Page 92 of Knot So Broken

My mind reels over the information, “Wh...what? I don’t...”

Jaiden shakes his head, chuckling as he rubs my shoulder before leaning back and grabbing a towel that had fallen to the ground.Wrapping it around my shoulders, he gives me the coverage I had been needing.

He doesn’t move to turn the shower off, allowing steam to fill the room. I know that there is a camera placed in the corner of the room that has no doubt fogged up by now.

It's a tactical move, one I’m thankful for.

“Your Alphas aren’t dead, Kennedy.”

His words drop like a bomb set out to destroy me.

I can’t help but laugh, “Wow, Jaiden. That’s a sick fucking joke. I know I’m in one hell of a state right now but I’m not delusional. I know what I feel.”

I point to my empty chest.

Shaking his head, he helps me to stand even though I am unwilling for a moment.

“I’m not lying to you. There’s no reason for me to. The reason that you can’t feel your Alphas is because I injected you with a serum that numbs the bond between mates. It's one that is slowly dissolving the marks on your skin. Normally, it’s used on Omegas who come to us to escape abusive packs. But then Mullen’s got their hands on it. By then, there was nothing that I could do.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I raise my eyebrow at him. He at least has the decency to look sheepish.

“I didn’t have much of a choice but to follow orders, Kennedy. If I didn’t, they would have known that something was up and my plans would have failed before they even began. Why do you think it is me down here every single time you need to be fed or showered? They think it's great that they have been able to ‘order’ me into being your watcher.”

His face turns, showing a hint of glee, “What they don’t know is they have fed right into my trap.”

I nod, understanding what he is saying but all I can seem to go back to is the fact that my Alphas are alive.

Fuck.

Tears threaten me but I refuse to let them fall. I have no doubt what is about to be asked of me is going to see me needing to be strong. I need to do it for them. To get back to where I have always belonged.

“I’m sorry for the part that I have played in all of this, Kennedy. If there was a way that we could have avoided this, I would have done everything in my power but unfortunately, these things can’t be prevented in every case.”

I nod, “I understand that. Thank you for doing your best to protect me.”

I chew my lip going silent as I start rolling over everything in my head. Before I get too lost, Jaiden hands me clean clothes, turning his back so I am able to get dressed in privacy for once now that the ruse is up.

Once I am done, I clear my throat to get his attention again. He raises an eyebrow and I know he is ready for my list of questions.

“What happens now?”

“For now, I need you to sit tight and get ready. I know that is so much easier said than done but your boys are out there making waves. The Mullen pack has a lot of assurances set up in place to protect where we are and even for big players like the Duran Mafia, it's no easy task.”

“I can do that.” I nod as I begin formulating a plan for myself.

What would Ledger want me to do?

Jaiden leaves me after handing me my dinner for the night. Once the water was turned off, his demeanor changed. If I didn’t know better, it would have given me whiplash.

It helps to reassure me that his words are true. That he is one of the good guys. That my men are coming to save me.

God, it feels good to know that. I haven’t stopped berating myself for my bullshit act in the shower. What the fuck was I expecting to happen? That holding my breath would actually kill me? Now that I have the ability to think logically without pain and heartache surrounding my every thought, I realize just how stupid I was being.

All I would have done is passed out. Maybe hit my head on the way down and woken with a killer headache and regrets a mile long.

I can also sympathise with myself. While I know my Alphas are out there, I still can’t deny how real the hurt I had felt was. It was blinding. I can still feel that same pain lingering. It hasn’t completely gone. I don’t think it will until I can feel them again. Until I can wrap my arms around them. Hold them tight.

I devour my meal as quickly as I can knowing I need as much sleep as possible. Laying down on the uncomfortable threadbare cot, I push away thoughts as soon as they come to me. I attempt to clear my brain.

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