One Week Later
Knox
The first frost of the season glitters across the yard, catching in the branches and the fence posts and the curls of Skyla’s hair as she leans against the porch rail. She’s wrapped in one of my old flannels—blue, soft from a thousand washes—and the sleeves swallow her hands.
She doesn’t know I’m watching her from the kitchen window, but I don’t think she’d mind if she did.
Behind me, the house hums with quiet life. Tadeo’s voice drifts from the living room, coaxing Dakota into another round of cards. Alex is in the kitchen with me, shoulder brushing mine as he dries the last of the dishes. The sink gurgles once and then goes quiet.
It’s peaceful. Almost.
The bond between Skyla and me pulls soft and low, like a current under calm water.
She’s been off this week, which makes sense.
An alpha she loved at one time, one that she shared a bond with, is dead. While I know she’s thankful he’s gone, I also understand her sadness.
Most of the time, she’s steady—light, sweet, full of that quiet laughter that used to feel impossible. But sometimes, late at night, her guilt still creeps into her dreams. I can feel it in my chest before I hear it—her heart clenching, the faint ripple of a dream that drags her under.
She doesn’t scream. She just makes small, broken sounds that she doesn’t remember in the morning.
We don’t tell her she makes them.
Alex sets the towel down, following my gaze. “She’s not cold out there?”
“She says the air helps her breathe,” I murmur, drying my hands on my sweats.
He hums, thoughtful, and then adds quietly, “You should go to her.”
I nod, already planning on doing that.
Outside, the boards creak under my weight, but Skyla doesn’t flinch. She knows it’s me.
“Couldn’t sleep again?” I ask.
She shakes her head, eyes still on the frost-bitten yard. “Dreams.”
I step in behind her, close enough to let my warmth bleed through the flannel. “Bad ones?” I wrap my arms around her middle.
Her shoulders lift, then fall. “Not…bad. Just heavy.” Her voice is quiet, tired around the edges. “Sometimes I think I can still smell him. Isn’t that stupid?”
I rest my chin against the crown of her head. “It's not stupid,” I tell her. “Ghosts like to linger. But they eventually fade.” I kiss the top of her head. “You should come inside, sweetheart. It’s cold out here.”
Her hands twist in the fabric at her wrists. “I just don’t want to bring everyone down.”
“Not possible,” I say softly. “We’re all hopelessly in love with you, Sky. Doesn’t matter how sad, angry, or off you feel—you light up the room just by walking into it.”
She lets out a quiet laugh, clearly trying to convince me she’s fine. “I’m not sure that makes me feel better that you guys light up when I’m sad,” she teases my choice of words.
I exhale through my nose, a faint huff of a laugh, and shake my head. That wasn’t what I meant. And she knows it.
I turn my omega in my arms until she’s facing me, her cheek brushing my chest. With one hand, I lift her chin, coaxing her to look up at me. Then I lean down and press a soft kiss to the tip of her nose.
“Don’t hide how you feel from us,” I murmur, keeping my voice low and steady. “Because we love you. Every damn piece of you.”
That earns me the faintest smile—the kind that trembles before it sticks.
Tadeo’s laughter filters through the sliding glass door, low and rumbling. Dakota says something in return, voice bright, and Skyla’s smile steadies a little more.
“They’re loud,” she says with a little laugh.
“They’re family,” I remind her.
She leans against me, the tension in her spine easing. For a while, neither of us says anything. The world feels small and right.
When Skyla finally looks up at me, I feel the faintest hum along our bond—sadness, yes, but also warmth, love, trust.
My girl is going through something hard right now. Something I don’t fully understand, but I’ll be damned if she goes through it alone.
“Let’s go in.” I cup her cheek. “Tadeo made cocoa.”
Her lips twitch, like she’s trying not to smile.
I take her hand and lead her inside.
The house greets us with the easy sound of laughter and the soft hum of the heater kicking on. Tadeo’s sitting cross-legged on the floor across from Dakota, a pile of cards spread across the coffee table between them. There’s cocoa, half-drunk and cooling, sitting beside the deck.
Dakota spots us first and brightens immediately. He pats the cushion next to him. “Hey there, beautiful. Look what I made you.”
I follow his gaze to the couch—her portable nest, piled high with blankets and pillows, tucked neatly into the corner.
“For me?” she asks, her voice small but touched with something that almost sounds like wonder.
Dakota grins. “Of course, for you. Figured you’d want to be comfy while we all hang out.”
Tadeo glances up from his cards. “Come and sit with us, Sky.” His dark eyes narrow at Dakota. “I need someone to look at his cards and tell me when he’s bluffing.”
