Page 33 of Seen Knot Heard

“You’re telling me.” I blow out a shaky breath and straighten. “Come on. Let’s not push our luck.”

We arrive at the service elevator without further incident.

The doors close, cocooning us in blessed silence, and Holden crouches in front of Chloe. “You did great. We’re almost out of here. Just hold on a little longer.”

She manages a wobbly smile. “I trust you.”

Those three simple words rock me to my core, and emotion clogs my throat.

Someday, maybe she’ll say those words to me, too.

Now that she’s back with us, I have a chance to mend the rift I caused.

Chapter Eleven

Chloe

My head spins as we pull up in front of the Omega Registration Center.

I still can’t believe I’m free from Louie. Every time I blink, I expect to open my eyes and find myself back in that bedroom, the door locked with no hope of escape.

When Holden and Dominic stepped into the hospital room, I thought they were a hallucination, and I’m still not sure that my escape is real.

I touch the oversized blue sweatshirt and black leggings I wear.

Our first stop had been a superstore, where Dominic left me in the backseat with Holden while he ran inside to buy me something to wear. Changing out of my hospital gown went a long way toward feeling more human.

A hand covers mine, and my head jerks up to find Holden watching me with concern. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“She is.” Dominic twists around in the driver’s seat to face us. “The courtship needs to be canceled before we can take her back to Misty Pines, or Louie will just send the police to ‘rescue’ her and charge us with interference to his claim.”

Holden huffs in annoyance. “I wasn’t asking you.”

“No, he’s right.” My voice comes out hoarse. “The faster I deal with this, the better.”

Despite my brave words, I don’t climb out of the car. What if I go inside and they vanish again?

Holden squeezes my hand. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

My head swims with relief. “Yes, please.”

Dominic faces forward once more, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. “I’ll wait in the car.”

Panic tightens my chest, suffocating me. “You’re not coming in with us?”

He whips back around. “You want me to?”

My hand spasms under Holden’s. “I-If you don’t want to?—”

“I want to.” Dominic shuts off the engine, climbing out of the car before Holden and I even unlatch our seatbelts.

Dominic hurries around the front of the car and offers me a hand to help me out. Not sure that I can climb out of the car on my own, I reach up to take it but freeze when I notice the darkening bruise and spot of blood from the IV.

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” Flushing with embarrassed disappointment, Dominic drops his hand.

Something twists inside me, and I lunge to catch his fingers.

We both freeze for a heartbeat, staring at each other in shock. A month ago, I never would have willingly touched Dominic. Not after everything he put me through in high school. But the Omega in me, so starved for my chosen pack, latches on to the bond that existed as children, demanding the touch of my Alpha.

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