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Right after that, Knight tore down the stairs. He tried to kill Dr. Acker, but she stopped him, used her strangely velvet, awful, wheedling voice on him, and he couldn’t do it.

So, that was when Lotus decided to tape her mouth shut.

We were all too worried and freaked out for bites or even sex after that.

Lotus was hurt. We had hurt her. Again.

I can’t live like this. I cannot keep putting marks and bruises on the skin of the woman I love. I need that to stop.

Maybe she does need to die, Dr. Acker.

In my former life, I was a priest. I would never have countenanced violence against anyone, nor would I have said that anyone deserved to have their lives ended. But I love Lotus.

I will not protect Dr. Acker if it means putting my omega in danger.

Some things are more important than right and wrong.

Lotus’s safety is one of them.

On the other hand, we’ve been triggered by other things besides Dr. Acker’s voice. So, if we kill her, it doesn’t really solve the problem.

Lotus thinks only Dr. Acker could solve the problem.

She’s determined to make the woman do it.

Funny thing, though, how a person who knows she’s about to be killed isn’t particularly forthcoming. Dr. Acker has no reason to help us.

I have no idea what we’re going to do.

2

knight

I’M ON THEporch of this little shack of a house. It’s autumn, and the changing leaves are beautiful in this part of New York. In the distance, there’s nothing much but trees, though there are little houses and trailers and campers dotted in between the foliage if I look out off the porch.

I pace, though, not focusing on beauty or this compound.

“You’re making me nervous,” says Arrow. He’s leaning over the railing of the porch, facing outward.

I ignore him and pace more.

Striker comes to the door and I veer towards him, head down. “Look, did you tell her—”

But Lotus is there, behind Striker.

So, I break off what I was saying, all of the breath in my lungs going out in a whoosh.

“Knight,” says Lotus, “he did tell me you want to try again.”

“I can do it this time,” I say. “She got to me before, but she won’t get to me now. I can kill her. I’ve been fantasizing about killing her for a long time now. I know I can do it. I killed before she ever messed with my head, you know, so I’m beyond her control.”

Lotus pushes open the screen door and comes around Striker. She’s a lot smaller than me, but she has a presence, something that she’s coming into, something that she’s beginning to inhabit. I like it. She smells good, almost regal, and she makes me feel safe in some ephemeral way, like she’s going to protect me. Which is strange, because I also know that I am meant to protect her. That is what an alpha does for his omega, and my purpose in life is to keep this woman safe and happy. Everything I do, I do for her.

That’s also strange.

I never thought I’d ever do anything for anyone besides myself.

But… it’s nice, actually, caring about someone else like that? It’s really nice.