Page 40 of Knot All Is Lost: Part 2

Pouting, I watched as he turned on the shower and then ushered me under its spray. “When someone comes back up here with clothes, you better be washed and not purposely trying to cause trouble.”

“I don’t cause trouble,” I shot back as he headed out of the bathroom. He paused and looked over his shoulder with a knowing expression, then left. “I don’t,” I muttered to myself.

Knowing that Savo wasn’t one to test, I set to washing. Having gone right to sleep after my romp in the sheets, I was glad for the shower. Plus, there was something wonderful about being able to wash off my experience at that house and know I’d never go back there. When I was done with the shower, I searched the bathroom but there weren't any dry towels. Dripping all over the place, I headed to the bedroom and found Oscar entering. Stopping abruptly when he saw me, he cocked his head to the side and looked at me questioningly.

“There are no more towels in the bathroom,” I commented.

Oscar gave an ah-ha expression then gestured for me to wait a moment as he turned back the way he came. Not wanting to drip on the carpet, I returned to the bathroom and shivered at the cool air against my damp body. Moments later, Oscar returned and wrapped me in a towel before herding me to sit on the toilet seat. He grabbed a brush and started to work on my hair. This was a new thing a few of my pack did for me, and I loved it. There was something so intimate and caring about having someone brush your hair. When he finished brushing, he grabbed a blow dryer and used his hand to comb through as he dried it.

Closing my eyes, I just enjoyed the time with Oscar, allowing my Alpha to care for me in a way that didn’t need words to show he loved me. When the dryer turned off, I opened them again and swiveled to face him with a bright smile. “Thank you,” I said and used the sign he had taught me.

He beamed at me and returned the sign.

“Why are you thanking me?” I asked.

Oscar paused but then the answer came from the doorway. “Typically, in sign language there isn’t the same response as when speaking,” Bodhi informed me. “When signing thank you, they also respond with thank you, fine, or no problem.”

“That’s good to know,” I said absently as I pulled my lip between my teeth.

There was a tap on my nose that surprised me but had me looking up. Oscar gave me a scolding look and waved his finger no and pointed to his lip. Instantly it popped out, and I blurted out. “Sorry, it’s such a habit.”

Oscar used another sigh then looked at Bodhi gesturing with his chin to me. “He said it’s alright.”

Oscar repeated the sign and indicated I should repeat it back to him. I did, since it was a simple gesture, and he flashed me two thumbs up. Then his hands started to move slowly, allowing me to see his movements as Bodhi spoke. “He wants you to know that depending on the situation that sign can mean a few different things, the context of the situation and conversation help to clarify.”

This time when I signed thank you, Oscar leaned down to kiss me before pulling me off the toilet and back to the bedroom.

“Bodhi, how long did it take you to learn sign language?” I asked as he set clothes on the bed for me from a suitcase.

He paused to think about that for a moment. “Since I spent almost all my time at the house with Oscar, it was almost like I was fully submerged into that culture. It made me feel like shit he had to take the time to type everything out when he wanted to say something, so we divided the time between language and music lessons. I don’t remember when I reached the point of justknowingwhat he was saying. There was just a day he didn’t need to type anything out. There are times when I don’t know a word or phrase but when he breaks it down, I figure it out.”

“So, I need to have everyone use only sign language around the house until I get it,” I announced, and got dressed. “All of you know it, and Savo does as well, right?”

“That would be one way to get better at it faster, but I think since you have all of us who can help, we can take more bite size pieces. Let’s start with the alphabet, once you know it by heart you can spell whatever you don’t know how to say. It’s not efficient but it’s a good place to begin,” Bodhi suggested.

My stomach announced its hunger again and made both men snap to attention. “Sorry, Savo might be making me something, but I was instructed I had to leave the room and join everyone downstairs. Do you think he’s holding my food hostage?”

Bodhi scowled and stormed out of the room. I glanced at Oscar, then we dashed after the fired up Beta. Unsure where I was going, Oscar guided me with a hand on my lower back until we reached the stairs.

“Savo,” Bodhi snapped.

The house wasn’t really big, but it was large enough it shouldn’t sound like Bodhi was around the corner. I could feel Savo’s surprise at the sudden appearance of the angry man. If Savo answered I couldn’t tell, since he was probably speaking in a more appropriate tone. Bursting into the kitchen, I found Savo holding a spatula in one hand and a frying pan in the other.

“Did you say Cambrie couldn’t eat unless she came downstairs? Do you have any idea how hard we’ve been trying to make sure she eats? You think she’s skinny now, it's nowhere near how bad it was. Food is one thing we never restrict from her, because her body is too comfortable with going without. We don’t want her falling back into that pattern,” Bodhi scolded the Alpha.

The rest of the pack wandered into the kitchen, taking in the scene of a furious Beta and one incredibly confused Alpha.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Savo demanded, setting down the frying pan. “I told her to take a shower, then come down and eat. Why in the world would I ever withhold food from her, let alone anything else she might need?”

Bodhi pointed at me, where I stood with Oscar’s arms around me, as I watched wide-eyed at the exchange. All of them knew I didn’t like it when they yelled at each other. In fact, I believe I’d berated Bodhi for doing it once before. Then I remembered what Rafael told me about how arguing was healthy as long as things resolved themselves in the end.

“Then tell me, why did she think if she didn’t come down she wouldn’t be allowed to eat?” Bodhi snapped.

Savo rubbed his face with a hand and muttered something under his breath. The feelings I got was how confused and irritated he was, but he was trying hard not to yell. “Bodhi, I need you to lower your voice and take a deep breath. If you keep shouting at me, I’m going to do the same and that’s going to upset her more than she already is. Now, I understand that I’m the new guy on the team and you don’t know me yet. One thing you need to understand andneverquestion me on again, is Cambrie’s well-being. She is my Omega, and I will do anything and everything in my power to keep her safe, happy, and healthy. Do you believe me when I say that?” Savo pressed, holding the Beta’s gaze.

Bodhi frowned and looked down, then over at me. I wasn’t sure what he was searching for in my gaze, but whatever he saw made him sigh. “On that, I suppose I believe you.”

“Not good enough,” Savo barked, making me jump in Oscar’s hold.

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