Page 30 of Saved By The King's Gamma

“Come on,” he says, holding his hand out to me. His voice is soft, but there’s an unspoken authority there that I can’t seem to ignore. “You need rest.”

My heart races as I place my hand in his. His warmth envelops me as he leads me from the bathroom. The walk through the darkened corridors is quiet. Gannon’s presence is comforting beside me, I’ve always felt safe with Gannon.

That is, until we step into his room.

The moment I see the bed, my chest tightens, and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin. Memories flash behind my eyes like lightning—Kade’s hands, his cruel smile, the feel of being pinned, trapped, powerless. My breathing quickens, and I stumble back, my feet stumbling as I try to back out of the room.

“Abbie?” Gannon’s voice pulls me back to the present, but my heart is pounding too hard, too fast.

“Abbie, look at me,” Gannon says again, his voice firm but gentle. He steps in front of me, blocking my view of the bed, and places his hands on my shoulders. “I’m not him. I will never hurt you.”

I shake my head, trying to speak, but the words won’t come out. My throat feels tight, like it’s closing. Gannon cups my face, tilting my head so our eyes meet.

“Abbie, breathe,” he says softly, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks. “Just look at me. Not the bed. Not the room. Just me.”

His eyes flicker to that of his Lycan as they hold mine, only to return to their normal color, calm and warm, and slowly, the panic begins to ebb. “I’m right here, no one would dare hurt you here.” His forehead rests against mine, and his hands slide down to hold mine.

“I will never, ever hurt you,” he whispers, his voice breaking slightly. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Abbie. I’m not Kade. I’m not him.”

Tears spill down my cheeks, and I hate how vulnerable I feel, but Gannon doesn’t pull away. He stays right there.

“I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for,” he continues. “I’m not expecting anything from you. You don’t owe me anything. I just want you to rest. That’s all.”

I nod shakily, though the fear still lingers in the back of my mind. Gannon’s lips press to my forehead, and then he pulls back, giving me a small smile.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” he says, gesturing to the small couch near the fireplace. “You take the bed.”

“But—”

“No buts, Abbie. You need it more than I do,” he says firmly. “I’ll be right here if you need me. I promise.”

His sincerity is so overwhelming, I can only nod. He gently guides me to the bed, pulling back the blankets before helping me climb in. My body feels like it’s made of lead, and as much as I hate to admit it, the softness of the mattress is a relief after everything I’ve been through.

Gannon tucks the blankets around me, his movements slow and careful. He pauses for a moment, brushing a strand of hair from my face, and I catch the way his eyes soften as he looks at me.

“You’re safe now,” he murmurs. “No one will hurt you while I’m here. I swear it and I will kill anyone who dares tries.”

I don’t respond, but I believe him, I know he would kill for me, has killed for me. Yet that just makes guilt eat at me more knowing I may never be enough for him.

As he moves to the couch, I watch him settle in, his massive frame looking out of place on the too-small cushions. He leans his head back, closing his eyes, but I know he’s not asleep. He’s keeping watch, just like he always does.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself close my eyes, too. The fear doesn’t leave entirely, but for now, it’s muted, drowned out by the steady presence of the man who promised to wait for me; only that calm doesn’t last long. I may have escaped Kade in the waking world, but how he tortures my dreams, is another thing entirely when I wake back up there.

I try to move, to speak, to fight—but I can’t. My limbs are useless, my muscles slack, and my tongue feels heavy in my mouth. It’s like I’m trapped inside my own body, wide awake but paralyzed, forced to endure whatever Kade plans next. I want to scream, but no sound comes out. The only thing I can do is watch. Watch and suffer in silence.

“Make her watch,” Kade orders coldly, his voice devoid of anything human. “If she closes her eyes, hit her.” this was the first night I spent in the brothel, all night he tormented me, first with Blaire and then Lacey. Each time forcing me to taste them afterward.

The man gripping my hair tightens his hold, yanking my head upright. The sudden motion sends a bolt of pain through my scalp, but it’s nothing compared to the agony blooming in my chest. I know what’s coming.

“Get on the bed, Lacey,” Kade snarls, pointing to the large bed draped in red blankets. The woman hesitates for a moment, glancing at me with wide, frightened eyes.

She’s afraid. I can see it in the way her hands tremble as she reaches to unhook the clasp of her bra. It’s then that I realized Blaire warned the other girls that must work here because she can’t meet my gaze. Her lips part as if she wants to speak, to object, but the fear keeps her silent. I want to tell her to run, to scream for help, but no one comes for us. No one ever comes.

“Do you need me to remind you what happens when you disobey me? Do you want the same punishment as Blaire?” Kade growls, his tone deadly. Lacey flinches, her hands working faster as she strips out of the delicate black lace lingerie clinging to her body. Within moments, she’s standing naked in front of him, her gaze fixed on the floor as if she can make herself disappear by not meeting his eyes.

“I didn’t think so,” Kade sneers, stepping closer while I wonder if Blaire is alright and what he did to her. He doesn’t spare me a glance as he removes his suit jacket, tossing it carelessly to the floor. His shirt follows, revealing the lean, muscular frame I once found comfort in before I learned how monstrous he truly was.

Lacey climbs onto the bed, lying back with her legs slightly parted. Her breath is shaky, and her hands grip the sheets tightly as Kade approaches her. I can see the tension in her body, the way her chest rises and falls rapidly as if she’s trying to brace herself for what’s to come.

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