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

Chapter 42

chapter

forty-two

Emma has to be one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met.

I turn my head every few moments to watch the way she gazes out the window of my truck with the sweetest half-smile on her face. Even after getting her spirits crushed by Knox, she somehow finds a silver lining to trace.

She loves this wintery landscape. That’s the other thing I admire about her—she never hides how she feels or pretends to be “too cool.”

Her awe is written all over her features, turning the soft curves into something so open and lovely… I’ll remember the way she looks right now for the rest of my life.

Gunnar and Zane jostle each other in the back seat. We made quick pit stops at both of the places they were staying before we got snowed in, picking up their stuff so we could move it into the cabin.

That was Zane’s idea. He claimed he needed skincare supplies, but I suspect he knew the gesture of “moving in” would help ease some of Emma’s anxiety about being abandoned.

My poor, sweet girl. On some level, she still doesn’t believe we all want her.

Knox certainly didn’t help by refusing to come with us. I know the guy is a hermit—hell, before this whole clusterfuck, I’d probably seen him around town a handful of times in the past five years . But he could have swallowed his issues to make this a little easier on her.

Staring at her face, noting the vulnerability in her crystalline eyes, I resolve to talk to the alpha when we get back. Maybe he just doesn’t know what to do and needs some help.

There’s a lot to think about with this not-a-pack situation. Especially since we have something so precious to protect and care for.

Emma’s giddy joy makes it all worthwhile by a mile. When she sees the holiday garlands strung up over the entrance to town, the iron gate all trimmed in shimmering silver, she bounces in her seat.

“Look at the bells!” she cries, leaning over the dashboard. “And the sleigh! Oh my God— is that Santa ?!”

“Oh boy,” Zane chuckles, affection all over his face. “Why do I feel like Emma’s about to end up in Santa’s lap?”

Gunnar snarls. “She won’t be in anyone else’s lap.”

Emma giggles at his grumpiness as Zane cocks a smirk at him. “What if I sit in Santa’s lap and Emma sits on mine?”

The hockey player grunts, dropping his gray eyes and fidgeting with his matching T-shirt. “Fine.”

I pull into a parking spot along the main drag—a wide brick-paved street between two rows of historic stone buildings. They all have the same rustic wood and wrought-iron accents the rest of the hamlet has—and everything is gilded in twinkle lights and greenery.

Emma’s excitement is palpable. In her sweet scent, for one, but also the way she leaps out of my truck and practically twirls to the sidewalk.

The three of us smile while we follow her. Zane gets there first, taking her hand in a real dance move, spinning her into a dip and kissing her soundly.

When they break apart, he rubs his cheek against hers. “You’re the prettiest, happiest girl, gorgeous. I love it.”

The way she gazes at him is enough to break my heart. God. She just gives and gives, opening herself up for all of us without missing a beat.

“You do?” she asks. “I’m not… annoying you guys?”

A record scratches in my head. “ Annoying us?” I ask, sure I misheard.

Gunnar pushes past me to snap her in a bear hug. “Never, sunshine,” he vows. “We love when you’re happy like this.”

When he sees me looming at his shoulder, he turns and lets me wrap my arms around her, too. She lifts her face to look into my eyes, biting her plush lower lip. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”

Fuck.

I snap her into my arms, yanking her up so fast, her feet leave the ground and come to wrap around my torso. My palms frame her face as she clings to my neck.

“You are not embarrassing,” I tell her, so firmly it’s almost a bark. “None of us will ever be anything but grateful to be out with you.”

The hope that sparkles in her eyes is enough to gut me. I can’t imagine how cruel her previous pack was to make her so unsure of herself and her worth. This girl is resilient, like I said. Which means they must have been truly abusive to get to her.

I kiss her gently, nuzzling my face against hers. “Sweet girl,” I whisper. “You’re never more beautiful to me than you are when something gives you joy. I’ve been thinking that all day.”

“Me too,” Gunnar agrees.

Zane adds an insistent nod. “Me three.”

I see Knox’s name form on her lips, but she doesn’t say it. I rest my forehead against hers, wishing we were bonded so I could reassure her, even in her thoughts. Wishing I was bonded to Knox’s dumb ass so I could show him her face at this precise moment.

As always, Zane is the one who knows how to lighten her mood. He leans around my shoulder to smile at her. “I have an idea, shona . How about more Christmas cookies? We’ll destroy Knox’s kitchen and get sprinkles everywhere . He’ll hate it.”

