Knot the One They Want (Claimverse Book 1)

Asher opens the car door for me as we pull up to the pack mansion, his movements gentle and doting. He wouldn’t even let me walk out of the hospital to his car pulled up at the curb and insisted on carrying me out of the wheelchair. I guess the princess treatment isn’t that bad, even if the one-eighty is giving me whiplash.

I can’t help but think it’s too bad the alphas couldn’t have been like this from the beginning.

But now? I don’t trust them, and I certainly don’t believe their sudden change of heart is genuine. And even if it is, I’m pretty sure they only care because they feel guilty for almost killing me.

Not exactly the basis for a healthy relationship.

But I’m putting all that aside, for now at least. I’m going to give them another chance—not at my heart, but at least at trying to make this whole mating thing work—if only to avoid disappointing my family. Even if they could only be bothered to send flowers because they were on an impromptu vacation they didn’t even tell me about.

I always suspected it would be a matter of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ when I moved away from home, but having that confirmed is a bitter pill to swallow. At least Lily has been texting me and even called earlier to see how I was doing, and we’re planning on grabbing lunch soon, so I know at least one member of my family actually gives a damn.

Exhaustion weighs heavy on my limbs as I walk through the front door after managing to convince Asher I could walk just fine, but I’m immediately greeted by the scent of my favorite food and the sight of my favorite flowers everywhere.

A banner hangs in the foyer, proclaiming ‘Welcome Home, Evie!’ in bright, cheerful letters. Lake, Cole, and even Damien are gathered to welcome me, and Damien offers a faint smile, though I can tell he’s still distant.

Surprise flickers through me as I take in the unexpected display. ‘Asher didn’t mention this,’ I say, glancing up at him with a raised brow.

He grins, his eyes twinkling. ‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’

Lake steps forward, his expression hopeful. ‘We cooked your favorite meal,’ he says, gesturing toward the dining room.

I stare at him in disbelief. ‘How do you even know what my favorite meal is?’

Cole clears his throat, looking vaguely uncomfortable. ‘We might have had some help from Addison,’ he admits.

I snort, shaking my head. Of course they did. Typical Addie, always looking out for me.

‘I have a hard time believing any of you actually cooked,’ I say dryly, eyeing them with skepticism.

As if on cue, Lori bustles into the room, her face split in a wide, beaming smile. ‘It’s true, Miss Evie. They insisted on doing it all themselves. We had to throw out a few soufflés, and there was much supervision, but they were determined.’

Warmth blooms in my chest, a fragile flicker of something I refuse to name. They tried. They actually put in effort, for me. It’s more than I ever expected, more than I dared hope for. But it’s still nowhere near enough to heal the emotional wounds, even if a heavy duty course of antibiotics and a hospital stay have started to work on the physical.

Lake clears his throat, drawing my attention back to him. ‘There’s one more surprise upstairs, if you’re up for it,’ he says, his tone tentative.

Asher glances at him, a silent question in his eyes. ‘Is it ready?’

Cole nods, a hint of pride in the serious alpha’s expression. ‘It is.’

Curiosity prickles along my skin, but before I can ask what they’re talking about, Asher sweeps me into his arms. I let out a startled squeak, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck for balance.

‘What are you doing?’ I demand, my cheeks flushing at the sudden proximity.

He grins down at me, his hold secure and gentle. ‘You’re not going to be walking anywhere until you’re fully recovered,’ he says, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument.

I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my tongue. It feels… nice, being cared for like this. Being treated like I’m precious, valuable.

Like I matter.

I could get used to this, I think, a traitorous little voice whispering in the back of my mind.

Asher carries me up the stairs, the others trailing behind us. He sets me down outside a room I’ve never been in before, and I frown in confusion.

‘This isn’t my room.’

He smiles, a touch of nervousness in his eyes. ‘It is now,’ he says softly, pushing open the door.

My eyes widen as I take in the massive room, the huge bed piled high with pillows and blankets. It’s a mix of my things and new nesting materials, arranged in the most lavish nest I’ve ever seen. It looks like something straight out of an omega magazine, all plush fabrics and soothing pastel colors. The bed has four huge posters, draped with flowing, gauzy fabrics, strung up with fairy lights that cast the entire room in an ethereal, soothing glow. It immediately puts me at ease.

