Page 139 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two
I noticed Cypress was glancing back at me as she got another tray together to clean the next wound.
“I said I’m fine.” It was just a graze along my rib cage. “Looks worse than it feels.”
I caught Vance’s snort, but he stuffed the reaction away quickly, straightening his face.
“Show me,” Cypress said, cutting a stitch and fixing me with a glare.
I huffed, peeling up the cloth I’d grabbed to hold pressure, trying to wipe off as much blood as I could while I did. “Needs stitches,” Cypress said.
“I have a kit downstairs,” I muttered. “I’ll do it later.”
I wouldn’t leave until this Omega was stable. I could still feel the echo of Thistle’s agony as she’d seen her. It was an open wound of self-hatred.
Just to make sure I wasn’t harassed, I grabbed one of the saline bottles and bandages from the table. I doused the wound and wrapped it tight so it didn’t start bleeding again. Okay—bleeding more, since it hadn’tquitestopped with pressure.
“Did someone call her Bambi?” Vance’s questionseemeddirected at me—though he didn’t look at me.
I knew they had a process. They’d received survivors from the Ring before. It was something I’d found myself drawn to more and more in the last few years, even if I wasn’t welcome—wasn’t deserving of understanding it.
“We don’t know her name, just what Thistle called her.” I gestured at the deer tattoo visible on her shoulder.
“What’s her background?” Vance asked. “In case there’s anything we need to tread carefully around.”
“Bella Morgan’s—no idea how long. Thistle noticed her. Bella punished her for it.”
Vance winced. “And you got her out?”
I knew how unusual that was. “Made a trade.” I examined Ace again, who was still laser focused on the sutures he was working through.
Bloody hell.
We’d scraped by tonight on a thread.
There was no real reason we shouldn’t all be dead.
“Callum and Tanisha are setting up a room, but actually…” Vance was eyeing Bunny. “Pulse spikes if someone so much as nudges her.” He glanced at the monitor. “She’ll do better with Thistle tonight?”
I nodded. “I think she would.” Thistle would be the anchor she needed—and I think Thistle needed to know this Omega was safe just as much.
THISTLE
I’d steadied in the tide of ink and antique wood—watching Knox work had been so beautiful that it was impossible not to becomeentranced.
After we were done, he took me back to my nest, leading me into the shower. It drained red at my feet for too long, and I stared.
Had I done enough to Banner? Had I made it last long enough? Had he been a part of what happened to Bambi?
Finally, Knox pulled me out, drying me off and helping me into fresh PJs, which all felt wrong.
Too good after what I’d caused…
When I got out, Bambi and Bunny were waiting. My chest tightened at the sight of her, but she wasn’tasscary to look at anymore. There was a dressing across her face, and her other wounds were covered.
None of my Alphas could stay. Knox and Rogue tried to help me arrange the bed and blankets, but Bambi’s breathing was too fast, and it didn’t settle until the scents of Alphas dulled in the room.
It’s all on us, Bunny.
I wrung my fingers together, kneeling beside her on the bed and staring at her, wondering again why I could settle her when I was the reason she was hurt.
