Page 48 of Knot a Tie
“I don’t need to think about it,” I say, knowing I’m making the right decision. Rayne is better off without me, and with the alphas who can treat her the way she deserves. “You have a deal.”
Halstead nods, smug and jovial. “Glad to hear it. You can go next door and sign the contract Lisa has drawn up. Know that if you break the terms…” He makes a slashing motion at his throat.
Every cell in my body knows he means that in the literal sense.
I stand up, my legs shaking and turn to the door. As I reach for the handle, I say quietly, “Your daughter will be cherished by them. You couldn’t find a more loyal, loving pack. I hope you endorse them. They are worth it.”
He doesn’t say anything as I leave with my heart smashed into a million pieces.
It’s nothing less than I deserve, but part of me is glad I came here today.
Now I know it’s truly over between me and Rayne, before it even really started.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Rayne
Bewildered by the events that occurred in the kitchen earlier, I’m starting to feel warm. Too warm. I cross over to the window and open it, fastening the lock and then staring out over the road. The cool breeze drifts through the gap, lifting the tendrils of hair away from my hot forehead. I stayed away from the window last night, hiding under the duvet, despite the warmth. But now the arseholes are gone, I want to see where I am. There are rows of gorgeous multi-million-pound houses across the small green square in the middle of the red-bricked road. Summer is in full swing, with blue skies and a bright, hot sun. Taking the opportunity to take a cool shower and change, I disappear into the en-suite and strip off. Stepping under the rainfall of lukewarm water, I sigh in bliss as the soft splats hit my sensitive skin, cooling it down.
“That’s better.”
I know why I’m feeling so off. The lack of heat suppressant injections over the last two days is taking its toll. My heat is bursting to come out.
Squeezing my eyes tightly shut and trying not to think about it too much, I clean up, enjoying the water running through my hair as I wash it.
Several minutes later, I turn off the water and reach for a couple of towels. I wrap one around my hair and then another around my body. I dry off and slip back into my bedroom, heading straight for the dresser to pull out some underwear, a fresh bra, some white shorts and a tight white t-shirt.
I towel dry my hair and brush it out, cursing that I didn’t bring my blow-dryer. I figured I’d just use Morgan’s. Speaking of Morgan, I reach for my phone to check if she messaged.
I groan when I see a missed call from her while I was in the shower. “Typical!” I exclaim and immediately ring her back.
“Engaged? For fuck’s sake!”
In a huff, I throw the phone on my sumptuous, white king-sized bed and get dressed, not too soon as there is a knock at the door.
My heart jumps. I wasn’t really ready to face the alphas yet. I’m still trying to process this information. I mean, it’s notbad. They didn’t snatch me off the street. They were just looking for me. It makes sense they couldn’t find me if my dad is so protected. I understand why it took them so long after that day. To be honest, if they hadn’t come looking for me the other day, they would never have seen me on the side of the road. They wouldn’t have been there to see the Audi and I’d probably be mated to a super-pack of loose alphas right about now. I shudder, the chill skittering over my skin.
“Rayne? Are you in there?” James’s voice comes through the door.
“Yes,” I say determinedly. They saved me as much as Richard did.
I hover in the middle of the room like a fart in a soggy box as the St. Stevens alphas file into my room.
“Food, gifts and sincere apologies,” James says, a sheepish expression on his handsome face.
“Food first,” I snap, not really that mad, but not wanting to let them off that easily. It’s still a bit creepy regardless of them ultimately being there to rescue me.
Spencer places a tray with all the fixings of a Continental breakfast on the bed. I can’t help the snicker. “Run out of eggs?” I ask archly.
He snorts, fortunately amused and not angry with me for dumping several raw eggs on his head. “Let’s just say I’m traumatised.”
The giggle that bursts out of my mouth downplays the seriousness of this situation, but I couldn’t help it. After a few seconds, I clear my throat and cross my arms. “Right, boys. I’ve heard Spencer’s side of this. Cameron and William, tell me about the day you saw me.” I slide my gaze over to the breakfast tray and my stomach growls. I ignore it for one more minute while the two confused alphas exchange a glance.
“That was yesterday,” Cameron says, clutching a cute, colourful bouquet of flowers taped to a multi-pack of KitKats.
“Was it now?” I tap my foot.
“Yes,” William says in that too-quiet tone that I know he reserves for me. He doesn’t want to frighten me and it’s a bit too sweet. It makes me less mad when I want to be mad. Yes, I know that things could be taken in a stalkerish way, but I don’t really get that impression. They saw me, fancied me and tried to find me. The thing I have the problem with is that they waited to tell me, when this could have come out at yesterday’s little pack meeting. Not to mention Spencer just blurting it out, which makes me feel they were still trying to hide it.
