Page 75 of Knot All is Forgiven

She used to look at me like that.

My Omega nods, and Icarus turns his gaze back to Rafe. "Red wine for Jordan, a neat whiskey for me, would be great."

Cyrus gestures for the couch, his broad shoulders tense. "Have a seat."

This is so fucking uncomfortable. It's like an interrogation. A hostage situation.

We used to all be in sync, a team. Now we're strangers.

Icarus leads Jordan to the couch and lowers himself, pulling her into his side. She still hasn't spoken, her hands wringing in front of her with nerves.

Cyrus sits on one of the chairs across from them, elbows resting on his knees. "Jordan, I want to start by saying I am so-"

"No."

Her voice rings out loud and clear in the room.

"We just want to ap-"

"I said no." The words are sharp, like the crack of a whip. "I do not want to hear your apologies." Rafe returns to the room and stands awkwardly in the doorway, holding their drinks. Jordan levels each of us with a look. "Because you're only sorry because I am an Omega. Your scent match. If I weren't those things, you wouldn't be sorry."

"That's kind of unfair, peaches," I begin.

"Don't call me that."

It's a knife in my gut, but I don't protest. I deserve this. "None of us liked what we were doing, is all I was going to say."

She jumps to her feet, startling all of us. Looking down over her shoulder, she addresses Icarus. "I knew this was a bad idea. We should go."

"No," Cyrus barks. Instantly, her body freezes, and she grits her teeth at the massive Alpha.

"Do not fucking bark at me, Cyrus Stargazer. You did this. Not me." She goes to move, and Icarus grabs her wrist. When she looks down at him as if he personally betrayed her, he releases his grip and sighs.

"You need to hear them out, sunshine."

"No! I don't! I don't need to retraumatize myself. Dr. K said I don't have to. That I don't need to."

"Dr. K also said you need to consider the long-term effects of denying this and consider that what may be uncomfortable and difficult now could make for an easier future," Icarus responds calmly.

Jordan wrinkles her nose while she looks at her Alpha and moves to say something before Rafe interrupts.

"Who's Dr. K?"

The answers come at once from the Valentines.

"No one."

"Her therapist."

If looks could kill, Icarus would be six feet under. "You have no right, Vick," she snarls.

"Shouldn't they know the extent of the trauma they caused?" he responds quietly. "Dr. K is a part of that. Didn't you want them to know what it was like? What happened?"

Her hands shake a little as she gnaws her lower lip. "I changed my mind. I can't. It's too much being around them. After all the texting and the video call, I thought I could handle it, but I can't."

Video call? Who did she video call?

Icarus stands up and looks at us. "I need a moment with my Omega," he says, placing a hand on her lower back and leading her through the dining room into the kitchen. I can hear whispered voices but cannot make out what they're saying.

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