Knot Happening Again (Claimverse Book 2)

I stretch languidly in the massive nest, the silk sheets cool against my overheated skin. Rhys lounges beside me, his long fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm. The room is thick with the scent of sex and pheromones, a heady mixture that makes my head spin.

Through the open door, I hear Troy and Mace moving around downstairs, cleaning up after the gourmet dinner Mace prepared earlier. The domesticity of it all feels strange, almost surreal after the intensity of the past few days.

Rhys’s green eyes lock onto mine, a slow smile spreading across his face. ‘Look who’s finally awake,’ he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends tingles through my body.

Before I can respond, his lips are on my neck, trailing kisses down my collarbone. My breath hitches as he works his way lower, his stubble scratching deliciously against my sensitive skin.

The silk sheets rustle as Rhys disappears beneath them, his hands gripping my thighs and spreading them wide. I gasp as his hot breath ghosts over my core, teasing me with the promise of what’s to come.

‘Rhys,’ I whimper, my fingers tangling in his hair. ‘You don’t have to⁠—’

His tongue flicks out, silencing me mid-sentence. My hips buck involuntarily as he laps at my sex, his skilled mouth working me into a frenzy.

‘Fuck,’ I moan, my head falling back against the pillows. The pleasure builds rapidly, my body still hypersensitive from our earlier activities.

It’s the third day of my heat, and I haven’t been alone for any of it. There’s always at least one of them with me at any given time, while the others take turns making sure the house stays running, getting supplies, making food, and cleaning up. They work in tandem, making sure I have not only everything I need, but things I never even thought about.

Fresh towels, a clean, fluffy robe made of material as soft as a cloud, fuzzy socks, warm tea, heavenly scented oils in the bath. When we’re not fucking, they’re spoiling me with sweet treats, making sure I stay hydrated, giving me massages… it’s as if they’ve formed a religion around me, devoting themselves to worshiping and providing for my every need.

Even the ones I never knew I had.

Rhys hums against me, the vibrations sending shockwaves of ecstasy through my system. His fingers dig into my thighs, holding me in place as I writhe beneath him.

‘Next time,’ I pant, tugging at his hair, ‘you don’t have to wait. I wouldn’t mind waking up like this.’

He pulls back for a moment, emerging from under the sheets with a wicked grin. ‘Noted,’ he says, his eyes dark with desire. Then he dives back down, redoubling his efforts.

I cry out as he slides two fingers inside me, curling them in a come-hither motion that has me seeing stars. His tongue circles my clit relentlessly, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs barely registers through the haze of pleasure. I vaguely wonder if Troy or Mace will hear us, but the thought evaporates as Rhys sucks hard on my clit.

My orgasm crashes over me without warning, my back arching off the bed as waves of bliss roll through my body. Rhys doesn’t let up, working me through the aftershocks until I’m a quivering mess.

When he finally emerges from between my legs, his chin is glistening with my arousal. He crawls up my body, capturing my lips in a searing kiss that tastes of me.

‘Good morning,’ he murmurs against my mouth, his hard length pressing insistently against my thigh.

I reach down to wrap my hand around him, relishing in his sharp intake of breath. ‘Good morning indeed,’ I purr, stroking him slowly.

I push Rhys onto his back, straddling his hips. His cock stands proud, glistening with arousal. I grip him firmly, positioning him at my entrance.

‘Fuck, you’re insatiable,’ he groans in clear approval, his hands settling on my waist.

I sink down slowly, savoring the delicious stretch as he fills me. My eyes flutter shut, overwhelmed by the sensation. When I’m fully seated, I pause, adjusting to his size.

‘You okay?’ Rhys asks, his voice strained with the effort of holding still.

I nod, rolling my hips experimentally. The movement sends sparks of pleasure through my body, and I can’t help the moan that escapes my lips.

As I start to ride him in earnest, a realization hits me. My heat, which usually lasts a full week, feels like it’s winding down already. The constant attention from Rhys and the others has sated my omega nature in ways I never thought possible.

