Page 64 of Knot Your Problem

Luis was the only medical help we had now, and he was handling it like a champ, but he had no medical supplies for people. We’d set him up in an unused cabin as a makeshift infirmary this afternoon. Some elders and women were helping stock him with natural remedies and showing him how to use them.

I understood Damon’s reluctance to hang around the airfield for too long, though. Nick was watching them on the satellite feeds, but they were in unfamiliar territory and we didn’t know if other groups were in the area. He could only give them minutes’ warning.

I looked up in the treehouse’s direction, feeling intensely agitated. Knowing Lexie was alone right now, and no one had eyes on her with both Sam and Dio gone, made me uneasy. My need to see her, with my own eyes, even briefly, felt like it outweighed everything else right now.

Cary reached out his hand toward me and gestured for the phone. “We’ve got this, Dave. Go check on Lexie.”

I hesitated. It was my job to get Luis. I should let Ava and Cary go check on Lexie, but I felt torn and he could see it. He gave me a rare, soft smile in understanding and solidarity.

“A wise woman told me recently that the only things that matter anymore are the people we love, and that’s the way it should have always been,” Cary said. “This is just a task. One of hundreds you’ve already done today. Go, we’ve got this. We’ll find you if there’s a problem.”

I noticed Ava shoot him a look I couldn’t discern in the dark. It was always the looks with these two. They never seemed to touch each other at all, keeping a careful distance that seemed fraught with longing. I could relate.

Instead of handing Cary the phone, I grasped his hand and pulled him into me for a one-armed hug. He stiffened slightly, then relaxed into me with a small sigh and squeezed a handful of my shirt, as if it had been a long time since anyone had hugged him.

If he was going to find his place here, we needed to trust that he knew his limits and let him step up. I knew the alphas felt a need to protect him, being an omega, but he was clearly a capable guy.

“Thanks,” I said, simply.

He just pulled back with a nod as I handed him the phone. “Do you think I could join in on the training with your cadets sometime? I’d like to learn some self defense moves. They let me work out at the Palace to look fit, but nothing more. I recently discovered I can’t land a punch on a moving target to save myself.”

I slapped him on the shoulder. “Absolutely. Our training schedule is out the window at the moment, but I’ll let you know when I get them all together next. If it doesn’t happen soon, I’ll make time to give you a few one-on-one lessons. But don’t sell yourself short. You held your own against an alpha, at least for a while, the way I heard it.”

“He was just toying with me for kicks, but thank you,” Cary said, as he let out a big breath and more of the tension left his body. He turned to go and Ava fell into step next to him.

“You’re a good guy, Dave. Go get her,” Ava said softly over her shoulder with a small smile, before they both strode away into the darkness, back down the path.

I hoped that meant there was no more salt in my coffee in the future. I watched them for a moment, feeling protective of them. They both felt lost, and there was an underlying sadness that wove through both of their energies. Tying them together, yet also holding them apart.

Once they’d disappeared around the bend, I turned and headed up the hill. I felt a renewed energy now that I knew I was finally heading to Lexie. My feet sped up as I hustled up the path, used to moving around in the dark now. I couldn’t see any movement on the deck, but it didn’t mean Lexie wasn’t up there.

Maia and Ava had last seen her down at the dining hall, but they’d told me Lexie had been planning to head back up here after dropping some food to Nick in the security office earlier.

“Lex, you up there?” I called up, like a coward, as I eyed the stairs. I so rarely invaded her personal space. It felt wrong to just waltz up. There was no response, though. Only the sound of leaves whispering in the light breeze and a nocturnal animal rustling through the underbrush that I had startled nearby.

I warred with myself for another minute, but I knew I couldn’t rest until I saw her with my own eyes. So I turned and walked up the stairs, not trying to mask my approach. I didn’t want to take her by surprise. I reached the top and searched the deck as my eyes adjusted to the moonlight after the darkness of the curved stairs. No Lexie, curled up asleep in her favorite swinging chair, like I was hoping.

“Lex,” I called out as I knocked on the old barn doors. I tried the doors, and they slid open easily.Why was there no lock on this fucking door, and why was I only realizing it now?

“I’m coming in,” I called out loudly. She would know my voice, so I didn’t bother announcing myself.

The inside was in shadow, with the downstairs curtains drawn and the only light coming from the skylight in the loft. I opened the door wider to let in more light before moving further into the room. I couldn’t see her lying on the couches, and I couldn’t hear the shower running, which meant if she was here, she was asleep in the loft.

The thought had my dick perking up like I was a horny teenager. I’d left my teenage years far behind, but just the thought of Lexie lying in bed, maybe just wearing one of Dio’s t-shirts with nothing underneath, had me hard as a rock.

“Get it together,” I muttered to myself. I tried to think unsexy thoughts, but the vision of Lexie splayed out with a t-shirt riding up her thighs was burned into my brain.

“Don’t be a fucking creep,” I muttered as I headed up the stairs. I’ll just make sure she’s there.

“Lex, are you awake?” I called out softly as I neared the top. Forcing myself to stop when I saw the edge of the bedding.

“Lex,” I called again, louder this time. Still no reply. Dread spread icy fingers up my spine.

She had to be here, right? Unless Maia was mistaken and Lexie had gone back to her cottage?But Maia had said Lexie was definitely headed here, to wait for Dio, as he didn’t know which cabin was hers and she ‘didn’t want him getting confused and walking in on some other girl when he got back late.’ Maia had laughed as she’d used her fingers to air quote Lexie’s words.

I gave myself a mental slap and took the last three steps, bringing the entire loft into view. No t-shirt riding up. No bare legs. No Lexie at all.

Fuck. I raced back down the stairs again.

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