Page 29 of Believe It or Knot: Part Two

“What are you two going on about?” Demi glanced between them. “What am I missing?”

“I told him to go eat because he’s been living off of energy drinks. He didn’t want to, but I pushed. Technically, I’m responsible for accidentally waking you up.”

Demi rolled her eyes playfully, some of her ire bleeding away. “I’m pretty sure I slept for an entire day, judging by the sunset outside.” She motioned toward the wall of windows that let in a beautiful view of a fiery ocean. “Besides, I’m hungry too.”

“I’ll make you something. What would you like, Darling?” Thane was already moving, practically dancing around the kitchen island and back into his domain. Grabbing ingredients before she’d even answered, he started scattering things across the counters.

My guess? The man would make a little of everything in case she changed her mind or had a craving. Knowing him, he’d create an entire meal plan based on her favorite foods and then always have them available.

She paused, her hesitation clear as her gaze roamed his injuries. “You don’t have to cook. I can just get a snack.”

“I’m sorry, but that option isn’t on the menu. Want to try that again?” He smirked at Demi’s exaggerated sigh.

“Are you sure?”

“One-hundred and ten percent.”

“Okay, then. Surprise me?”

An incredulous expression crossed Thane’s face. “Surpriseyou?”

“Anything you make will be delicious. So yes. Surprise me.”

He grinned at the compliment. “Alright. I can do that. How’s your stomach feeling?” His attention followed her hand as it covered her belly.

“Still a little unsettled, but I’m doing a lot better than I was.”

“Something light then.” He went to work, flitting around the kitchen as he dedicated himself to the task of feeding our mate.

Returning her focus back to me, she padded closer. I swiveled my seat to face her and spread my knees to make room, hiding the wince that wanted to break across my face from the wound on my outer thigh. It pulled painfully with the movement, but I didn’t give a fuck about a little pain. I much preferred to have my mate as close as humanly possible. She didn’t stop until she was right against the line of my body. Her arms wrapped around my neck as she settled against my chest. Her breasts—unhindered by a bra—pressed against me and I felt her nipples harden behind the borrowed t-shirt she wore. I was almost positive that article of clothing belonged to Hades, if the way it swam around her was any indication. I liked her soft and pliant like this. I also liked her in our clothing, covered in the scents of my pack.

“I didn’t catch all of what he was saying, but it seems as though Anton talked himself out of yet another suspicious situation, didn’t he?”

I settled my hands on her waist. “We don’t have to talk about him, Sweetness. We’ve got it under control. There’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Her brows pinched together. “That’s… sweet, I think? But that’s not how this relationship is going to work. My whole life, people I should have been able to trust have kept me in the dark about things. Things they said I was too naïve, or stupid, or hormone-driven to understand.”

I growled, disliking the disparaging way she spoke about herself, even if she was repeating things others had said to her in the past. I wanted to hunt down everyone who’d ever hurt her and teach them a lesson. But more importantly, I didn’t want to be someone whose name ended up on that very same list.

My hands gave a light squeeze to her hips, and my thumbs rubbed gently along the dip of her waist. “None of that is true, Little One. And it’s not the reason I wanted to shelter you from this.”

“I know.” She nodded absently, biting her lip and worrying it between her teeth. Finally, she exhaled and relented. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I want to be involved. Whatever your reasons for keeping things from me, they’re not good enough. I deserve to be an active participant in my own life, and while I love how protective and caring you all are, I don’t want to be kept from the hard things just because you’re trying to shield me.”

Sharp claps broke out from where Enoch and Lawson had moved off the side, giving us the illusion of privacy while eavesdropping on every word. I rolled my eyes as Enoch let out a whoop of support. “You tell ‘em girl. Here, here!”

The tension in the room deflated with Demi’s snicker and the curl of her lips.

Blowing out a breath, I agreed, even though my instincts were screaming at me to keep her safe and unburdened. But she was right. Demi had been through hell, and she deserved to know what was going on, especially when it directly affected her.

I filled her in on the newscast that the building had been one of her father’s new constructions, and the way Anton skirted any blame for the explosion. It also meant his true purpose for being in the Fenway Center at that time of night wouldn’t come to light. He’d effectively squashed it.

“He’s going to get away with it, isn’t he?”

Growls and scoffs rolled through the room, sounding from each Alpha.

“He’s guilty, Darling. We’ll find a way to nail his ass for his crimes.” Thane called over his shoulder, watching the stove carefully so he didn’t burn Demi’s breakfast. Dinner? Whatever meal it was. We were wildly off schedule, but I didn’t care what you called it as long as she ate.

In the short time we’d been apart, she’d gotten thinner. I wanted her healthy and cared for.

---