Page 34 of Knot So Sweet

"Just one little cut," my darkness promised into the empty room. My heart pounded so hard it drowned out everything else. Every sound around me felt muted, distant, as if I were submerged underwater, struggling to keep my thoughts from spiraling out of control.

"You don't need to cut yourself. You're stronger thanthis," I croaked, trying to believe it.

My pep talk wasn’t enough.

My gaze wandered to the faint white scar peeking out from behind the skull tattoo on my forearm. The urge to reopenthat scar, to bleed my demons into a dull roar, was almost overwhelming.

The thought clawed at me, whispering promises of pain and release, offering a brief escape from the chaos swirling within.

I clenched my fist, my nails digging into my palm, grounding myself in the present. The temptation to slip away into the bathroom, to let the blade slice through my skin and release some of this pent-up energy, was nearly too much to bear.

But the thought of Owen finding out—and the disappointment he would feel—held me back. He’d be furious. Not just with me, but with himself for not seeing the signs, for not stopping me.

"I can’t do that to my brother. Not again," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

Not when he’s finally happy with his pack.

I couldn’t diminish that happiness. I couldn’t let my darkness taint his light. Yet no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts remained a jumbled mess I couldn’t control.

Ghost's voice from last night lingered, his dark promise casting a shadow I couldn’t shake."Stop fighting it, princess, because the moment you do, the moment you let us in... it'll feel so fucking good."

My breath hitched at the memory, a pulse of heat flaring within me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push his words from my mind, but they clung to me like a thick fog.

The irrational anger that he wasn’t here this morning only fueled the fire. I was furious with myself for letting him get under my skin, for allowing the thought of him to consume me like this.

The urge for a bloodletting, to release the demons that whispered sweet nothings in my ear, grew harder to ignore. It felt like a weight on my chest, pressing down, suffocating me.

"Leave me the fuck alone," I growled, my voice raw with frustration.

I leaned against the bar, trying to steady my breath, but the nerves were relentless.

"Help me, please," I begged into the empty space, though I didn’t know who I was asking. All I knew was that I had to pull myself together. But no matter how hard I tried, my heart continued to race, a wild drumbeat echoing in my ears.

I stood there, rigid as Iwaited. For hope. For something—anything—to take the edge off. But waiting to be rescued was a fool's dream. It was time to take control of my fate, to stop fighting against the tide and start swimming.

Chapter 16

Candi

Someone cleared their throatbehind me, and I yelped in surprise.

Ghost stood in the doorway that led to the back rooms, his silhouette framed by the dim light spilling in from the hallway. I met his gaze. His thick, black brows pinched as he studied me.

The clean-shaven jaw set in a hard line was intense as hell. I swallowed the anxiety lodged in my throat and trailed my gaze down his bulky frame, taking in the thick arms, like tree trunks, folded across his broad-as-fuck chest.

He wore his leather cut, as always, the dark fabric clinging to his muscular build, paired with dark-washed jeans and scuffed biker boots. Leaning casually in the doorframe on one shoulder, he watched me with an air of relaxed confidence that sent a shiver down my spine.

God, he was intimidating.

All the shadows wrapped around him, blending him into the darkness. Just like his name. A ghost shrouded in the haze.

My fingers tightened around the rag in my hand as I straightened. How much of my freak-out had he seen? FUCK. I probably looked weak to someone as strong as him.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, forcing my gaze back to the bar, scrubbing harder than necessary. Anything to avoid those hypnotic eyes.

"A while." Those two words had every hair on my arms standing at attention.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuckity. Fuck.

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