Her Knotty List (MVP: Most Valuable Pack #4)

Chapter 39

chapter

thirty-nine

I wake up sore and stiff in the oddest places.

My memories are hazy and halting, but mostly, I remember pine and snow and Knox’s rough hands and rougher voice.

He knotted me , I recall, feeling something thick and firm wedged up in me. A while ago, I think…

When I open my eyes, I see that it has, in fact, been a while. The picture window above the jetted tub shows a wide, twilight swath of sky.

I blink up at it, letting myself float in a daze while I remember Knox rutting me up against half the trees we passed. Then, carrying me, still knotted, up the house… where he spent the rest of the day in side me.

Now, it appears we’re taking a bath.

My mind moves sluggishly, piecing everything together. Whatever rut blockers he normally takes must have worked somewhat because he had brief lucid moments throughout the rut.

I sensed him in there, too. The man worrying about me, holding his Alpha back from issuing as many commands as he could.

When I feel the way Knox’s fingers trace gentle circles on my scalp, I know he’s back to being himself. The purr rattling under my cheek isn’t unfamiliar, after the way his Alpha rumbled for me —but it is new for me and Knox . I press my ear into his chest, curling closer in his embrace.

“You awake, little miss?” His voice is hoarse from all his roaring, but I get the feeling he’s quiet for another reason.

Did I upset him? Or disappoint him?

Maybe he’s angry that I ran?

He shifts us, arching his neck to peer down at me with intense blue eyes. “Tell me,” he says, rougher than before. “How bad is it?”

How… bad ?

“W-what do you mean?” I ask, my own voice raspier than usual.

Knox frowns ferociously. His hold on my torso tightens slightly—and I feel what he’s referring to. Because all that time I spent? Knotted on his cock and being carried through the woods with his rock-solid forearms bracing under my belly?

My middle maaaaaay be a little sore for a while.

Not to mention my slightly battered pussy.

When I think about it, a small quiver runs through my inner walls. They twitch around his length, letting me know that, yes, they are sore—and, also, yes, we would like some more.

I feel my cheeks heat when Knox groans, the noise pained. “We’re already going to be locked together until morning, little miss,” he husks out, grinding his jaw. “Best not make it any harder, hmm? ”

Normally, I’d make a joke about that—I mean, “make it any harder ”? Come on.

But his blazing blues snap back to my face. His features settle into a stony mask. “Tell me,” he urges again. “How much did I hurt you?”

He’s scared .

That’s what this look is, this smoldering wood scent. The second I recognize it, I twist at the waist, reaching for his handsome face with the one hand that can reach.

“You didn’t , Knox. You didn’t hurt me. I’m fine .”

His eyes squeeze shut, and he huffs a breath out of his nose. He turns into my palm, kissing it before he nudges it with his nose as if to say See? Look.

Okay, okay, fine . There are a few superficial scratches from holding onto tree bark, but nothing painful . The same sensation in my core and abdomen—the sense that my body’s been used and has used someone else’s. Thoroughly .

“It really doesn’t hurt very much at all,” I promise, flexing my fingers for him.

He pins me in place with his gaze, solemn. “It didn’t have to hurt at all, honey.”

Hearing that somehow feels worse than any of the bumps or bruises littered across my pale skin. When I whine and turn away, he wraps his arms around me again, hugging me to his purring chest.

“I never wanted you to see me like that,” he whispers. “I barked so many times. You didn’t have any say?—”

His voice breaks off as my scent swells—sweetness swirling into the smoldering cinnamon. I feel his breath catch behind me as I hang my head, hiding the way my face flames. “I—I liked that. Not having to think. It was…”

Freeing. Invigorating. Comforting.

I felt so desired. Needed, even. And then, also, completely cared for. To the point where I didn’t even have to think .

Knox doesn’t answer, though I feel him staring at me. After a couple long minutes, I finally glance up and peep, “Are you mad?”

Our eyes meet. And I know— I know —he sees everything. The desperation to please him. The totally humiliating need to gain his approval. The fear, too, because he isn’t the first alpha I’ve tried to please, and if I failed today… then, well, that wouldn’t be a first, either.

