Page 50 of Knot Dead Yet

“Kienna?” I darted toward her and pulled her against me. She shook like an overworked snowmobile.

“It can’t be. It can’t.” Silent tears wet her cheeks as she clung to me.

I glared at the card. What the hell did it say?

“Let me see it.” Trying not to dislodge her all the way, I moved and bent to pick up the note. It was a single piece of thick card stock with a gold border. Handwritten in smooth, curly cursive was:Everything will be alright, sweet girl.

My first thought was that it was her father and, thank fucking God, not Casimir. If it was Birk, this was good. I didn’t know how he found where she was or knew what was happening, but it sounded reassuring.

Yet then why was Kienna behaving as if her worst nightmare had come to life?

“Who sent you this?”

She whimpered and threw herself down to start rapidly collecting her clothes. “I’ve got to go. I can’t stay here. I have to get on a plane—”

No way was that happening. “Kienna,” I said her name more firmly and crouched down to take her hands in mine. “Look at me. Who sent you this?”

“I need to go,” she repeated and tried to pull her hands free from mine. Of course I didn’t let her.

“You know you’re safe here with me, with the pack, right?”

“You don’t understand.” Kienna tried to break free again, but I only drew closer.

“Then tell me.” My chest was heaving. There was a threat to my Omega and I was going to obliterate it.

She collapsed onto the bed and wiped at her tears. Even upset, she was the most beautiful thing on this planet. “You’ll just get mad at me.”

“Kienna,” I barked. I needed to know. Ihadto know.

Kienna swallowed and stared down at our linked hands. She blew out a long breath. “I had thought maybe… it was just a random thing…” She shook her head. “I was stupid. So stupid. I shouldn’t have been out on my own. I should have been paying more attention to everything around me.”

“You are not stupid,” I said softly. Something had happened and she was taking blame. I refused to let her place the guilt on herself.

“When I left the restaurant the other night, I didn’t get a rideshare. I walked and cut through an alley.” Fuck. No one would ever guess that Winnipeg was a dangerous place, but we had one of the highest murder rates in all of Canada. A lone pretty Omega with no escort would be a prime target. “The guy grabbed me from behind. I fought and got away, but… But he called me sweet girl. Told me everything was going to be okay. And I fucking knew that it would not if I didn’t get away.”

Some asshole attacked my Omega. I was going to kill him. Rage boiled deep in my gut.

“Where? What did he look like?”

“I don’t know where exactly. Somewhere between the hotel and the restaurant. I never saw his face.” She curled herlegs to herself as she leaned against me. My head was above hers, but I could hear her heart pounding in her chest. That guy was fucking dead. I’d rip his head off.

“Did you go to the police?” I stroked my mark on her and the tension in her shoulders eased a little.

“What? No.” Kienna tilted her head to look up at me. “I was an unescorted Omega in the middle of a strange city. If I went to the cops, they’d call my dad. He’d lock me in the hotel room for the rest of the month. I would go insane. All I’ve wanted to do is escape this city and be free!”

“This psycho knows who you are and where to find you. The hotel would be the safest place for you.” Stash her away some place safe so I can hunt the fucker down and kill him.

Kienna scowled and stood. “I’m not locking myself in the hotel room.”

I rose and towered above her. She needed to be protected. She had to understand I was doing what was best for her. “It’s the safest place. We’ll tell your father—”

“No fucking way!” She shook a finger at me and bent to retrieve her clothing, hugging it to herself. Her gorgeous dark eyes were bright with fire. She wasn’t afraid anymore, but it would be wise to be scared with a guy stalking her. “Don’t you dare say a word to my dad!”

“Kienna.” I tried to calm my tone. She had to see reason. I couldn’t imagine a world without her. There was no way I was going to let something happen to her. “It really is the safest place. They have good security and lots of people are around. We’ll discuss it with the rest of the pack.”

“No.” Kienna marched to the door of the attic and turned, folding her arms. “I’m going to have a shower and then we’re going to the arena. I’m going to watch the game and ask my dad to buy me a plane ticket to go to my friend’s in Alaska. I’ll be faraway and safe and—”

“You’re not leaving.” Couldn’t she see I was trying to protect her?

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