Page 78 of Knot So Damaged

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sleep refuses to claim me. I swear I have tried every single trick in the book. I have lost count of the sheep I was hoping would pull me under.

After endless hours of staring up at the ceiling, I decide to give up.

It's been a long time since I have had a night like this. Years in fact.

There is at least some kind of silver lining to it. I know what is keeping me from rest.

Seeing that Omega who had been raped, abused and finally murdered feels as though it is seared into my brain. It's rare that we have had to deal with any injustices against Omegas. I guess that means that the OPA are actually doing their job.

It's just the big cases that seem to slip through the cracks and reach us. Much like this one is turning out to be.

I wish I could be one of those ignorant people that continue to go about their lives while terror is wreaked all around them.

But I’m not.

The thought of the killer being out there, unchecked and laughing at our faces has me on edge.

The last time someone dared to go up against us, too much blood was shed. We lost our Omega. Our sons were motherless and we became widows far too early.

That's not something that I want to happen again.

Not when I feel like my second chance at love is within reach.

My obsession with Valentina has grown in the short time I have spent in her presence today. I feel like an addict, constantly needing another fix of the drug that is her.

I grunt as I roll out of bed but pause with a groan as something in my back twinges. Fuck this getting old bullshit.

Righting myself, I stand and make a beeline for Valley’s door.

I feel something in my stomach pulling me towards her. That maybe all I need right now is her.

Reaching her door, I silently open it, taking my time to ensure it doesn’t creak. I don’t look up as I take a step inside before turning and shutting it behind me.

When I finally turn, I pause as I take in the situation on the bed.

Valentina is sandwiched in between both Conall and Victor. The twins' bodies are wrapped around her impressively so, to the point it is impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.

The beauty between them remains fast asleep even though I know she wouldn’t be comfortable. Those two are like furnaces.

I take a seat in the chair in the corner of the room, relaxing as my eyes remain locked on my girl.

I startle as I realize the direction of my thoughts. I don’t know when I decided to mentally begin referring to her as mine but I find that I don’t hate it. Rather the opposite actually.

I want her to be mine. To be ours.

She may not be an Omega, may not be able to take our knots, but I don’t care.

Valentina is mine. Something about her speaks to me. There is something that I can see in her that is reflected in me.

Loneliness.

My girl is fucking lonely and that kills me.

She may have Amity and I have seen her laugh with the other dancers at the club but that doesn’t mean that at night when she goes to bed, she doesn’t long for something else.

Something more.