Knox sighs, his muscles flexing protectively around me. “No, baby girl,” he murmurs, dropping a stubbled kiss to my shoulder. “Daddy isn’t mad at you at all. Come here, hm?”

His knot is finally loose enough for me to gently turn around. The second I do, he wraps me tight into his damp chest and guides my face to his throat, purring louder than ever. His fingers go back to massaging my scalp.

“I don’t know what I did,” he mutters, relaxing incrementally.

Honestly, it’s all a blur to me, too. I wonder which part he can’t remember. “In the woods?”

He shakes his head, turning to plant a kiss on my forehead. “No, honey. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

My heart catches, its pulse snagging over the impossible words.

Him? Deserve… me ?

When he has all of this wealth and power and alpha energy… when he literally rescued me…

I throw my arms around his neck, hugging him hard. “Knox,” I choke, crying. “Does this mean—will you stay with me? For my heat?”

Knox holds me so tenderly, more tears gather in my eyes. He scent-marks my cheek with his, nuzzling our faces together with a soft groan.

“Fucking hell,” he grouses, serious as ever despite the fact that his scent is practically glowing right now. His voice drops into a whisper against my lips. “Yes, baby girl. I’ll stay with you for your heat. ”

My face splits into a sobbing, beaming grin. I rear back, ready to kiss-attack his scruffy face?—

—when all three of my other alphas burst into the bathroom.

With Zane leading the charge. Naturally.

“Daddy’s in ?!” he whoops, grinning with his trademark exuberance.

Micah rolls his eyes and smiles at Zane before shooting us a wince. “Sorry. I tried to keep them out of here, but they were”—Gunnar shoves past the others, crashing to his knees beside the tub and frantically reaching for me—“climbing the walls,” Micah finishes, sighing.

Gunnar ignores them all; his gaze locked on my face while he glides his touch down my back and my arm. “Hey, squirt,” he mumbles, clearly stressed. “You okay? Do I need to kick some alpha ass?”

Knox harrumphs, and I giggle. “You could try ,” I tease, darting an affectionate look at Knox. “But you’d risk breaking your winning streak, Hot Shot.”

“Too late,” Zane crows, clearly still pleased with himself. “I did that already, remember?”

I feel the man under me stiffen and cuddle closer to him again. “Besides, Knox was perfect.”

Zane laughs, the sound warm and musical. “Oh yes. A perfect, rutting gentleman .”

Micah rubs the back of his head, still grimacing. “We… might have overheard. A bit. A lot. It—We were just trying to ensure Emma was safe, Knox.”

The alpha holding me releases a deep breath under his purr. He brings his hand up to cup the back of my head while Gunnar scowls at the faint pink lines on my hand.

“Thank you,” Knox roughs out. “I hope you’ll be willing to do it again during Emma’s heat.”

Micah is so kind; it makes my heart swell. He offers Knox a true smile, totally devoid of any judgment or annoyance, and nods. “Yeah, man. No problem.”

Everything inside of me tightens and sings . Because— oh my God —is this really happening?! Are they all getting along, and… are they all staying ?

Zane catches my bewildered disbelief and offers the soft smile he reserves just for me. With much more grace than my clumsy hockey player, he sinks to his knees beside Gunnar and kisses my nose.

“Mm, shona . Cinnamon and pine needles. You smell like a Christmas tree.”

Gunnar’s folded brows un-quirk long enough for him to slide Zane a look I can’t quite decipher. “Maybe we should get one,” he mumbles, sheepish. “A Christmas tree.”

Zane’s answering grin dazzles . He loves that idea as much as I do. I reach over and touch his cheek, letting him leave his spicy scent-mark on the back of my knuckles.

Micah shrugs, looking to Knox. “I could help chop one down. You only have about two thousand out there.”

Knox glowers, but his scent is fresher and more wonderful than ever as he hugs me tighter, examining my eager expression. His lips almost flick up before he sets his features into their usual sternness, casting me a very Daddy look.

“We’ll see, little miss,” he allows, tucking me closer to his purr. “We’ll see.”