Page 37 of Knot Shattered
She turned, her eyes burning gold and haunted. “I am my own.” She raised the bat and brought it down.
The first hit shattered the mannequin’s head clean off. Plastic pieces flew. The second broke its torso. The third was pure fury, unchained and beautiful. She didn’t stop. Not when the shelves toppled. Not when glass exploded like rainfall. Not when her breath turned ragged and her chest heaved.
I stood back. Let her scream without words.
Let her break things until her muscles trembled. My chest felt tight watching her break down and build herself back up. This was what I understood. The shadows in her eyes are familiar. I wanted to be the one to chase them away.
When she finally dropped the bat and slumped to her knees, breath hitching, fingers twitching from adrenaline, I was there. Silent. Solid. I sank to the floor with her, cupped her face in my hands, and rested my forehead against hers.
“You are your own,” I whispered. “I am so proud of you.”
Her tears finally came hot and silent.
And I held her through every one.
Chapter Ten
Odette
September 30th
10:32 P.M
I hadn’t spoken since we got home.
Micha hadn’t pushed. None of them had. I'd come in, peeled away my sweat-soaked clothes, and stepped beneath a shower hot enough to turn my skin raw and red, wishing it could scald away more than just sweat and tears. But there were no more tears left inside me; the rage room had wrung out every last drop. It wasn’t grief that filled me now—it was exhaustion and a hollow, aching numbness.
I’d stumbled from the bathroom directly to my nest, curling myself tightly within layers of soft blankets saturated in the comforting scents of my pack. Salem’s hoodie, worn and oversized, wrapped gently around my body like an embrace. My cheek pressed against the soft fabric of one of Haze’s ridiculous shirts, the familiar touch soothing in its absurdity. Micha’s cool, clean scent lingered faintly on the pillow, cedar and the crisp clarity of fresh rain offering a calming reassurance. Beneath my pillow, Ravik’s carved rune rested snugly, the marble warmed by my body heat. All these things combined to soothe my omega's anxious pulse, wrapping around me like armor, reminding me I wasn’t alone.
The gentle creak of the door opening didn’t disturb my stillness, but my senses immediately sharpened. I didn’t need to turn around to find out who was standing there, watching and waiting.
“Sunshine?” Micha’s voice came softly, carefully pitched—deep and comforting, like velvet draped over steel.
I didn’t move, didn’t respond. Not yet.
One by one, they entered, quiet but distinct. Ravik’s heavy tread, solid and grounding. Salem's footsteps were measured and reassuringly calm. And then Haze, who bounced lightly, the door clicking closed behind him as he nudged it shut with a careless heel.
I turned my head slightly, eyes landing on four sets of unwavering gazes. They didn’t crowd the bed; instead, they stood in quiet formation, each offering strength in their own unique way. Protective. Patient. Fiercely gentle.
Salem stepped forward first, voice soothing. “Can we come into your nest, omega?”
I nodded, words still trapped behind the lump in my throat.
They moved slowly, carefully. Salem slid in beside me, solid and steady, anchoring my trembling body with his reassuring warmth as he curled an arm around me. Haze wedged himself behind me, his chest pressed close, his chin resting atop my shoulder as his arms tightened around my waist. Ravik positioned himself near my legs, his strong hand wrapping gently around my ankle, providing an anchor point without overwhelming me. Micha settled at my head, stroking tender fingers through my tangled hair, brushing away tension with each careful touch.
We lay there together for several heartbeats, sharing breaths and quiet strength. The silence stretched until my throat loosened just enough to let words trickle free.
“They were perfect at first,” I murmured, my voice cracking slightly. “Gentle, charming. They brought flowers, remembered my favorite tea, and looked at me like I was something precious. They made me believe…” I paused, a bitter ache stabbing through my chest. “I believed I’d finally found it—my pack, my safe place, a real home.”
I drew a shaking breath, eyes fixed blankly on the shadows tracing patterns on the wall. “They waited until I trusted them. Until I told Henry that I didn’t need him to stay close. Then, one night, they drugged my drink.”
Behind me, Haze sucked in a sharp breath, his grip around me tightening protectively. Micha’s hand faltered for just a heartbeat before continuing its gentle path through my hair.
“I woke up in a basement, chained to the concrete floor.” I swallowed against the nausea rising with the memory. “My arms were shackled at a height that forced me to kneel—I couldn’t stand fully or sit. My knees bruised first, then went numb, and eventually everything hurt.” My voice thinned to a whisper. “Sometimes, I still feel the chains.”
A low, dangerous growl vibrated through Ravik’s chest, making the nest tremble slightly beneath us. Salem’s fingers traced comforting lines across my ribs, silently offering strength he couldn’t put into words.
“They beat me. Tortured me. Took turns raping me,” I said, flinching at how ugly the words tasted on my tongue. Shame crept up my spine, and fear tightened in my chest. Would they pull away, disgusted?
