Page 54 of Knot Like Other Girls

Cole's jaw tightens, but he says nothing. Silence is typical for him. But what catches my attention is the way Bella's watching him, concern written all over her face. She's holding something in her hands, turning it over and over like a worry stone.

Is that... a wooden duck?

The pieces start falling into place. Cole's tendency to carve when he's stressed or lost in his own head. The blood on his knuckles. The way Bella's hovering near him despite his obvious attempts to maintain distance.

Something happened out there. Something that forced Cole to confront whatever demons he's been wrestling with since we took this job.

Since we met her.

I blow out a slow breath, tamping down the protective surge that rises in my chest at the thought.

Bella isn't just our client anymore.

She's our mate.

Our omega.

Even if she doesn't know it yet. Even if she ends up not wanting to have anything to do with us because there's no way in hell we could ever hope to offer a normal life to an omega. Especially one who's used to this kind of lifestyle. She doesn't seem like the type to be as into it as most omegas would be, but that doesn't mean she'd go for the opposite extreme.

And Cole's part of this whether he wants to be or not.

"There's a first aid kit under the kitchen sink, isn't there?" I ask, ignoring Cole's unmistakable snarl. The way his face is, he's always snarling, but I know him well, and I know a legitimate growl when I see one.

"Yeah," Bella murmurs, glancing worriedly at Cole's battered hand.

"Troy. Savva. Give us a minute," I say, my tone making it clear it's not a request.

They hesitate for a fraction of a second before nodding. Troy catches my eye as he passes, a silent message passing between us. He's hurting bad.

I know he is. I can practically scent the self-loathing rolling off Cole in waves, just as well as I can scent the blood still seeping from his raw knuckles.

"Miss Emerson," I add gently. "Perhaps you should?—"

"I'm staying," she interrupts firmly, meeting my gaze. There's steel in this omega, hidden beneath all that forced submission.

Cole's head snaps up, his mismatched eyes wide. "No."

"You're hurt," she says to him, her voice softening. "And don't tell me you're fine again."

A low growl rumbles in Cole's chest, but Bella doesn't back down. She takes a step closer to him instead.

Interesting.

I watch as Cole struggles with himself, his instincts clearly at war. The urge to protect her from his darkness battling with the pull of the mate bond neither of them fully understand yet.

"Cole," I say quietly. "Let her help."

He shoots me a look of pure betrayal, but I hold my ground. This needs to happen. He needs to learn that not every omega is going to run screaming from his scars.

Not like she did.

"Can you grab the first aid kit?" I ask her.

Bella nods and hurries off, leaving Cole and me alone. The silence stretches between us, heavy with all the things we never talk about.

"You want to tell me what really happened out there?" I ask finally.

"No."

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