Page 89 of Knot Her Beta

“Definitely not that Emily would approve of your breakfast sandwiches just to make you happy, no matter how bad it is.”

My mouth opens, then closes, because that’s totally something Emily would do. But I’ve eaten those breakfast sandwiches, and they’re delicious.

Before I can say as much, though, a crash erupts, followed by Quinn’s shriek and the thunder of Sprinkles’s paws on hardwood.

Then Emily’s command cuts through the noise. “Quinn Patel. Sit. Now.”

Absolute quiet falls in the wake of a seven-year-old who has just realized she crossed a line.

Grady grins. “She’s good at that.”

I stack plates in the cabinet. “Yeah, she’s good at appearing strong around others.”

The smile fades. “What do you mean?”

“Em was anxious while you were gone.” I start stacking bowls. “Kept checking her phone every five minutes.”

Grady stares at me. “Emily Wilson? Anxious?”

“She hides it well.” I place the last plate in the cabinet and turn to face him. “She doesn’t show it the way most people do. She builds things. She bakes bread until her arms ache. She takes apart the kitchen sink and puts it back together for the third time. But yeah. She worries.”

“About what?” Grady’s brow furrows. “Not me, I hope.”

“You, a little. Em frets when someone she cares about is struggling.” I start unwrapping bowls that match the plates. “But the bigger issue is that Auren showed up at the cottage.”

The colander hits the counter with a soft clatter. “What? When?”

“The Saturday before you returned. Leif was over, and we were watching a movie.” Fresh anger burns through me at the memory. “He brought suitcases. Said the Omega House asked him to leave, and he just expected Emily to let him move back in.”

Grady’s jaw tightens. “What happened?”

“Emily told him no. I was so fucking proud of her.” I lift out a pot to give my hands a task to focus on. “But it shook her. Bad. After he left, she... she kind of fell apart. It’s good Leif was there. I’m not sure I would have been enough.”

I don’t tell him about what Leif and I had done to pull her back from spiraling.

“Before Auren left, he said that Emily still owed him.” I place the pot on the stove. “And that we’d be hearing from his lawyers.”

Grady’s face darkens. “Owe him what? Didn’t he kick her out of her own pack?”

“Yeah, and she gave him everything he demanded, even though he had two new rich Alphas to take care of him.” I clench my teeth before I force my jaw to relax.

The sounds of the move continue around us, with footsteps on the stairs and Holden calling out for help with the bed frame. Quinn’s quieter now, still sitting where Emily put her.

“She’s been going through her paperwork at night, but she can’t figure out what he’s talking about.” I unwrap a second pot. “And not knowing is eating at her.”

Grady reaches into the box for a stack of cups to unwrap. “Do you think it’s an empty threat to extort more out of her?”

“Maybe.” I sigh. “I wouldn’t put it past the manipulative asshole. But Emily doesn’t work well with maybes, and the fact that she doesn’t have an answer is keeping her up at night.”

Grady’s quiet in thought as he unrolls packing paper and sets down the glasses one by one.

“So can you let her fuss over you?” I whisper, not wanting the others to hear.

Grady’s brow pinches. “Do you really think that will help?”

“She settles when she’s taking care of people.” I take the glasses from him and put them in the cupboard beside the plates and bowls. “It’s how she processes and quiets whatever’s rattling around in that stubborn head of hers. It’s not about you needing it. It’s about her needing to give it.”

Grady sucks on his lower lip in thought. “Yeah, I don’t mind doing that for her. I…kind of like it when she’s fussing.” He lets out a little huff. “Never thought I’d hear myself admit that.”