Page 48 of Unhinged

His eyes go wide and whip toward Georgia, who’s got a hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.

“Sorry, Georgia.”

She snorts. “Don’t be sorry, Brydgett. I’m no blushing old woman. I know my way around an alpha knot.”

I bite my lip to keep from laughing and fail.

Marcus is grinning now, too. “Okay, but explain. Specifically, why the hell your alpha was handcuffed to a chair while you were having sex with him.”

I sigh. “I was mad. Or not mad, more like worked up. There wasn’t anyone to hurt and Acid suggested sex. He told me to cuff him and take what I needed. So I did. I got caught up in the moment and took his knot.”

“And?” Marcus pushes.

“And I panicked. Full-blown meltdown. Hyperventilating. He broke the cuffs, held me until I calmed down.”

Marcus watches me for a second, then says, “So, what’s the problem?”

I lick my lips. “The problem is… I haven’t been knotted since I was raped. The night Judge was made. And it sent me into a spiral. And now? I’m freaking out because I should still be scared or upset… but I’m not. I’m kinda just like… that was nice. Let’s do it again.”

Silence.

Then Marcus speaks. “One, I had no idea about your past. Or Judge. I figured it was a one-night stand, alpha was a dick. I’m sorry. If I ever see this guy, I’ll kill him myself.”

I look down, nod once.

“Two, it sounds like you’re finally opening yourself up.

To your Kismets. To the bond. You say you don’t know how to be an omega, but you are being one.

You took a knot. You’re thinking about your reaction.

You think you’re too damaged, but you’re not.

You’re Brydgett. You’re a badass woman and a mom. ”

He leans in, grinning.

“You couldn’t handle some bakery-owning, kiss-me-on-the-forehead-and-make-me-waffles alpha. You need an alpha—or three who can handle the same kind of crazy you carry.”

I flip him off. “Well, fuck you too.”

He just laughs.

Georgia takes my hand, her thumb brushing across my knuckles. I glance at her.

“Honey, Marcus is right. You can’t erase what happened. And you’ll never forget. But you can forgive.”

“I’ll never?—”

“Not him . Not the alpha who hurt you.” Her voice is soft, but there’s steel under it.

“Forgive yourself. Forgive life. You’re healing, and it scares you.

You thought this was all behind you, that you’d never meet alphas worth a damn.

But you did. And now you’re panicking because you’re not sure if you’re handling it the ‘right way.’ But there’s no such thing, Brydge.

There’s only forward . However that looks. ”

She smirks.

“And right now, it looks like three rugged, sexy biker men.”

“Georgia,” I snort.

She shrugs. “I got eyes. You have some fine-ass alphas. They got another omega or beta up at that clubhouse for Marcus here? Ever since you let him take over your apartment, he’s been over here having afternoon tea with me.”

“I ain’t lonely, Georgia. I just like your company.”

“Sure you do.” She rolls her eyes. “At least you’re not in that tent anymore.”

“I like my tent. It’s where I’m most comfortable.”

“Only ‘cause you got shit from your time in the service to work through. You could stand to take your own advice. Stop living in the past and grab your future.”

“This is about Brydgett, not me.”

She ignores him and looks at me again. “Stop worrying about how you’re handling things, Brydge. You’re doing it right. Let yourself be happy. Let Judge be happy.”

“What if I fuck it up?”

“Then you say sorry and move on.”

I shift in my seat. “…I did hold Gears at knife point today.”

Georgia flicks my arm. “Brydgett! No slaying your Alphas!”

“I thought he was hurting Judge!”

“Was he?”

“…No.”

“Did you apologize?”

“Yeah… kinda.”

“That’s about the Brydgett-est thing you’ve said all day,” Marcus says, and I glare at him.

“Fuck off,” I mutter, flipping him off.

He just grins.

“Well then,” Georgia says, “leave it be. If you said sorry, move on. Those three know who you are. They know what they signed up for. They can take it or leave it.”

I nod, swallowing the knot in my throat.

“Thanks, Georgia.”

“Anytime, honey.”

“Thanks to you too, Marcus.”

“No problem, Brydge.”

I pause. “There’s a party Saturday at the clubhouse. Wanna come?”

Marcus shrugs. “I’ll think about it.”

I down the last of my coffee, hug them both, and head into the hall. Before I go back to Arrow, I pause and pull out my phone.

Me: Can you be here Saturday? There’s a party.

Franko: The Renegade does throw a good banger.

Me: Good. One more thing.

Franko: Christ, woman. What now?

Me: Bring me a pink Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Good condition. Sexy.

Franko: What the fuck you want that for?

Me: I owe a teenager a car. And you owe me still, so I think a car will call it even.

Franko: I’ll see what I can do.

I smile and tuck my phone back into my jeans, then head downstairs.

Arrow’s leaning against his bike like he hasn’t moved, arms crossed, eyes watching me like I’m the only thing worth looking at.

“Everything good, Gidge?”

“I think so.”

“You sure?”

“If it’s not, it will be.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Wanna tell me what happened?”

I grin. “Wanna buy me cheese fries?”

“Done.”