Our omega nods, smiling but distinctly shyer than before. Zane’s expression softens. “What about dinner, baby? I’ll make anything you want.”

“I can cook,” she murmurs. “I probably should be doing it more?—”

“No!” we all blurt.

Her eyes widen. Zane recovers first, shaking his head with a slick grin. “Nuh-uhh, gorgeous. You’re the only one who enjoys my pretty face, so I have to find some other way to contribute to this pack. Besides, I haven’t gotten to show off what I can really do yet. Now that I have access to actual groceries and not just what I have borrowed from the neighbors, prepare to have your panties melted off by my mad skills.”

Emma’s scent lifted as soon as he said “pack.” Sweet girl. She looks a bit brighter when she smiles back. “Oh, okay. How about… tacos? Or macaroni and cheese? You can’t make me choose; those are literally the two best foods in the world.”

Zane scoffs. “Piece of cake. I’ll even make them go together.” He reaches over and grabs Gunnar by his coat collar. “Come on, Hot Shot. You’re pushing the cart.”

“I’m taking Emma,” I decide, petting her hair back as my purr rattles. “I have something to show her.”

I carry my omega the whole way up the hill, just because I can. After spending the last day missing her, it feels so good to bury my face against her warmth and listen to her talk.

She loves the little town as much as I do. Maybe more, actually. She notices everything . Right down to the way I cringe when we pass the firehouse.

“My stuff is in there, so we’ll have to stop on our way back,” I explain. “My chief will want to meet you, too.”

Emma’s blonde brows bounce up. “Me? Why?”

I shrug. Darryl’s known me and my family since I was born. When I called to beg for this odd stretch of pre-heat leave, he whooped and hollered about me finally having an omega of my own instead of “loaning myself out” like I used to at the local heat clinic.

“You’re my omega,” I tell her simply. “This is a small town. Everyone is gonna want to meet you.”

She gazes up at me with her heart in her eyes. “Then I want to meet everyone.”

Rewarding her with a series of kisses, I keep one eye on the path we’re treading. When we reach the end, Emma squeals in excitement.

“Oh, Micah!” she gasps. “It’s beautiful!”

The gazebo has been here for more than a hundred years, tucked up on a slope that overlooks thetown. Every year, the most recent crop of high school seniors decorate it with any crazy Christmas decor they can find.

What started as a prank has become a tradition. One of my personal favorites.

This year, fat multicolored bulbs line every beam. Uneven clumps of rainbow tinsel cover all four corners. And laminated hand-cut snowflakes—all right, maybe a few dong shapes, too—dangle from every available bit of ceiling space over us.

A few of them brush the top of my head and I smirk, seating us on the bench that faces the main street, turning Emma so she can admire the view.

My body forms a cradle for hers while I wrap my forearms over her soft belly and set my chin on her shoulder. For a long moment, we’re both quiet, staring out.

“Hey, Hazels?”

I turn to look at her face, seeing the small smile on her lips and the tears gathering in her eyes. She goes on without prompting.

“This is so pretty. No one’s ever brought me somewhere romantic like this before. I—I really love it.” She turns and nestles her cheek into mine, just in time for me to feel a tear leak over her pale skin. “Thank you, Alpha.”

I’m in love.

I already was before, but now I know I am. There’s just no one else like her on Earth. With a huge heart she gives pieces of to everyone she meets.

I love her .

“You’re so welcome, love,” I whisper. “Come here.”

She kisses me, sliding those perfect pink lips between mine and melting against my chest. The second my tongue skims hers, a burst of cinnamon-bun warmth perfumes the chilly air around us. My cock kicks in my jeans, trying to punch its way out to her.

Emma feels me harden for her and moans, scraping her nails against my nape while our tongues glide together faster. Her scent deepens, plunging from light sweetness to dark, gooey perfection in two heartbeats.

The next sound she makes is desperate. I rear back and catch her bleary eyes, noting the way her pupils have yawned wide. “Are you okay, sweet girl?”

She bites her lip again while she glances down at my lap. “I think I’m having a pre-heat-spike. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, gathering her closer. “Don’t be sorry. Your body is just getting you ready for us. I love it. Let me take care of you, okay?”

She hesitates for half a second before nodding. My mind reels, trying to come up with a private place to take her. My apartment is on the other side of town, and the firehouse definitely won’t be empty …

Besides, it doesn’t seem like time is on my side here. Emma’s gaze has lost all focus by the time she turns in my lap and goes for my pants.

Shit .