I increase my pace, chasing another orgasm. Rhys’s hands roam my body, cupping my breasts and teasing my nipples. The dual stimulation has me teetering on the edge in no time.

‘That’s it, baby,’ Rhys encourages, thrusting up to meet me. ‘Take what you need.’

His words spur me on, and I ride him harder, faster. The sound of skin slapping against skin fills the room, punctuated by our breathless moans.

I lean forward, bracing my hands on his chest. The new angle allows him to hit that spot deep inside me that makes me see stars. My nails dig into his skin as I feel my climax approaching.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

‘Rhys,’ I pant, ‘I’m close. I need⁠—’

‘I know what you need,’ he growls, reaching between us to rub tight circles on my clit.

The added stimulation pushes me over the edge. I cry out as my orgasm washes over me, my inner walls clenching around him rhythmically.

Rhys doesn’t let up, continuing to thrust into me as I ride out the waves of pleasure. I feel his knot beginning to swell, catching on my entrance with each stroke.

‘Please,’ I whimper, not even sure what I’m begging for.

Rhys seems to understand, though. With a low growl, he flips us over, pinning me to the mattress. He hooks one of my legs over his shoulder, changing the angle of his thrusts.

‘Ready?’ he asks, his eyes dark with lust.

I nod frantically, my body aching for his knot. Rhys pushes forward, his knot stretching me deliciously as it slips inside. The fullness triggers another orgasm, smaller but no less intense.

Rhys growls as he comes, his hips jerking erratically as he empties himself inside me. We’re both panting heavily as he collapses on top of me, careful not to crush me with his weight.

As we lay there, locked together, I can’t help but marvel at how different this heat has been. The pain and desperation I’ve come to associate with these cycles have been noticeably duller after those first few rough hours. Instead, I’ve experienced pleasure and satisfaction.

Rhys nuzzles into my neck, inhaling deeply. ‘You smell different,’ he murmurs, his voice muffled against my skin.

I run my fingers through his hair, enjoying the closeness. ‘I think my heat’s ending early,’ I admit. ‘Is that normal?’

He props himself up on his elbows, looking down at me with a mix of surprise and something else I can’t quite identify. ‘It can happen,’ he says slowly, ‘when an omega finds a compatible pack. Or…’

I frown at the hesitation in his voice. ‘Or what?’

‘Nothing,’ he says, shaking his head. ‘I’m sorry I had to take that call earlier. Even on my days off, I’m technically still on call.’

I get the feeling he’s trying to change the subject, but I decide not to press him on it. ‘It’s fine,’ I assure him, meaning it. ‘Your work is important.’

A soft smile plays at his lips. ‘So are you,’ he murmurs, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

His words send a flutter through my chest, and I feel my cheeks heat up. It’s been so long since anyone has made me feel… important. Valued. I’m not sure how to handle it.

‘I, uh… thanks,’ I stammer, quickly changing the subject. ‘So, did you always want to go into medicine?’

Rhys’s eyes narrow slightly, a knowing look crossing his face. ‘You’re not used to being vulnerable, are you?’ he asks gently.

His perceptiveness catches me off guard. I open my mouth to deny it, but the words die on my tongue. What’s the point in lying? He’s already seen me at my most vulnerable—naked, needy, begging for his knot.

‘No,’ I admit softly. ‘I’m not.’

Rhys nods, his expression understanding rather than judgmental. ‘Do you want to talk about it? About your former alpha?’

I tense at the mention of my past, old wounds threatening to reopen. But there’s something about Rhys that makes me want to open up, to let down the walls I’ve built so carefully over the years.

‘I guess I can,’ I say, surprising myself.

Rhys nods encouragingly, his hand finding mine and giving it a gentle squeeze. His knot is still locked within me, and since we’re both stuck this way for a while, I guess now is as good a time as any.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. ‘He was… he was my crush growing up. Our families were close, and I always thought…’ I trail off, shaking my head. ‘It doesn’t matter what I thought. He never noticed me, not really. Not until he came back from college junior year.’

The memories flood back, bittersweet and painful. ‘We had a one-night stand. I thought it meant something, especially when he started to mark me. But he didn’t actually knot me—said he didn’t want to get me pregnant. And then… then he disappeared. I never heard from him again.’

