Page 77 of Knot Your Rebel

“Look at me, Rebel. You’re in your head right now, and I need you to know that this is not your fault.”

My eyes meet hers and tears form. “But it was…”

“Not your fault. Did you know he was going to come last night? Did you have any knowledge about his plans?” I shake my head no, but it doesn’t change how I feel.

“I’m not going to allow you to blame yourself for this. Look, Gunnar got there before he…” Her body goes stiff, and words fall to the wayside. I know what she’s saying.

“I am so glad he was there for you.” Her eyes find Gunnar as he sits in a chair in the corner of the room just watching us. He takes up the chair like a typical alpha does, meaning one wrong move and he’s on the ground. Hospital chairs aren’t made for hockey playing alphas. Tate has made his way over, and they’re silently chatting. I watch the exchanged frowns and realize he’s probably telling Tate what happened.

“Reb.” Nova catches my attention again, and I turn to look at her.

“I know. It’s not my fault. But… I saw a picture of him, Nova. I know exactly who did this to you.”

Her eyebrows furrow in confusion. “What are you saying?”

“Remember when I was sent to the last foster house with Everly?”

She tenses. “Yes.”

“He was there. He…” I choke on the words, not able to say anything.

She squeezes my hand. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, hun.”

“He raped me for years, Nova. He’s… a monster.” A tear slips down my cheek, and I choke on the air I’m breathing. My chest is pounding as my heart tries to take flight and leave my body.

Her jaw drops, and she just stares at me. I never told Nova about him, about the situation. I kept it to myself because I didn’t want anyone else to have to carry the burden of knowing what was happening and not being able to do a damn thing about it. I sure couldn't.

“Oh, my God, Rebel. I…” The tears are flowing freely, but this time, I’m not alone. She’s crying with me, feeling the pain of what could’ve happened to her had Gunnar not gotten there when he did. Realizing the trauma I experienced as a teenager.

“Come here.” She opens her arms, and I crawl onto the bed with her. She has her arms wrapped tightly around me, and like with Tate, I feel safe. I tip my head to rest on her shoulder, and she runs her fingers through my hair, stroking it softly like she used to do when we were younger.

“I’m so sorry, Nova.” I sniff at the snot currently trying to run a train down my face.

“Look, eventually, you were going to move in with Tate anyhow, hun. He’s your alpha. You’re mated to him. As much as I’d love to keep you with me forever, you finally have something stable. After all the shit, you found someone who loves you. Grab onto it with both hands, and don’t let go.”

I snort. “He doesn’t love me. He hasn’t said it.”

“He doesn’t have to. It’s in the way he looks at you. The way he fights for you; for your heart. He wants in, and you need to let him.”

I tilt my head up to look at her. “This coming from the girl who got into it with him the night he marked me without permission.”

“He’s changed. I don’t think he marked you to trap you. I think he saw you, and he knew from the very first night at the bar. You were meant to be his. You’re his scent-fated mate. You’re it for him. Full stop. I approve. It’s time for you to find your own happiness.”

“How are you sitting here comforting me when you’re the one in the hospital bed?”

She laughs. “Technically, you’re in here with me, too.”

I fake a frown. “Do not dare bring technicalities into this, ma’am.”

“I’m glad to see you happy. That overbearing, domineering, slightly over-the-top alpha is wrapped around your finger.” I don’t realize I’m crying again until she reaches up to wipe a tear away. “Hey, what are these for?”

“I’m just… thinking, I guess. For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like a burden.”

thirty two - tate

. . .

We stayed at the hospital an hour more before leaving. Before Nova threatened to kick us out. The ride home was silent. My omega is still in her head, but I think seeing Nova in person helped. I mean, yeah, she looked like crap with all the black and blue marks, but Rebel needed to see with her own eyes that her friend wasn’t broken by the same man who did it to her.

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