Knot Happening Again (Claimverse Book 2)

I find myself transfixed on the woman in bed, her hair a dark contrast to the white linens beneath her as she sleeps. The early dawn light filtering through the curtains casts a soft glow on her pale skin, highlighting the delicate curve of her cheekbone. She looks peaceful now, a stark contrast to the pain-wracked omega I found earlier.

Well.. last night. Even if I haven’t slept much, between tending to Ophelia’s heat and my conflicted thoughts about my bondmate.

Troy and Mace flank her on either side, their muscular bodies curled protectively around her smaller frame. Even in sleep, they instinctively shield her. It’s a beautiful sight, one that makes my alpha pride swell. We’ve done this—given her comfort, eased her suffering. And we could give her so much more, if only she’ll allow us.

But there’s an undercurrent of unease that I can’t shake. The half-formed mark on her neck, barely visible in the dim light, is a constant reminder of the pain she’s endured. Of the alpha who abandoned her.

Leon. My bondmate. My best friend.

The door creaks open, pulling me from my thoughts. Maddox slips in, his blue eyes catching mine. He moves with the quiet grace of a beta, careful not to disturb the sleeping trio.

‘How is she doing?’ he whispers, coming to stand beside me.

I run a hand through my hair, suddenly aware of how exhausted I am. ‘Better,’ I murmur. ‘The pain’s subsided for now. Come on, let’s talk outside. She needs rest.’

We slip out of the room, closing the door with a soft click. In the hallway, the tension in my shoulders eases slightly. I lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

‘How’d it go with Leon?’ I ask, dreading the answer.

Maddox’s expression tightens. ‘He’s fucked up about everything, Rhys. I’ve never seen him like this.’

‘He should be,’ I mutter, a growl building in my chest.

Maddox places a hand on my arm, his touch grounding. ‘You have every right to be furious. We all do. But especially you, since you and Leon are bonded.’

I close my eyes, trying to quell the storm of emotions raging inside me. Anger, betrayal, confusion—they war with the deep-seated loyalty I feel toward my packmate. How could he do this to her? To us? To me? When I open my eyes again, Maddox is watching me with understanding in his gaze.

‘I know it’s a lot to process,’ he says gently. ‘But I hope you’ll be open if and when Ophelia decides to hear Leon out.’

My jaw clenches. ‘I still care for Leon. Obviously. But there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to let him anywhere near Ophelia.’

‘Trust me, I get it,’ Maddox says, his voice low and serious. ‘Even as a beta, I understand the urge to protect her from everything. Including him. But that choice ultimately has to be Ophelia’s.’

I hate that he’s right. I nod reluctantly, running a hand over my face. ‘Yeah, I know. I just… I can’t believe he’d do something like this. That he could keep it from us for so long.’

Maddox squeezes my shoulder. ‘We’ll figure it out, Rhys. As a pack.’

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. ‘You’re right. Thanks, Mads. Want to trade posts? I need a shower, and I should probably start some coffee for when the others wake up.’

He nods, a small smile playing at his lips. ‘Sounds good. I’ll keep an eye on our sleeping beauties.’

As Maddox slips back into the bedroom, I make my way to the bathroom. The hot water helps clear my head, washing away some of the tension from the past twenty-four hours. By the time I step out, I feel more like myself.

In the kitchen, I start the coffee maker, the rich aroma filling the air. It’s comforting, familiar. I lean against the counter, letting my mind wander.

I think back to the first time I met Leon, at that underground cage match. He was all raw power and determination, a force of nature in the ring. But afterward, as I patched him up, I saw the vulnerability beneath the bravado. We clicked instantly, forming a bond that went beyond alpha posturing. We were from different worlds, but we shared the same principles and values.

At least, I thought we did.

How could that same Leon have abandoned Ophelia? Left her half-marked and alone?

The coffee maker beeps, jolting me from my reverie. I pour myself a cup, savoring the first sip. The bitter taste grounds me in the present.

A soft noise from the hallway catches my attention. I look up to see Ophelia padding toward me, wrapped in one of the oversized robes we keep for guests. Her scent hits me—a cool day a the beach. My body responds instantly, a low rumble building in my chest.

