out, my hand finding his, and he joins us, fitting himself into the space between Troy and me.

Wrapped in their embrace, I feel the tension slowly seeping out of my body. Their scents mingle in the air around me—pine and winter air, bourbon and leather, fresh-baked cookies, honey and sandalwood, toasted marshmallows. It’s a heady cocktail that makes my head spin in the best way.

As my eyes grow heavy, I hear them talking in hushed tones, their voices a soothing murmur.

‘We need to find out who’s leaking information,’ Maddox says, his voice barely above a whisper.

‘I’ve got some contacts in security,’ Leon replies. ‘I’ll reach out, see if we can get some more professional help.’

‘What about a decoy?’ Troy suggests. ‘Feed false information, see where it leads.’

Their conversation continues, plans and strategies flying back and forth. But instead of feeling guilty, I find myself oddly comforted. They’re not doing this out of obligation or pity. They’re doing it because they want to, because they care.

Because I’m theirs, and they’re mine.

The realization settles over me like a warm blanket. For so long, I’ve been alone, convinced that I didn’t deserve love or happiness.

But here, surrounded by my pack…

I feel like I belong.

It’s terrifying, this newfound vulnerability. Part of me wants to run, to protect myself from the possibility of getting hurt again. But a larger part, the part that’s been slowly awakening since I joined this pack, wants to stay. To fight. To believe that I deserve this happiness.

As I drift off to sleep, lulled by their voices and their warmth, I make a silent promise to myself. I won’t let my insecurities push them away. I’ll fight for this, for us, with everything I have.

Because they’re worth it.

We’re worth it.

My last conscious thought before sleep claims me is a realization that sends a shiver of both fear and excitement through me.

I love them.

All of them.

Fiercely, completely, with every piece of my heart.