The others come up behind me, and Damien quips, ‘You’re not the only one with a knack for interior design.’

Emotion swells in my chest, a tidal wave of conflicting feelings. Gratitude, wonder, disbelief. Tears prick at the backs of my eyes, blurring my vision.

They did this for me.

They created a sanctuary, a place where I can feel safe and cherished. It’s everything I gave up on a long time ago.

Lake notices my reaction and immediately looks worried, his brow furrowing. ‘If you don’t like anything, we can change it,’ he says quickly, his tone and tense posture anxious. ‘We can take you shopping once you’re feeling better and redo everything, or have a designer come in if you’d prefer that. We’ll do whatever it takes to make you feel at home.’

The alphas are all watching me with varying degrees of panic, their expressions ranging from concerned to downright terrified. It’s honestly kind of endearing, as angry as I still am with them.

‘No, it’s not that I don’t like it,’ I manage to choke out, my voice thick with unshed tears. ‘It’s just…’

I trail off, unable to find the words. I don’t want to be vulnerable, don’t want to admit how much this means to me. How touched I am by their efforts, by this tangible proof they’re serious about trying to make things right.

Asher seems to understand my reaction, his eyes softening with empathy. He takes my hand, his touch gentle and reassuring.

I hate the way the tension in my muscles immediately melts away in response. I guess he is one of my scent matches. Not that I really would have noticed before, with how they all avoided me. I resist the urge to lean into his touch. I never realized how touch-starved I was.

‘We know this is only a small, inadequate start,’ he says quietly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. ‘But we hope it’s proof that we meant what we said. About making things right, about making sure you know you’re welcome here. That you have a home with us, as our omega, for as long as you’ll accept us.’

His words wash over me, soothing the jagged edges of my battered heart. I know it won’t be easy, that trust is a fragile thing, easily broken and hard to rebuild. But looking around at their hopeful, earnest faces, at the nest they’ve created just for me…

I can’t help but feel a little hope.

Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to give them one more tentative chance. To let myself believe, just a little bit, that this time could be different.

That we could be different.

It’s not like I have anything to lose.

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I meet Asher’s gaze. ‘Thank you,’ I murmur. ‘For all of this.’

He smiles, a real smile that reaches his eyes and makes my heart skip a beat. ‘You’re welcome, Evie. You deserve so much more than this, but it’s a start.’

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat.

‘You’re probably exhausted,’ Damien says, breaking me out of my thoughts. ‘We’ll let you rest, but we’ll be right downstairs if you need anything. Anything at all.’

I nod, suddenly feeling the weight of my fatigue pressing down on me. It’s been a long, emotional day, and the prospect of sinking into that plush, inviting nest is more tempting than I care to admit.

‘Thank you,’ I say again. ‘I think I will rest for a bit.’

The alphas file out of the room, each of them offering me a smile or a gentle touch as they pass. Damien is the last to leave, and he pauses in the doorway, his icy blue eyes unreadable.

‘Welcome home, Evie,’ he says, his voice low and sincere.

And then he’s gone, leaving me alone in my new sanctuary. I take a deep breath, letting the scent of the nesting materials wash over me. It’s a mix of all of them, their unique scents blending together into something warm and comforting.

Something that feels like home.

I crawl into the nest, burrowing into the soft blankets and pillows. I gasp softly as I peel back the blanket and realize there are four buried pillows that aren’t covered in the same linen cases as the rest. Their pillowcases are handsewn, made from… shirts?

I bring one to my face instinctively and the scent of sunlight washes over me, warm and soothing.

Asher.

It’s customary for omegas to fill their nests with items that carry their alphas’ scents, but it’s an intimate show of trust. I should probably be annoyed at the audacity of thinking I want their shirts in my nest, but this time, I don’t think they’re being malicious. It’s actually kind of sweet.

As I sink deeper into my nest and surround myself with the custom pillows, the alphas’ mingling scents are more comforting than I want to admit. My omega instincts are loving this It’s like sinking into a cloud, the materials molding to my body like a gentle embrace. I close my eyes, letting the exhaustion pull me under.

But as I drift off to sleep, a small smile curves my lips. Because for the first time since I arrived at the Blackwood estate, I don’t feel like an intruder.