‘Hey,’ she says softly, her blue eyes meeting mine. ‘I smelled coffee.’

I smile, reaching for another mug. ‘Perfect timing. How are you feeling?’

She accepts the coffee with a grateful nod. ‘Better. Still sore, but… better than I have in a long time.’

My alpha preens at that, proud to have helped ease her pain. But there’s still a sadness in her eyes that tugs at my heart.

‘I’m glad,’ I say, resisting the urge to pull her into my arms. ‘Are you hungry? I could whip up some breakfast.’

Ophelia takes a sip of her coffee, considering. ‘That would be nice, actually.’

I turn to the stove, pulling out a pan and some eggs. ‘I’m nowhere near the chef Mace is, but I make a pretty decent breakfast. How do you like them?’

‘Scrambled is fine,’ Ophelia says, settling onto a stool at the kitchen island.

As I crack eggs into a bowl, I feel her eyes on me. There’s a weight to her gaze, like she’s trying to puzzle something out. I glance over my shoulder, catching her eye.

‘Everything okay?’

She takes a sip of coffee, then sets the mug down carefully. ‘I was going to ask you the same thing, actually.’

I pause, whisk in hand. ‘Me? Why wouldn’t I be?’

Ophelia’s fingers trace the rim of her mug. ‘I don’t know much about alpha bonds, but… I can tell Leon didn’t tell you about me. That must be hard.’

The whisk clatters against the side of the bowl as I set it down. I turn to face her fully, surprised by her perceptiveness—and her concern.

‘I… yeah, it is,’ I admit. ‘But Ophelia, you don’t need to worry about that. You’ve been through enough.’

She shakes her head, a sad smile playing at her lips. ‘I’m sorry. I have my feelings about Leon, but I don’t want to come between you.’

I cross the kitchen in two quick strides, taking her hand in mine. Her skin is soft, warm. ‘You didn’t,’ I say, my voice gentle but firm. ‘You didn’t do anything wrong. Leon is the one who made his decision, and everyone else is dealing with the consequences.’ I squeeze her hand. ‘Especially you.’

Ophelia’s eyes widen slightly at the intensity in my voice. I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my emotions.

‘I am so, so sorry,’ I continue. ‘I swear I had no idea. If I had known Leon had an omega out there, me and the others would have done whatever we could to find you, to make it right.’

Surprise flickers across her face. ‘I believe you,’ she says softly. ‘I just thought…’

‘What?’ I press, not letting go of her hand. ‘Tell me.’

She shrugs, looking down at our joined hands. ‘I was afraid you’d think I planned this.’

Horror washes over me. ‘Why would we think that?’

‘Packs of successful alphas don’t pick half-marked escorts regularly,’ she says, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘Other people would think I was just doing this to get to you. To get revenge on Leon, or at least use my connection to get something out of it.’

I cup her chin, gently tilting her face up to meet my gaze. ‘Ophelia, listen to me. Nothing we could ever give you would even compare to what we receive by having you here. I would never think that about you. None of us would.’

‘That’s for damn sure,’ Mace’s gruff voice calls from the doorway.

I can’t help but smile as the older alpha saunters in, wearing nothing but his boxers and a sleepy grin. His hair’s a mess, sticking up in all directions, and he scratches his belly as he yawns.

‘Morning, sweetheart,’ he rumbles, leaning down to press a kiss to Ophelia’s cheek. Her pale skin flushes pink, and I feel a surge of affection for both of them.

Mace plops down on the stool next to Ophelia, then scoops her up and deposits her on his lap in one fluid motion. She lets out a startled squeak, but doesn’t protest. Instead, she snuggles into his soft stomach and lays her head on his firm chest, looking like a kitten in the arms of a bear.

‘Now, what’s this nonsense I hear about you not belonging with the pack?’ Mace asks, his burly arms wrapping around Ophelia’s waist.

I turn back to the stove, focusing on the eggs I’ve been neglecting. ‘Ophelia was worried we might think she planned this whole thing,’ I explain, keeping my voice light even as anger at Leon bubbles up again.

Mace snorts. ‘That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. No offense, darlin’.’

‘None taken,’ Ophelia murmurs, her voice muffled. I glance over my shoulder to see her face buried in Mace’s chest, his chin resting on top of her head.

