Page 10 of Knot Enough

NINE

I reached up, twisting the light bulb into the socket. Light flickered, and I continued screwing until it was secure. I exhaled slowly and turned around. Rath had been following me since I’d last fed her. The asshole was probably keeping an eye on me so I wouldn’t release her.

If they weren’t letting her go, then I’d try to make her more comfortable. I rolled my shoulders and turned back to her.

Goosebumps dusted her skin, and I tore my gaze from her luscious nude body. Her bowed head was buried in her arm. A fine tremble coursed over her shoulders and caused a sour taste to spread on my tongue.

Mom’s mistreatment bubbled to the surface of my memory. Her pack, my fathers, kept her in torment . . .

“Let’s go, Axe,” Rath said from the door. Moving my feet became impossible.

Leaving her like this was wrong.

“She’s fucking cold.”

His silence was loud as fuck. It would have been better if he’d said something.

Kane sighed and, with a final glance at me, he exited out the door with stiff strides. He pounded up the steps. He could be as pissed as he wanted, but he started all of this. If he hadn’t lost control, we wouldn’t be here.

Another tremble wracked her body, and my stomach seized.

“Axel,” Rath barked out.

I gritted my teeth to hold back the growl.

“I’m not leaving her.”

Her head lifted, and she peeked up at me with watering eyes. Meeting the deep brown gaze strengthened my resolve.

“She needs a warm bath.”

“Let the bitch marinate.” The snide comment caused her lower lip to tremble. Instead of addressing his comment, which would only launch us into an argument, I crouched and swooped her into my arms, cradling her close to my chest.

Skin to skin with her . . . this felt right.

The urge to pull her closer until she fused with me prodded at my instinct.

Something shifted my insides like an uncoiling beast waking.

An old creaky part that I never thought would quake for a female rose to the surface, leaking through my veins at an alarming rate.

A missing piece.

I’d never felt this way. Even towards Kim.

My fingers curled into her flesh, and she stiffened. She felt like she would break.

I ground my teeth together and inhaled deeply, her bitter scent burning my nose. Scaring her wasn’t an option. I cleared my throat. Focus on getting her comfortable.

I hated how stiff she was. She should be relaxed in my arms. Climbing the steps two at a time until I arrived on the first floor, I nestled her closer, making sure not to jostle her.

Then I ascended the staircase leading to the second floor, heading directly to the bathroom inside Kane’s bedroom.

Even though we all had our own rooms, we preferred sleeping near each other here.

They’d probably get pissy about me bringing her into our territory, but I didn’t give a fuck.

The rug sprawled across the wood floors muffled my steps. I reached the bathroom, cradled her in one arm, and turned the water on. When I had it at the perfect warm temperature, I set her inside.

Her big, brown, shocked eyes blinked. I couldn’t read anything within their depths, but I didn’t bother analyzing. She was in shock.

Shame writhed in my gut.

I’d enjoyed watching her pant as Kane ate her pussy more than I’d ever enjoyed anything. Her pleasure called me like a moth to a flame.

I grabbed the detachable shower head and turned on the water switch.

It sprayed across her legs, and she gasped.

When I reached to turn down the heat, she pressed her fingers to my arm and shook her head.

I lifted an eyebrow and retracted my hand.

Who was I to judge that she liked it, verging on searing.

“I can’t use the soap because of your wounds.” The words were difficult to force out of my throat. Kane carving Lennox’s name into her belly was too far.

I sprayed water over her shoulders and pressed my finger under her chin to tip her head back. Her eyelashes fluttered as I carefully directed the spray onto her scalp.

Invading her space wasn’t my goal, but I needed to get the blood off her. Carefully spreading the water down her chest, I hovered over each spot on her skin.

Her small hands smoothed over her breasts. Her dark nipples hardened as if begging for my mouth.

I forced my attention away from her luscious body and focused on wringing her hair until it no longer dripped. She leaned into my touch. Warmth bloomed in my chest, and I gently rubbed her skin.

“Feel better?”

She stared without responding. At least she looked me in the eyes. My pack had hurt her—too much. Excessively even. There was no need to torture her. A quick snap of the neck would have sufficed.

My shoulders drew tight. I didn’t want that. I sighed, not wanting to force her into speaking, and prepared to grab a clean towel. I was already backing away when her palm pressed into my forearm.

I stilled, my stomach somersaulting at her touch.

“Thank you.” Her voice cracked, and it caused a fissure in my chest. I rounded back to her, but before I could say anything, the door creaked open.

Kane nudged through, and I ignored his heavy stare.

“Hand me the towel.”

He ignored me and crossed his arms.

Was he being serious right now? The Alpha of Alphas acting like a child?

I sneered at him as I grabbed it from the hook myself.

“Come here, honey.” I held out my hand to help her stand. Water seeped down her skin, and I wrapped the towel around her shoulders. It fell to the back of her knees, and I wrapped her in it.

“Wait,” she rasped before I lifted her into my arms.

“What?” I asked. My hand dropped to her lower back. Her cheeks flushed and her shoulders raised as she took a deep breath.

“I need to. . . pee.” Her eyes lowered as my heart fell into my stomach.

I cursed myself because I don’t even remember if there was a bucket in the cell.

“Of course,” I murmured gently before stepping out.

I ignored Kane’s scowl as I shouldered past him. I hovered near the door.

Footsteps echoed from the room entrance. Great.

“What is she doing here?” Oak asked, sneering at the closed bathroom.

“Done,” her soft voice was muffled by the door.

“Grab the first aid kit and some shorts,” I ordered Oak instead of answering, turning my back on him.

She wobbled on two feet in the middle of the tile, her hands squeezing the towel wrapped around her breasts.

With my arm around her shoulders, I guided her to the bed and forced her on the edge despite her resistance.

Oak jerkily did as I said. He seemed hesitant, but hadn’t been able to look away from her.

Every time his gaze settled on the shivering little Omega, interest reflected in his gaze.

He returned with the clear box and handed it over.

Kane’s glare burned a hole into the side of my head. Our shared bed was for our Omega, but I didn’t give a shit.