Page 53 of Tied in Knots
My weeping quietens down and I don’t really need to know anything else about him.
He will step up when I need him.
What else is there to know?
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Faith
After I’d calmed down – which took longer I’d have liked, I told Sebastian that I wanted to find Xander and get back to my nest by early afternoon. He was quite happy with that arrangement, so now I’m walking hand-in-hand with Xander across the grounds of this huge country estate, on this chilly, yet sunny winter morning. The sky is azure and completely cloudless with the low sun shining brightly.
“Are you sure you’re okay to be outside?” he asks me. “I prefer it, but if you’re cold, we can go back inside.”
I shake my head with a smile. “I’ve been cooped up for a few days. It’s nice to be able to roam free but still be safe.”
“Always safe here,” he murmurs, drawing me closer to him.
I lean my head on his upper arm, and smile to myself. He isn’t as tall as Harvey, but he is still pretty tall. I quite like being so short next to them. Makes me feel precious or whatever.
“This is my favourite place,” he says a moment later, leading me into a space between two perfectly manicured hedges. “It’s a little sun trap.”
“Oh, lovely.” I look back up at the Manor in awe. It is so imposing and beautiful with its red brick walls and ivy crawling over some parts of it. It’s way bigger than what I’ve seen of it so far. I look forward to exploring it one day.
Xander sets up a blanket for us and lightly drops the basket he was carrying before he helps me sit down. I cross my legs and peek in the basket as he settles himself on the other side of the blanket, leaning back on his elbow and stretching his legs out.
He stares off into the distance and after a minute, I wonder if he’s forgotten I’m even here. “Are you hungry?” he asks, into the silence.
“Always,” I say with a laugh.
“You can dive in, you don’t have to wait for me,” he says with a smile.
I take him at his word and open the basket, pulling out a punnet of strawberries and popping one into my mouth. I chew thoughtfully for a moment and then ask the question that now makes me cringe. “So how did you become a member of the St. James pack?”
“Well, my story isn’t as illustrious as the others. I’m the first of my line.”
“Oh,” I say surprised. “That’s awesome. How come?”
“I went to school with Seb and Ben…”
“At Harrow?” I interrupt him with this knowledge that I’ve gleaned, and he beams at me.
“Yep. Old boys club and all that. But I was a rank outsider. Wealthy and from a good family, but I was always different. Not wired the same as the others. I was shy and awkward and a complete klutz. I hated sports and P.E., I can’t sing for a dime and acting? Yeah, not happening. I was too shy to debate, I’d stammer and make a fool of myself, so basically, I was the idiot in the corner with no mates. Until Seb and Ben came along and took me under their wing. I have no idea why, but they found me and protected me from all the bullies.”
“I hate bullies,” I spit out, thinking of Pete.
“Me too,” he murmurs. “After my accident, I was even more of an outcast and Seb’s dad, Anthony, took me into his home, here…” He points over his shoulder, “…and told me that I was always welcome and that he would be happy for me to join the pack once Seb took over. So, I did.”
“That’s sweet. Accident?”
His eyes cloud over and the goosebumps that ripple over my skin under my hoodie and old coat, have nothing to do with the cold air.
“Yeah, my family life was a bit shitty after my dad left my mum.”
“Left?” I choke out. “Helefthis mate?”
Xander nods slowly. “My mum didn’t want to be alone, so she took up with the first alpha who would look after her and he was a mean fucker. He didn’t want me around. He beat me regularly. One day he went too far, and I ended up in hospital in a coma for six weeks.”
“Jesus, Xander,” I murmur and edge closer to him. I stroke his face. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about it.”
