Page 34 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

I’m lucky he needs me to be up and active to keep up the ruse of him being a good man, or else I’m about ninety percent sure he’d deny me any sort of pain medication so I could be sure to feel the full effects of my disobedience.

I let out a shaky breath and Ren pauses in her rubbing. “Better?”

I nod, then regret it when the pain flares. I wait until it reduces to a dull ache and flutter my eyes open. “Yes. It’ll be gone soon.”

Ren regards me with that same worried look. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned-”

“It’s fine. I promise. And you’re not wrong. They should know about it… eventually. But I can’t even think about it without-” I cut off at another throb of pain.

“I can tell them. Iwilltell them. Just say the word.”

“That’s the problem, Ren. I can’t say the word. I literally cannot tell you to tell them.” She nods her understanding. “But if you were going to tell them, I would want you to wait until after this week.”

“You want to be sure they are who they appear to be.”

She knows without me saying it. This is one of my biggest secrets. Though one I wish I could share with the world to prove what a liar and an asshole my father is.

But telling the Calloway pack is incredibly vulnerable, one of my most tender points. I don’t know what I would do if they were…okay with it. If they didn’t see it as a big deal. Maybe they’d see it as their right, the ability to control others.

I can’t really imagine it, but I’ve only seen them in person a handful of times. We’ve texted and talked over the phone a lot over the last few weeks, but it’s easier to lie when you aren’t face to face. They could be telling me what I want to hear, lulling me into trusting them.

Dammit, I hope that’s not the case.

“What else do you need to pack?”

“What? Oh, um… my makeup bag, shower stuff. Maybe the flat iron and a curling iron?” I make to move back to the bathroom, but Ren urges me to sit instead. “Rest up. Take it easy.”

I open my mouth to protest, but she waggles a finger in my face. “No arguments, missy! You’ve got a pack of alphas waiting to tear your clothes off. You need to be in tiptop shape if they’re going to do that.”

I giggle and shake my head. “Technically, that’s not true.”

“It is true,” my best friend says. “If I don’t think you’re one hundred by the time I drop you off, I’m not leaving. I’m gonna stick by your side like glue. Good luck trying to get that sweet vitamin D with these peepers watching your every move.” She points two fingers at her eyes and then points them at me.

I laugh, and she grins in response. “See, it’s already working.” She heads to my bathroom, calling over her shoulder. “I’ll pack the rest of your shit, babe. You just relax.”

I lean back against my pillows, settling against them as my phone vibrates. I have the very brief worry that it’s going to be a message from my father, something that will ruin this good mood I’m in.

But what I get is something that makes me grin like a freaking loon.

Jude:

Atticus is driving us all crazy, prepping for your visit.

He won’t stop until you get here. He’s too anxious.

When are you getting here?

Atticus:

I am not.

And even if I am,

Is there something wrong with wanting the house to look nice for you?

Me:

Aw, that’s sweet. ??

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