Page 26 of Knot All That Glitters: Part 2

I open my mouth to refute that, but he’s already gone, storming away from us and to the bar. He won’t leave, not while Haven is still at this party, not when this is the closest we’ve been to her for weeks.

The relief I’d felt at seeing her in person, interacting with other humans, seemingly healthy if not entirely whole, wasnearly enough to land me on my ass. And I mean that literally. The first look at her, beautiful and smiling, made my knees turn to mush, and I nearly went down. Only the thought of how that would look to Haven, her alpha getting weak-kneed, not staying strong for her, was enough to keep me standing.

But if we’d been alone? Oh, hell yeah, I’d have dropped to my knees in an instant, begged for her forgiveness. Thank god and all that is holy that she’s alive and here with us.

Jude tosses one more forlorn look at our girl and then follows Creed, hands still tucked into his pockets and chin tucked into his chest. He looks like a kicked puppy, hurrying away with his tail between his legs. I watch them go and then turn my attention back to Hale, who is glaring daggers at Coogan like he thinks it’s actually possible to kill someone with your eyes.

“She’s high as a fucking kite right now,” I mutter to him in a low tone. He swings his head in my direction, pinning me with a look.

“What?”

I flinch at the bite in his tone. I know it’s not at me, but at Frederick Bell and Coogan. Doesn’t stop me from reacting, though.

“Her pupils are dilated to hell. She’s dreamy, drifting.” I jerk my chin in our girl’s direction, where she’s staring off into space with a detached expression on her face. We both watch as Brian guides her toward a group of partygoers and she floats over to them. Once there, she stares off into space again, only engaging when someone speaks directly to her.

It’s like how she was before, every time we saw her at one of her father’s functions, only now she doesn’t seem to fully comprehend what the hell is happening.

And this, too, is our fault.

He never should have gotten his hands on her, never should have had the chance to dope her with something.Fuck.Our poor girl. She’s had more chemicals pumped into her tiny body than anyone needs in their entire life.

My fault.

“You have something that can help clear that out?” Hale asks.

I do, but I’m not sure it’s going to be a good idea to give it to her. So I don’t answer him right away. He pulls his gaze off of Haven and looks back at me with an arched brow. “You gonna answer anytime soon?”

I sigh and lick my lips. “I have something that can help flush the drugs from her system, but… she’s already had enough chemicals shoved into her.”

His brow furrows. “Yeah, but it’s either that or let her linger in this weird half state of being.”

“That weird half being state will fade with the drugs as they work their way out of the system.”

“It’ll be better if we do it for her.”

“Better for you or better for her?”

He takes a shot at killing me with his glare, frowning when I don’t immediately keel over. “Look, man, I’m not saying we shouldn’t give her something to help. I’m just saying let’s think about it for a second. It’s hard to see her like this. Of course it is. But right now, her body is full of whatever shit her father gave her.”

“Which is why we should give her something to help get rid of it.”

Stubborn.

“I know it’s hard to see her like this, Hale. I get it. I’m just not sure how much more her body can take.”

He looks back over to where Haven is standing with Brian’s arm around her waist, a full glass of champagne in her hand.She’s not drinking it, hasn’t had a single sip all night. Not surprising since she hates the stuff, and it’s all they apparently will let her have.

“It’ll just be this one thing and then she never has to take any pills ever again.”

“Unless they’re prescribed by a doctor,” I feel called to add.

He tips his head in acknowledgement. “Unless they’re prescribed by a doctor and for her health, then we’ll make sure she takes them every goddamn day.”

I clap a hand on his shoulder and squeeze. “Damn right, we will.”

With one more look at Haven, I drag Hale after our pack mates. Not that we’re actually a pack anymore, but they’ll always be that to me. My pack. Even if our bonds never grow back, I can’t see myself trying with anyone else but these three assholes… and Haven.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Jude is saying as we step up next to them. “Why isn’t she running? Even if it’s not with us, she should be trying to get away.”

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