Rhys’s grip on my hand tightens, a low growl rumbling in his chest. The sound sends a shiver through me, my omega instincts responding to his protective anger.

I continue, the words spilling out now that I’ve started. ‘My parents had arranged for me to be mated to him. When the engagement fell through because I was partially marked… everything fell apart.’

‘What?’ His brows furrow. ‘Why wouldn’t they blame him?’

Apparently, I take too long to respond, because a look of realization dawns on the alpha’s face.

‘You didn’t tell them who it was.’

‘I knew what would have happened,’ I say with a shrug. ‘They would have dragged him back, and forced me to be with him. That would have been torture for us both. Mostly because I’d have to be fully bound to an alpha who didn’t love me, knowing every day he saw me as nothing more than a burden.’

‘Ophelia…’ Rhys whispers. ‘You’re nothing of the kind. If he was too much of a fool to see that, it’s his loss.’

I shrug, steeling that part of my heart that still aches even now. Even with him. ‘My parents disowned me after that. I had to figure it all out on my own.’

Rhys reaches out, his hand cupping my cheek. The tenderness in his touch makes my breath catch. ‘You don’t have to,’ he says softly. ‘Not anymore. I still have to talk to the full pack, but I know they’ll feel the same way the rest of us do.’

His words send a surge of longing through me, so powerful it’s almost painful. For a moment, I let myself imagine it—being part of this pack, surrounded by alphas who care about me, who want to protect me. It’s a beautiful fantasy.

But that’s all it is.

A fantasy.

I pull away from his touch, wrapping my arms around myself. ‘I can’t trust you,’ I say, hating the tremor in my voice. ‘Or any alpha. Not that easily.’

Rhys looks like he wants to argue, but I press on before he can. ‘You wouldn’t want me if you knew what I had to do to survive,’ I tell him, my voice barely above a whisper.

‘That’s not true,’ Rhys says firmly. ‘Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you’ve had to do—it doesn’t change who you are.’

I open my mouth to tell him exactly what I do for a living, to watch the disgust and disappointment cloud his eyes. But before I can get the words out, Rhys’s phone buzzes loudly on the bedside table.

‘Take it. Please,’ I say, desperate for a moment to collect myself.

He reluctantly glances at it, his expression shifting to one of concern. ‘Fuck,’ he mutters. ‘One of my patients just went into early labor.’

Relief washes over me, mixed with a hint of disappointment I’m not ready to examine too closely. ‘Go,’ I tell him, forcing a smile. ‘The worst of my heat is over. The others can take care of me.’

Rhys hesitates, his eyes searching my face. ‘Are you sure?’

I nod. ‘I’m sure. Your patient needs you more than I do right now.’

He leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that leaves me breathless. When he pulls back, his eyes are dark with an emotion I can’t quite name. ‘Please,’ he says, his voice low and urgent. ‘Be here when I get back. We’re not done talking about this.’

The intensity in his gaze makes my heart race. I want to promise him I’ll be here, that I’ll stay. But I can’t. Not when I know the truth will come out eventually.

So instead, I just nod, giving a noncommittal murmur.

He pulls out gently now that his knot has gone down, and kisses me again before he leaves to get dressed. As soon as he’s gone, I curl up in the nest, burying my face in a pillow that smells like him.

What am I doing? This was supposed to be simple. Get through my heat, no strings attached. But nothing about this feels simple anymore.

I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in over my head. These alphas—Rhys, Mace, Troy—they’re not what I expected. They’re kind, attentive, genuinely concerned about my well-being. It’s throwing me off balance, making me question everything I thought I knew about alphas.

Rhys’s words echo in my mind: ‘You don’t have to. Not anymore’ The promise in those words is tempting, so tempting it scares me. I’ve been on my own for so long, I’m not sure I remember how to let someone in.

And then there’s the matter of my job. How could I possibly explain to them what I do for a living?

The thought of seeing disgust in their eyes, of watching them recoil from me… it’s almost too much to bear. I came so close to admitting the truth, but maybe it’s for the best that I didn’t get to tell him.