‘Look,’ Mace says, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as he strokes her hair. ‘I know you’ve been through hell. And I know we’re not exactly what you expected when you came to Temporary Bonds. But you fit with us, Ophelia. Like a missing puzzle piece we didn’t even know we were looking for.’

I nod, adding some cheese to the eggs as they cook. ‘He’s right. And we’ll keep telling you that until you believe it.’

Ophelia lifts her head, looking between us with wide, vulnerable eyes. ‘I want to,’ she whispers. ‘I just… I’m scared.’

‘That’s okay,’ I tell her, sliding the eggs onto a plate. ‘We’ve got time. No pressure, no expectations. Just… let us take care of you for now, alright?’

She nods, a small smile tugging at her lips. ‘I think I can manage that.’

‘Good,’ Mace says, pressing another kiss to the top of her head. ‘Now, what’s this sorry excuse for breakfast Rhys is trying to pass off as food?’

I roll my eyes, setting the plate in front of them. ‘If you’ve got complaints, you’re welcome to take over.’Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Mace eyes the eggs critically. ‘Did you even season these? And where’s the bacon? The toast? Come on, Doc, I thought you were supposed to know about nutrition.’

‘I know enough to tell you that bacon is not an essential nutrient,’ I retort, reaching for the salt and pepper.

‘It’s too early for this much noise,’ Troy’s voice calls from down the hall. A moment later, he appears in the doorway, his T-shirt and boxers so rumpled he makes Mace look ready for a black-tie affair. His dark hair is damp from a shower, and he’s wearing a fresh T-shirt and jeans.

‘The kid up before noon?’ Mace asks in feigned shock. ‘They find a cure for vampirism?’

Troy just flips him off as he shuffles over to the coffee pot. He glances over his shoulder at Ophelia, his gaze softening. ‘How’s our girl doing?’

Ophelia ducks her head, but I catch the pleased smile on her face at Troy’s casual claim.

‘Better,’ she says softly. ‘Thanks to all of you.’

Troy grins, leaning against the counter with his mug. ‘Glad to hear it. So, who the hell let Rhys cook?’

I throw my hands up in exasperation. ‘That’s it. I’m done. Next time, you’re all on your own.’

Mace chuckles, reaching for a fork. ‘Aw, don’t be like that, Doc. We appreciate the effort. Even if it is a bit… bland.’

I watch as he takes a bite, his face scrunching up in an exaggerated grimace. Ophelia giggles, the sound light and musical, and I feel my irritation melt away.

‘Fine,’ I grumble, unable to keep the smile from my face. ‘You know, my offer stands. If it’s not to your standards, we could trade places and you cook.’

Mace looks down at Ophelia, still perched on his lap. ‘Nah,’ he says, grinning. ‘I think I’m good right where I am.’

Troy rolls his eyes, but there’s fondness in his voice when he speaks. ‘You’re ridiculous, you know that?’

‘You’re just jealous,’ Mace retorts, sticking out his tongue.

Maddox finally comes downstairs, and when I see he’s freshly showered and dressed in actual clothes, looking far more put together than all of us, I realize why it took him so long. ‘Good morning,’ he says, sounding far too chipper at this hour for a man who slept as little as I know he did.

‘Something smells great.’ He stops on his way into the kitchen and kisses Ophelia. ‘The food, too.’

She blushes at his remark, and he settles around the massive counter with the rest of the pack. Well, most of it.

I shake my head, marveling at how quickly things have settled into a sense of normalcy. It’s like Ophelia’s always been here, filling a void we didn’t even realize existed until we met her.

But as I watch her relax into Mace’s embrace, laughing at something Troy’s said, I can’t help but think of Leon. My chest aches with the weight of his absence, the betrayal still raw and stinging.

How could he have done this to any omega, let alone her?

I push the thought away, focusing on the present. On Ophelia’s smile, on the way Mace’s eyes crinkle at the corners when he laughs, on Troy’s smartass humor, on Maddox’s quiet presence, steady and reassuring.

I want to believe this is how it could be forever. So simple, so right. But deep down, I know it isn’t complete without Leon. I just don’t know if Ophelia is ever going to be able to forgive him.

And I don’t know if I can, either.