Page 88 of Knot Made to Break: Part One

Not being enough.

“Kitten, if you don’t want to do this, just say the word. I’ll tell my old man no.”

The air went straight out of my lungs, because I understood the significance of what he’d just offered me. I had a feeling very few people had ever said no to Emilio Cristenello. Including his own sons.

As much as I wanted to ask Dimitri if there was any other way… I couldn’t. Because there wasn’t.

This was the world I’d chosen when I’d agreed to stay. A world of dangerous, powerful men, riddled with constant threats.

There were only two choices. Cower and hide, or stand and fight.

Suddenly, a spark of defiance ignited within me. I was tired of being afraid, tired of feeling powerless. I’d survived hell before. I could do this.

In some ways, I relished the challenge. I wanted Rocco and Vincent to know they didn’t hold power over me anymore. That I was strong enough to face them, to watch their downfall.

I straightened my spine, meeting Dimitri’s gaze head-on. “No. I can do this. Ineedto do this.”

Surprise flickered across his face. “Kit, you don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do,” I interrupted, my voice stronger than I expected it to sound. “I’m ready to take my power back.”

I hopped off his desk, my bare feet silent on the cool marble floor as I crossed to him. My heart thundered in my chest, but I refused to let my fear show. Reaching up, I cupped his jaw, my thumb tracing over the rough stubble that shadowed his face.

“I’m your mate. Your brothers’ mate. I want to be there, standing next to you, rooting Gio on,” I stated, proud of my newfound confidence.

“Kit.” Dimitri’s tone was a mixture of awe and concern.

“Shh,” I hushed him, pressing my fingertip to his lips. “This isn’t up for discussion. You need me to do this. So I’ll do it.”

My Alpha gazed down at me, his dark eyes searching mine. It felt like he was seeing me for the first time,reallyseeing me. And maybe he was. Maybe I was seeing myself differently too, shedding the shell of the scared, broken girl I’d been for so long.

“Just—” I swallowed hard, fighting to keep the tremor from working its way back in. “Just promise me you’ll be with me the whole time.”

His large hand came up to cover mine, that familiar warmth seeping into my skin. “Always, Kitten,” he murmured, low and intense. “You couldn’t pry me away.”

I leaned into him, breathing in his signature, letting it calm my frayed nerves. This was crazy, but with my mates at my side, I felt like I could face anything.

thirty-three

KITANIA

This was a bad idea.

My heart beat unevenly as I followed Dimitri and Marco into the rundown warehouse that contained ‘The Pit.’

The stench of sweat, blood, and mildew instantly assaulted me, but I tried to keep my expression neutral, already feeling eyes on us. The low din of the crowd grew louder and more sinister the deeper into the building we went, but it was the wave of attention that followed in our wake that had my stomach twisting.

Dimitri seemed to sense my unease and slid his hand under my hair to cuff the back of my neck. Somehow, the commanding, possessive grip instantly calmed my Omega. Warmth spread slowly as his presence steadied me until I could finally draw a full breath.

The haze creeping at the corners of my vision lifted, and reality settled into focus once more.

That’s it, Kit. You can do this. In and out. In and out.

“You okay, Kitten?” Dimitri rumbled quietly.

I forced a nod, not trusting my voice yet. Instead, I wrapped my arm around his waist, staking my claim on him. A purr rose in his chest, and I had to rub a hand over my own.

Dimitri had just claimed another little piece of my heart. I couldn’t explain how much it meant to me that my Alphas were so in tune with what I needed. Before I could recognize it for myself, they’d already provided it.

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