“Hey!” Dakota protests, grinning wide. “That’s cheating.”
Before Skyla can respond, Alex strolls in from the kitchen, a steaming mug in each hand. “If we’re cheating, I want in.” He sets the mugs on the table, then drops heavily onto the couch beside Dakota, making the frame groan in protest.
Skyla laughs softly and crawls into her little nest on Dakota’s other side, tucking her legs beneath a blanket. The sound of her laughter—it’s small, but it cracks something open in my chest every damn time.
Tadeo shifts to the side and pats the floor next to him. “You joining us, Knox?”
“Oh no,” I say, crossing my arms. “Alex can move his ass to the floor.”
Alex blinks, mock offense flashing across his face. “Excuse me? I just got comfortable.”
“Yeah?” I raise one brow, then cut a look at where my recliner used to sit. “You broke my damn chair, so you can take the floor.”
Dakota snorts, trying and failing to hide his grin behind a hand.
“Unreal,” Alex says, throwing up his hands. “For the record, I wasn’t the only one who broke the recliner.” He cuts a pointed look at Dakota, but the beta quickly glances away while Skyla hides her face behind a wall of blonde curls.
Alex groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Unbelievable.”
Still, he gives in and slides dramatically off the couch onto the floor beside Tadeo. “One time,” he mutters, settling cross-legged. “One mistake, and I’ll never live it down.”
“Damn right,” I say, lowering myself onto the couch beside Skyla. “Actions have consequences, sunshine.”
Skyla’s soft amusement thrums through our bond. Then she shifts, curling against Dakota’s side as he picks his cards back up, the picture of exaggerated seriousness. Her hand rests on his thigh, her tension gone for now—replaced by something lighter.
Dakota squints at his hand, then tosses two cards onto the table. “Two cards,” he says, and Tadeo slides them over without a word.
The beta lifts his cards just enough for Skyla to peek. Her eyes go wide, mouth parting in silent surprise. She glances up at Tadeo and mouths, wow.
Tadeo freezes, then smiles. “I fold.” He tosses his hand onto the pile.
Alex stifles a laugh, shaking his head. “Very nice.” He catches Skyla’s gaze and winks, clearly approving of her little assist.
Dakota notices immediately. “Oh, I saw that,” he says, pointing between them. “And don’t even try to play innocent, Sky. I practically heard you say the word wow.”
Skyla gasps, cheeks flushing. “I did not!”
Dakota leans forward, grin widening, all mock authority. “You realize that’s cheating, right? Helping Tadeo like that?”
She folds her arms, trying to look indignant. “I was just being supportive.”
“Supportive,” the beta echoes, drawing the word out like he’s considering it. “You know what that sounds like to me? Someone who deserves to be punished.”
Sky’s breath catches. It’s a tiny sound, half a laugh, half surprise.
She opens her mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. But our bond hums between us, bright and electric, fizzing with too much excitement for her to form words.
Before I can move, Alex is on his feet. “Allow me, Dakota,” he says, grinning wide. In one smooth motion, he scoops Skyla up and flings her over his shoulder. She squeals, laughter spilling out of her as he straightens.
“Alex!” she protests between giggles, kicking lightly at the air.
“Nope, no arguments,” he says, marching toward the hallway like a man on a mission. “Cheaters get no mercy.”
Dakota leaps over the back of the couch, landing neatly on his feet and following after them. “Save me a front-row seat!” he calls, laughing so hard his voice cracks halfway through.
I watch them disappear down the hall—Skyla’s laughter echoing after them, light and free—and for a moment, all I can do is sit here, heart full.
“Dios mío.” Tadeo shakes his head as he rises to his feet, an amused smile spreading across his face. “Are you coming, alpha?” he asks, holding out a hand to help me up.
“You guys get started,” I say, listening to Skyla’s laughter echo through the house—light and free, the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.
Leaning down, Tadeo braces one hand on the back of the couch and leans toward me, close enough that I can see the warmth in his eyes.
“She’s going to be okay,” he says softly.
I can’t help but smile. “I know.”
He grins then—slow and bright—and before I can say another word, he leans in and presses a quick kiss to my lips. It’s simple, easy, and full of affection.
Then he straightens and heads down the hall, his usual quiet confidence in every step.
I stay where I am for a moment, the sound of their laughter melting into breathy kisses drifting back through the house. Skyla’s light and wild in our bond, Dakota’s moaning, Alex growls gently, and Tadeo whispers something in approval.
My heart feels full to the brim.
Yeah.
She’s going to be just fine.
THE END