Page 25 of Believe It or Knot: Part Two

My feet were killing me, but I made it down the hallway and into a massive master suite that had double doors and a huge bed spanning the far wall. Light infiltrated the room from tall windows that faced the ocean. White plantation shutters were open, letting me catch glimpses of the deep blue sea beyond the rocky shoreline. A set of French doors opened onto a large balcony that I could picture lounging on in the mornings as the sun rose over the waves. It was picturesque and peaceful.

“This is perfection,” I sighed, loving our home away from home. I still ached for the comfort of my nest, but I tried not to let that bother me. I wasn’t in heat, and as much as my Omega craved the den-like security and solace it provided, I didn’t need it as long as I had my men surrounding me.

The only one missing was Jamison as Knox crossed into the bathroom, where Thane was dropping a bath bomb into hot, soapy water. The scent of honey and vanilla rose into the air.

Eli sidled in with some Epsom salts in hand. “I thought it might aid with any aches and pains you have.” He added it to the tub, and his glasses fogged momentarily from the steam.

“Thank you. All of you.” My fingers were already fumbling on the buttons of my borrowed shirt.

“Here, let me help you with that.” Knox’s growly voice echoed in the pretty ensuite. He made fast work of undoing the fastenings and sliding the shirt off.

Hades, who squeezed in behind me, lifted the blasted dress and shimmied it over my head and off my arms. Knox dropped to a knee and hooked his fingers into the sides of the thong, drawing it down my legs. I braced myself on his shoulders as I stepped out of it, wobbling on the heels still attached to my feet. He helped me with those too until I was blissfully naked.

Usually, I would have been shy, but I’d gone through heat with this pack and knew they loved every inch of me. Nevertheless, I would’ve been apprehensive of letting them see me completely bare without the haze of heat to distract us if I wasn’t so thankful to get the clothing Anton had provided off of my body. My skin crawled just thinking about why I’d been dressed up like a sex doll and paraded around with barely anything on.

Knox kissed every bruise and cut as he made his way back to his feet, and the bathroom grew tense as they all watched. I saw the intensity in their stares, the unasked question.

Knox’s hands stroked lovingly along the curve of my hips. “We can talk about this later,” he offered, his voice low with an undisguised, dangerous edge, “but I need to know. Did they…” I studied him as he swallowed—hard.

“We know they hurt you,” Leo interjected, his own tenor raw and raspy, “but did theyhurtyou?”

They meant sexually. Had I been assaulted again? Had they raped me?

Hades was statuesque, his muscles so taut I thought he might break, while Eli watched every micro-expression on my face, analyzing not just my answer, but my body language. Thane was behind me where I couldn’t see, but I felt his tension as though it were a palpable thing.

I shook my head. “They didn’t touch me… not like that. Not that I know of.”

Hades growled a purely animalistic sound before cutting it off and scrubbing a hand down his face.

I answered before he had the chance to ask. “The drugs…”

I closed my eyes, taking stock of my body. There was no soreness, and I was pretty sure I hadn’t been taken advantage of. I absolutely hated the missing blocks of time. There was nothing but black nothingness where there should have been memories.

“I passed out for a while and everything went fuzzy.” I rubbed at my forehead, trying to remember. Around the dark gaps of absent time were snippets of moments that wouldn’t quite string together. “But I’m almost positive no one touched me. If I’d been sold—” I couldn’t even fathom what my fate would’ve been. Unspeakably awful. Those packs were vicious, and they had expectations for their new Omegas.

“We were never going to let that happen,” Eli rasped solemnly.

“Agreed.” That came from Hades, who was barely holding himself together.

“Thank you,” Knox whispered. “I know that was a difficult question.”

I nodded and tucked my chin, staring at the modern tile. If my answer had been different, would it have changed things? My mates knew some of the abuse I’d suffered at the hands of Pack Silver, but it was only a drop in the bucket. Would they view me differently if I told them all of it? Would I be spoiled goods like Anton had said?

Anxiety crept up and tears pricked my eyes.

“Demi,” Knox barked gently, and the Omega in my snapped to attention. “Look at me,” he demanded.

My chin raised, and my gaze glossy and unfocused.

Easing to close the distance between us, Knox cupped my face in both hands and smoothed his thumbs softly along my lower lashes, gathering the moisture on the pads of his fingers. “I only asked because we need to know how to take care of you. It’s a delicate subject, and we’d rather not make any missteps. You understand that, don’t you?”

Sniffing, I nodded.

“Tell me why you’re upset.”

How did I explain this? “I don’t want you to view me differently…” It was partly true. I couldn’t bring myself to voice the rest.

“Never,” Knox answered, and the others chimed in with their agreement.

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