Page 19 of Knot Enough
EIGHTEEN
Warmth, soft sheets, I never wanted to leave, and their calming scents surrounded me.
Even Rath’s smoky one with undertones of sweet pine.
Fingers wrapped around my arm, and I was forced up.
My hair fell behind me, and finally, I squinted out of one eye.
Sunlight cast shadows across his sinful features.
My throat hurt, my body ached, but I was deliciously sore.
I whimpered as fingers gripped bruised skin.
“You can do it.” Axel’s encouraging voice, while soothing, didn’t assuage what I knew.
“I can’t,” I moaned, and he lowered me an inch.
“Stop being a baby.” Rath’s grumbled reply was not appreciated.
“I told you to wake her, not yank her around.” I could hear the frown in Axel’s voice.
Rath’s rough grip loosened, but didn’t disappear from my arm.
“Put her down.” My eyes snapped open then, and Axel caught my desperate attempt to beg him to stay, but he just gave me a half smile before deserting me.
The bed groaned as the giant got up. I stared at his perfect ass until he disappeared.
Omega instincts were thriving, and I didn’t miss the excitement in his tone.
I didn’t know how two pack mates could be so completely different.
Why was Axel so different from Rath? Everything from their personalities to their demeanor and looks.
Rath’s looks were striking, but he was a sick fuck. No amount of good looks could change how ugly he was on the inside. Axel was the kindest person I knew. Even if we had met differently, Rath would have still been a dick, and I’d hate his guts. But maybe. . .
Being called to breakfast was new for me. I was used to being ignored and thrown scraps. My kidnappers treated me better than my blood relatives ever did. I ignored the nagging voice that whispered I very much wanted to be here.
I should have followed Axel out.
A large arm curled around my waist and barred me from escaping.
Kane snored open-mouthed by my side, and I stifled my laugh.
The big Alpha was cute when he slept, and I wouldn’t let Rath’s heavy death glare ruin my mood.
You’d think Kane would make my skin crawl after everything that’s happened between us.
He went into rut and tried to claim me as his Omega.
Something inside me, maybe the part I still tried to accept, knew he was following his instincts. I wanted, but couldn’t be mad at him. The Omega in me couldn’t hold it against her Alpha. In some sick, twisted way, I accepted what he did because Kane saw me before anyone else had.
It was Rath whom I couldn’t warm up to. So much for sticks and stones, but words will never hurt me. His words, fat shaming, and hate, cut deeper than Lennox’s name forever scarred on my belly.
The silence in the room was louder than Kane’s snoring.
Rath hadn’t said a word since, and unlike Axel, he wore shorts that left little to the imagination.
Not that I needed it. The weight of his gaze was unbearable.
Finally, I glared at him. He enjoyed every moment of last night.
I can still feel his hands on my hips, his breath on my neck, and his need as he finally gave himself over to this thing festering between us. I’d cowered long enough under his hate.
You can fuck all the way off.
“Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you have run off to scrub yourself off?” I snapped as I crossed my arms.
One side of his lip twitched, but he remained silent. His breathing alone irritated me. So I did what any responsible adult would do. I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Silent treatment, huh? Or are you only able to talk to me when you’re being an absolute dick?” I was being a brat, but my bravery knew no bounds since I knew Axel was coming back. Still, he stayed silent.
“You know what you are? You’re a brat going through puberty. Everyone has to tiptoe around you so they don’t hurt your feelings.” That made me laugh, and our eyes locked.
He opened his mouth, but a shadow appeared at the door and disrupted the moment. The bear of a man barely fit in the frame. His hands held a tray with two plates. His soft green eyes lit up as he cut through the distance in the blink of an eye. Somehow, he’d managed not to spill the orange juice.
In the corner of my eye, Rath shifted in his seat.
Axel must have noticed too, because he looked back at him.
Something passed between the two, and then he shook his head.
Axel sat beside me and placed the platter tray of goodness in front of me.
He made me breakfast in bed. Kane groaned and squeezed my hip. The glass shook as his arm grazed it.
“Thank you, Axel,” I rasped, emotion clogging my throat.
I grabbed him by the nape and pulled him in.
He growled as our lips crashed. Our tongues danced as the promise of a delicious meal wafted up.
My pussy clenched. She had no business being ready to go again.
Last night should have put me out of commission for the rest of the month.
How much dick could a woman get before she tapped out?
Apparently, acts of service did it for me.
Now that I knew I was an Omega, it made sense.
I was pleased. Very pleased. Axel waking up early to prepare me breakfast in bed made me want to spread my legs and show him how thankful I was.
We broke apart, and he nipped at my bottom lip before he sat back.
“I didn’t deserve that, but I’ll take it,” he chuckled.
“What?” Confusion marred my tone.
“For once, it wasn’t me,” Axel chuckled.
“Then who . . .?” Axel turned to where Rath sat.
“Rath woke up early and cooked for you,” he supplied.
A shit-eating grin on his face as he watched my expression go from lust to confusion.
My gaze snapped to the brooding Alpha. I’d gone off on him, and he just sat there after he made this food for me.
I ignored the guilt that clawed at my chest. I wouldn’t apologize. He sure as hell hadn’t.
His steel gaze gave nothing away. I stopped myself from asking if he’d poisoned it. I was happy to eat when I thought Axel made it, but now that I knew Rath did, I hesitated.
Why would Rath make me something to eat?
I glanced at the food in front of me. Waffles piled high, eggs scrambled to perfection, and bacon, lots of bacon, and more. It was as if he knew what I liked and made some of everything.
“Thank you,” I muttered, unable to meet his gaze.