I roll onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. The nest is ridiculously comfortable, the sheets softer than anything I’ve ever slept on. It’s a stark reminder of the world these alphas inhabit. A world of wealth and privilege that’s so far removed from my own experiences.

Part of me wants to run. To gather my things and slip out while Rhys is gone, before I can get in any deeper. It would be easier that way. Safer. I could go back to my life, to the carefully constructed walls that have protected me for so long.

But another part of me, a part I’ve tried to silence for years, wants to stay. Wants to see where this could go. Wants to believe that maybe I could have something good and stable in my life. That I deserve it.

I close my eyes, inhaling deeply. The scent of the alphas surrounds me—Rhys’s scent of petrichor and sunlight, Mace’s warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked cookies, Troy’s intoxicating blend of bourbon and leather.

It all feels so right.

So… safe.

My hand drifts to the mark on my neck, the constant reminder of my past. Of betrayal and abandonment. Of dreams shattered and trust broken.

Can I really risk opening myself up again?

Can I trust these alphas not to hurt me the way he did?

I think about the way Rhys looked at me, like I was something precious. The way Mace’s strong arms held me, making me feel safe for the first time in years. The way Troy’s walls came down, revealing a vulnerability that matched my own.

It’s terrifying, this pull I feel toward them. This desire to let down my guard, to be vulnerable. To trust.

But maybe it’s worth the risk.

I sit up, running a hand through my tangled hair. I need a shower, need to clear my head. As I make my way to the en-suite bathroom, I catch sight of myself in the full-length mirror.

I barely recognize the woman staring back at me. My skin is flushed, my eyes bright. There’s a softness to my expression that I haven’t seen in years. I look… happy. Content.

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I want this. I want the warmth and safety these alphas offer. I want to be part of something, to belong.

But wanting isn’t enough. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.

As I step into the shower, letting the hot water wash over me, I try to sort through the jumble of emotions swirling inside me.

I lean my forehead against the cool tile of the shower wall, closing my eyes. I’m so tired of being alone. So tired of keeping everyone at arm’s length. But I’m even more afraid of letting someone in, only to have them leave when they discover the truth.

As I step out of the shower, wrapping myself in a plush towel, I catch the scent of food wafting up from downstairs. My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since Mace’s gourmet dinner hours ago.

I dress in a soft T-shirt and shorts I find in the dresser, marveling at how perfectly they fit. These alphas have thought of everything.

I make my way downstairs, following the scent of food. I find Mace in the kitchen, his broad back to me as he stands at the stove. Troy is perched on a barstool at the island, nursing a cup of coffee.

They both look up as I enter, their expressions softening. ‘Hey, little one,’ Mace rumbles, his voice warm. ‘Hungry?’

I nod, suddenly shy. It feels different, being around them outside of the intensity of my heat. More real, somehow.

‘Sit,’ Troy says, gesturing to the stool next to him. ‘Mace is making his famous midnight pancakes.’

I settle onto the stool, watching as Mace flips a perfect golden pancake onto a plate. He slides it in front of me, along with a bottle of syrup and a bowl of fresh berries.

‘Eat up,’ he says, his gray eyes twinkling. ‘You need to keep your strength up.’

I dig in, moaning softly at the first bite. The pancakes are fluffy and delicious, melting in my mouth. ‘These are amazing,’ I mumble around a mouthful.

Mace beams, clearly pleased by my reaction. Troy watches me with an amused expression, sipping his coffee.

As I eat, I can’t help but marvel at how comfortable this feels. How natural. It’s like I’ve known these alphas for years, not days.

The thought sends a pang through my chest. This is dangerous territory. I can’t let myself get too comfortable, can’t let myself believe this could be permanent.

But as I sit here, surrounded by the warmth and care of these alphas, I can’t help but wonder: what if? What if I could have this? What if I could belong here?

I push the thoughts away, focusing on my food.

One step at a time, I tell myself.

For now, I’ll stay.

I’ll be here when Rhys gets back, like he asked.

After that…

Well, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.