Page 55 of Tangled in Knots

Shifting in the bed, I go to sit up but can’t. My arms are sore and tied to the headboard over my head. Frowning and confused, I wiggle around, seeing that my body is covered in a long-sleeved men’s shirt. It’s also freshly laundered with no scent.

While I appreciate the lack of scents to avoid throwing me into a tailspin, it leaves me with even more confusion.

“What?” I ask, rasping as I look around. The gag is gone now, leaving my mouth sore after being forced open for so long. I can finally breathe properly and swallow, while my cheeks heat in humiliation at how demeaning it was. If they wanted me to feel less than human, the goal was accomplished.

Swallowing hard, I take an inventory of my body, twisting and moving to see how hurt I am. There’s a heavy, painful ache between my legs from the alphas and Morris’ enthusiasticsexual activities, my ass is throbbing as well, and my stomach is cramping hard.

Unfortunately, there’s also still a slow leakage of fluids from both areas, making me whimper as I shudder. Maybe this wasn’t a great idea. While they say ignorance is bliss, I don’t think it is.

The collar is thankfully gone though, my neck feeling lighter for it as I turn it from side to side.

In my mind, I know my body will heal, but I’m not so sure if the rest of me will. I haven’t had dreams yet because I was knocked out, and if I did, I don’t remember them. My mind is whirling with questions, many I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to find the answers to.

Some are even too painful to look at too closely, as they’re tied to Pack Dresmond. I should consider them dead to me. A small inner light burns inside of me, and it’s screaming, but I don’t know what’s being said. Damon is pissed off, that much is clear.

The ‘whys’ of it don’t make a difference. Not anymore when I’m in this big, foreign room.

My eyes take space around me curiously, trying to figure out if there’s any use trying to get out of the black ties around my wrists. Everything is done in shades of gray and purple, and there aren’t any identifying features around.

It appears to be a guest room. A really nice one if the chandelier in the middle tells me anything. Why am I here, though?

I wasn’t aware sex slaves were given nice rooms. Hell, even my scent match gave me an unfinished room for a nest. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath as a pain finally hits my heart.

My emotional numbness is beginning to fade, which is a shame. I can’t think about any of them. They did this, gave me up to be sold to alphas I don’t know. This pack could do anything to me.

Even if they’re decent, they clearly have expectations. I vaguely remember Rock said that these brothers were looking for someone to impregnate. Pack Kelly.

I wish my father would have spoken about business around me, but he never did. I don’t know anything about this pack. From what I saw of them, they’re made men because of the way they carry themselves. It’s as if nothing can touch them, and if anyone tries, may God protect them because their weapons won’t.

They’re dangerous, which doesn’t do me any favors.

“Good, you’re awake,” says a voice as he opens the door wide. It’s the man with the crown tattoo, wearing sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt. My memories aren’t steering me wrong here, but I don’t know his name. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” I rasp, eyes wide. “Why did you buy me?”

“That’s a very long story,” he says, folding his arms over his chest as he comes closer. “I can hear your stomach talking from here and it’s seriously irritating me. Will you please come with me to eat?”

Frowning because my stomach is grumbling now, I realize that I also really have to pee. Ugh. My body won’t even let me sulk in peace.

“Only because I really have to use the restroom first,” I mutter.

“I will still take it,” he says with a smirk. “I’m Callum, and my brother is Duncan. We make up the small pack of Pack Kelly. I’m going to make sure this shirt is covering everything before I untie you, okay?”

“Not to be peevish, but why bother?” I grumble.

“Be as pissed off as you’d like,” Callum says, shrugging. “It doesn’t affect me in the least. I would be pretty pissed if I was in your position. Duncan and I aren’t the best people as made men,but one thing we’re not are rapists. We aren’t going to force you into bed.”

“What about what you told Ophelia and Rock?” I ask as he respectfully runs his hands underneath the covers to pull the shirt down over my legs. He never once touches my skin.

“Lies,” he grunts, moving his hands to begin to release the ties before they go still. “Fuck, I’m a dick. Like a really big dick.”

“Okay,” I drawl, craning my head up uncomfortably to look up at him as he begins to untie the knots angrily. “Kind of an awkward moment to tell me about your dick, don’t you think?”

“No, I mean, fuck,” Callum says, blushing. My lips twitch in amusement for the first time in… I don’t even know how long, as he shakes his head. “We didn’t want to linger at the auction house, and I didn’t think about how you may want to shower. Do you?”

“Yes,” I say vehemently. “Please.”

“It’s something I should have thought about,” he mutters to himself. “I’m an idiot. Dammit, Duncan. You and your fucking knots. There.”

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