I look around to ensure we’re the only ones up on the ridge, thinking.

Exhibitionism was on her list. I think she actually wrote, “bang in public,” but whatever. This would qualify.

“You want me right here, love?” I rumble, my purr kicking in. “Where anyone could see? You can ride my cock and rub your sweet little clit on my knot until it fills you too full to move. Or I could take you home first.”

She whines, whether at the mention of “home” or because she just can’t wait another moment, I’m not sure. Either way, I lift my hips long enough for her to free my throbbing dick and the partial swell at its base.

The second she sees it, her eyes light up, and I smile, my heart aching. I just… adore her. So much that every little expression on her face has me falling harder.

I help her strip her leggings past her knees, leaving her black panties on just in case. I’m happy to indulge her and make sure she has what she needs, but I’ll be damned if anyone from town sees her pretty ass.

Fuck , but the crotch of her underwear is soaked in slick. When I tug it to the side for her, she instantly glazes my fingers with cinnamon sweetness.

I growl over my purr, snapping her hips forward. If she wants to play with the lines of propriety and feel like she’s at risk of exposure, I’ll make it my mission to give her that rush—even if I know she’s totally safe up here with me.

“Do you think anyone will see me sink into this perfect pussy?” I ask, growling into the sensitive hollow under her ear. “If they do, I bet they’ll be jealous. I would be, watching someone else fill you with their cum.”

She keens and bobs her body, trying to find the head of my dick to slide down. I gentle her, grabbing a fistful of her curls and holding her steady while I guide her onto my erection.

Fucking hell .

Slippery heat strangles my pulsing length, her slick bathing my knot and balls as she sinks all the way to the hilt. When she writhes and bucks, her core clenches, tugging every electrified nerve buzzing under my skin.

My knot expands, filling to tug at the lips of Emma’s pussy every time she pulls off of me. I pant, my head falling back while I fight not to come inside her just from that alone.

Her soft whine doesn’t sound any different from the ones she makes when she likes what we’re doing, so I’m not sure how I know something is wrong.

I just do . The second it hits my ears, I straighten immediately, searching for the source of her distress.

Emma rides me harder than before, but her unfocused eyes dart around the space between us. Like she can’t find?—

Me .

She’s looking for me.

“Hey, hey,” I husk, reaching for her jaw with both hands. “I’m here, love. I’m right here with you.”

She slows as I nuzzle my nose against hers, holding on to her gaze until I see a distant sort of recognition sail through it. “Alpha,” she says, her scent instantly brightening. “You’re here.”

My heart cracks. “Right here, love.” I drop my hands to settle her torso against mine, holding her close while I grind up into her heat, vowing, “Never leaving you. Might never leave this pussy either. Going to fill it up and lock my knot in, keep all my cum inside. I want you to soak it up.”

Let me breed you .

I know it won’t do much now because she’s protected by her implant—but fucking hell , the thought of marking her in such a primal way puts me right on the edge. I want to absolutely glaze her depths, until her little pussy is stuffed full . Then, I want to make sure none of it ever slips out.

My thrusts get more frantic. Emma cries out, diving for my throat. Her blunt teeth scrape my pulse and I snarl louder.

“Everyone’s going to hear us, omega. They’ll all wonder who’s up here, making you moan, marking you with their cum. They’ll all wish they were the ones sinking into this perfect body, feeling your slick all over their laps.”

Emma’s hips start churning, pulling at my pounding cock more urgently. Hissing, I tilt her pelvis to grind the edge of my knot against her swollen clit until it pops into place.

Holy fuck—goddamn it.

My roar is loud enough to scare anyone off. Surely loud enough for people down on the main drag to hear.

But I don’t care.

I don’t think I’ll ever care about anything ever again.

Pure ecstasy echoes through my abdomen while Emma’s body clutches at my cock and knot, milking them with rhythmic squeezes. The silken heat glides and throbs over me, drawing out my release almost instantly.

An erotic whine shatters the air as she starts to come, gripping me in a slippery vise that has my eyes rolling back. I jet cum into her core, working her hips in a circle to make sure she feels every inch of me pressed where she needs my knot. With one final, earth-shattering clench, we’re both spent and locked together.

Emma hugs herself closer, tucking her thighs around my hips. I can tell her mini-haze has burned off the second she murmurs my name, exactly the way she did before. “Hey, Micah? ”

I pet her hair, panting into it while I scent-mark. “Mm-hmm?”

She pulls back just long enough to show me her clear, brilliant eyes. “I love you.”