Page 81 of Knot a Tie
“Rayne, please.” His dark eyes implore me to do as he asks.
I nod slowly and it’s only when I look up to see Richard making his way down the stairs, clutching at his side, that I feel the pain again.
I crumple with a cry of surprise, the knowledge that I’m feeling his pain, drowning out any rational thoughts on how ridiculous that is.
Surely that’s not possible.
Right?
ChapterForty-Four
James
Rayne falls into my arms, a cry of agony ripping out of her.
“Rayne,” I murmur, lowering her to the floor and cradling her head in my lap. I lift her top to see if she’s bruised or bleeding, but there is nothing there.
Richard hobbles over, looking ten years older than his thirty-six years, and kneels down next to us.
“What happened?” he asks desperately. His tone is panicked.
“We aren’t sure,” I murmur, looking at his hand clutching his side and then Rayne’s clutching at hers.
Frowning, a thought pops into my head that makes my insides wobble slightly with the enormity of it.
Needing to test my theory, I reach over and prod Rich in his wound, hearing him grunt but focusing on Rayne’s shout of pain.
“What the hell, man?” he growls.
“Open your eyes, you fucking muppet,” I snarl. “She is feelingyourpain. You did this to her.”
“What?” His shocked expression makes it obvious that he didn’t have a clue. He sits back on his arse, gobsmacked. He shakes his head. “No. No, that’s not possible.”
“Looks like it is,” Spencer says quietly, also kneeling down next to us and stroking Rayne’s hair absently. It’s almost as if it’s an automatic gesture.
“Rayne.” Richard’s strangled moan makes me feel bad about yelling at him, but if he hadn’t gotten hurt, she wouldn’t be in pain right now.
I ignore him and stare down into Rayne’s astounded face. I think she realises what’s happened here. “Let’s get you back to your nest,” I murmur.
She shakes her head and struggles to sit up, pushing Spence’s hand away. “No, I’m okay.”
“Rayne,” I growl, fully expecting her to submit to me.
She does.
For about two seconds before she shocks me by growling back.
“No, I’m fine,” she says and stands up.
“For fuck’s sake,” William mutters under his breath and steps forward, scooping her off her feet and cradling her in his arms. “Nest. Now.”
“No!” She wiggles and squirms, but she is no match of the enormous alpha carrying her up the stairs. “Put me down, dammit!”
He ignores her, which makes her even more angry. I stifle the chuckle and turn to Richard.
“How has this happened?” he asks, still baffled.
“You are her mate. Her prime alpha mate,” I state with as much finality as I can muster. “Get on your feet and go comfort her. You are no use to us while we fortify the house, anyway.” I don’t mean to be a dick, but he brings it out in me sometimes. He is so oblivious to everything and everyone around him, it infuriates me.
