Page 47 of Knotted By the Demon

Something about that made my lips twitch, and I felt the corners of my mouth lift in response. I guess it was possible that we’d all end up in jail if Demon broke into a store during a storm. Wouldn’t that be a sight to see? The three of us locked up simply because Demon wanted to get me more blankets and pillows.

Before I could stop myself, I was laughing too. It started small, just a shaky exhale, but then Sofia laughed harder, and it pulled something loose inside me. Demon stood there, stiff as a board, staring at us like we’d both gone completely insane. His frown deepened as he glanced between us, his expression a mix of frustration and confusion.

“What’s happening?” he asked, his voice a low rumble. “Do I need to break into the store or not?”

That just made us laugh harder. Sofia doubled over, clutching her stomach, and I wiped at my eyes as tears of laughter streamed down my cheeks. Laughter truly was medicine for the soul. It eased some of my worries and fears. Demon growled, raising his hands as if to physically stop our laughter.

Demon raised his hands and said, “Hold on. Quiet, both of you,” he growled. Sofia and I sobered up, staring at him, taking in his serious expression. “Tell me what’s going on. I’m not good at reading your signals yet,” Demon demanded.

Yet. He’d said yet. Those words were just like our laughter, easing even more of my worries.Yetimplied that he planned to get good at reading my signals, our signals. Which meant he planned to be around us for a long time. I hoped.

“Are you sad or happy?” he asked me. “I honestly can’t tell.”

I hesitated, swallowing hard. How was I supposed to explain that I was both? His words and his actions had made me feel more seen and cared for than I’d ever felt in my life, but they also stirred up memories I didn’t want to think about.

“Just say what you’re feeling,” Sofia encouraged gently. “It’s just Demon and me here. We won’t judge you, and we won’t pity you. Right, big guy?”

Demon nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “I just want to know if you’re okay,” he said, his tone softer now. “I need to know.”

His sincerity made the wall I’d built around my shameful memories crumble, and I dropped my gaze to the floor, unable to hold his stare any longer.

“Look at me,” Demon ordered, his voice low but firm.

There was no alpha command in it, no bark or growl to force me to obey. It was just a request, raw and honest. I hesitated, then slowly lifted my eyes to meet his. His expression wasn’t hard or demanding. It was patient, calm, so different from what I was used to.

“Why aren’t you using your alpha bark?” I whispered, the question tumbling out before I could stop it.

His brow furrowed, confusion flashing across his face. “I have no reason to,” he said simply.

“But you want answers from me,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “Don’t you?”

His frown deepened, anger flashing in his intense blue eyes. “Did your last alphas...”

“They weren’t my alphas!” I yelled, the words escaping me before I could think better of them.

My voice echoed in the room, sharp and raw. I winced, my shoulders curling inward as shame and anger battled for control. But I needed him to understand that those monsters were never mine, and I was never truly theirs. Pulling from a courage reserve I didn’t know I had, I spoke again.

Softer this time, I added, “They never claimed me. They just held me captive for years, waiting for me to become useful to them.”

Waiting for me to either get Natalie pregnant or turn more betas into omegas. Neither of which I was able to accomplish. But I couldn’t tell Sofia and Demon that. I wasn’t ready for them to think I was useless yet.

More dark memories threatened to surface, appalling and suffocating. I fought them back, swallowing hard against the lump rising in my throat. I couldn’t say more. Not now. Not with them looking at me like that. Demon’s jaw tightened, and I saw something flash in his eyes, something dark and dangerous.

“That,” he said, taking a slow step closer to me. “Is that what’s causing that look in your eyes?”

The intensity in his gaze was too much, too raw, and my body moved before my brain caught up. My feet took a step back, retreating from him like a skittish animal. The moment I moved, he froze, his entire body going still.

Why had I stepped back? Why did I always do this? My chest ached with the shame of it, but Demon didn’t say a word. He just stood there, waiting, his eyes locked on mine, giving me the space I didn’t want.

“You don’t have to tell me your story until you’re ready,” he told me, still keeping his distance.

Even Sofia was standing too far away from me. I knew that I was the cause of this chasm between us, and I didn’t want that.I stood there, my heart pounding against my ribs as I looked at Sofia and Demon.

The words hung on the tip of my tongue, teetering between staying buried and being released. I didn’t want to tell them. I didn’t want to relive it. I didn’t want them to think less of me. But I needed them to know, needed to say it out loud.

“I...” My voice caught, and I swallowed hard. My gaze darted between them, searching for any sign that it was okay to continue. Sofia’s warm smile was encouraging. Demon gave a small nod, his eyes unwavering as they held mine. That was all I needed.

I dropped my gaze to the floor, focusing on the scuffed wood beneath my feet as I began. “I’ll tell you some of it,” I murmured, the words feeling heavy as they left my mouth. “Not all of it, not yet, but... some.”

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