Page 84 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

I grunt out my agreement, because the food will be better if Tic makes it. He’s by far the best cook out of all of us. And Haven deserves the fucking best.

The door to the garage opens and closes and Hale steps through, bringing with him his petitgrain and ozone scent and crisp early morning air. He doesn’t slow his steps, heading right to Haven and ignoring Jude’s protest as he pulls her into his arms. Her legs wind around his hips as he lifts her off the counter.

I don’t know where he went so fucking early this morning, but it’s clear whatever he did has upset him somehow. His shoulders are tense with stress and his scent is slightly charred. We can all see it. It must be why Jude doesn’t protest at all, just blinks sleepily as Hale bundles Haven into his arms and moves to perch on a stool with her in his lap. She stays wound aroundhim, face buried in his neck, a soft purr flowing from her chest, vibrating around the room.

It helps soothe all of us. Fuck, does it help.

That lingering bit of tension I’d been feeling, that little bit—bigbit—of rage at her obvious injuries, fades the slightest amount. With every rasp in her chest, she’s telling us she’s here, and she feels safe. We make her feel fucking safe.

I wish that didn’t make me feel like an asshole.

But it does.

It also makes pride swell in my chest and my alpha preen. We can take care of her, we can keep her safe, and fed and comfortable. We can provide anything she needs.

As I flip the coffee pot on, Hale murmurs something to Haven that I can’t make out, his lips pressed against her ear. But she nods at him. His big hand smooths down her spine and then under the hem of my shirt, blunt fingers stroking her skin. He lifts his head and arches a brow at the three of us, just standing there watching. “What?”

Tic shakes his head. “Nothing.”

But we all know it’s something. Something big. Hale has by far been the most resistant to Haven, to her charms and her joy. He’s been the one most dead set on revenge. I don’t even blame him for that, not really. He was our pack lead, and while Janie wasn’t technically a bitten in member, he failed to protect her.

He feels the heaviest guilt out of all of us.

But just now he didn’t spare any of us, his pack, a look or a greeting, just went right to the omega in our midst, like he needed to touch her… like he neededher.

It makes my heart swell with hope.

But as we all know, hope is a dangerous thing.

Chapter 22: Listening at keyholes

I spend the next few days recovering from my father. The Calloway pack barely lets me lift a finger for myself. Before I can even think to do something—grab a bag of Funyuns, get a glass of water, track down the book I started when I was here last, add an extra blanket to my already hefty pile—one of them is there, anticipating my needs.

It’s a little freaky if I’m honest, but I’m an omega, so I fucking love the care and attention. I’ve been sleeping better than I ever have before. That might have to do with the complete lack of my father in my life, the pressure of being in his presence gone. I’ve cut all ties with him, know won’t be going back to his house, won’t be the shining example of a supportive daughter he wants me to be. I’m pretty sure I’ll never see him again.

I hope I’ll never see him again.

Even if the Calloway pack doesn’t want to keep me, I know they’ll help me get as far from him as they can.

They’ve already made sure I blocked him on my phone. But he seems to have figured it out and has been calling from random numbers. The first few times I listened to the messages, he told me he’s sorry and I need to come back to him. He tried to guilt me, tell me it was my fault he had to be so harsh with me. That I needed the punishment, the correction. When that failed to work, he switched to angrily demanding that I come back, to support him. That it’s the least I can do when I’ve been such a disappointment to him.

Hale had plucked the phone out of my hand and deleted every single one of his messages, kissed me gently on the forehead, and then tucked my phone away from me. I don’t even miss it. The only people I want to talk to are my pack and Ren, so I just use one of their phones to talk to her.

It’s liberating.

I might also sleep better because there’s always at least two alphas in bed with me. Usually more. Snuggled up between their hard, hot bodies, I sleep like a damn baby and the dark circles under my eyes I’ve struggled with my entire life are fading. I have more energy. I feel lighter.

Even with my father’s commands still weighing me down.

It’s only a matter of time before they fade. Without him there to reinforce them, eventually I’ll be totally free. I just need to avoid situations where he can bark at me again.

My voice hasn’t returned yet. Not for the Calloway pack.

I can, and have, talked to Florence. The alphas gathered around me, listening to every word out of my mouth. I couldn’t tell her much. The shackles are still in place, still tangling my tongue. I can’t work around the one that prohibits me from talking about him barking at me.

But they’re smart enough to figure it out.

I mean, we’re living with the effects of it right now. My voice stolen from those who need to hear it the most.

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