Page 93 of Knot All is Crystal
“You were going to use me as anasset?Kept me here just in case I could serve your cause?”
It’s then that I give up all pretenses of struggle and fight, and I let the tears fall.
Because there’s nothing else to say after he reveals that.
“No, Puck, I don’t think I can,” I whisper.
“Don’t think you can what?”
“Forgive you.”
THIRTY-FOUR
Crystal
Please head to my place as soon as possible.
I’ll be there around three.
I knockon Crystal’s door, and Gage opens it quickly, but it is not quick enough to stop his dog from barking. The sound is like nails behind my eyeballs.
Pain level: Eight. Nearly unbearable.
“You got the text, too, then?” he asks.
My nod is tight, and my teeth are gritted. The overhead lights have me wincing as I push past the Beta.
I’m not doing well. I wanted to come over for breakfast this morning before Crystal went to work, but my migraine was too much to make the trip.
Fuck, it’s still too much, but she needs me, so I’m here.
“Can we turn off the overhead lights?” I say softly. Even my voice hurts my head tonight.
Gage winces as he shushes the dog and nods, flicking the light off and turning on a small lamp beside the couch. Maverick flies into the room as I curl up, resting my head on my knees.
“Manny, my man-y!”
His presence is giant for such a slight form, and I usually don’t mind it, but right now it’s too fucking much.
“Shut the fuck up,” I snap at him.
The other Alpha blanches and takes a step back. “I was just…”
It’s clear I’ve hurt him, and my stomach roils with guilt. Before I can explain myself, though, Gage steps in. “Hey, Mav, Manny has a migraine right now. Loud noises hurt him, and he would normally be in a dark room under a few blankets right now.”
My migraines started when I was a teenager, but I’m still surprised Gage recognizes and remembers how I cope.
“I’m sorry for snapping at you. That was unfair of me,” I say through gritted teeth. “Normally, I’d be home when it’s this bad, but Crystal needs us.”
That’s the funny thing about living with chronic pain. You figure out how to deal with it because the alternative is your entire life being put on hold regularly.
And I’m not willing to let my Omega down and miss out on the important moments.
Gage’s strange-looking mutt climbs onto my lap and curls up. I find myself rubbing my fingers through his wiry fur, not minding that he’s taken up residence on me. I feel a little of the tension leave me. “What’s his name?”
“Burger,” Gage replies, lowering himself next to me.
Maverick still stands in front of us, blinking and looking entirely unmoored. His fingers flex repeatedly. I’m not sure what’s going on in his mind, but I don’t like that my snapping at him was the cause of his mood change.
