Page 17 of Tying the Knot
“And so what if she has? That doesn’t mean she is available. It doesn’t mean she will jump into our lives with both feet and mate with us before the next rut or even next year. She is broken, even without being forced to start over,ifthat’s the case here. We don’t know. We don’t know anything. You have to move forward and forget about her.”
“Me?” I ask, thunderstruck. “This isn’t just about me. Kal? I know you feel it, and so does Eli.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Kal says shortly. “Nik is right. We don’t know shit. We need to move forward and take this opportunity that Eli has given us to find an omega to mate with now.”
He snatches up the folder and brushes past me, Nik following him, leaving me alone in the kitchen, gobsmacked that no one else is willing to explore this and to find out what’s going on.
“Well, fine then. I guess it’s up to me,” I mutter and irritated that the alphas are being a bunch of pussies about this, I grab a mug and pour myself some coffee to contemplate exactly how I’m going to draw myself into Morgan’s sphere without making her bolt like a deer after a shot is fired.
ChapterTwelve
Morgan
I glance around my tiny,basic room and cross over to place the getting heavier by the second bag and box on the bed. It’s a small double that appears to be clean enough on closer inspection. I examine the bathroom and decide that it’s clean, but I’m going to nip to the shops that the receptionist told me about and pick up some cleaning products, just for something to do. I’ll also grab some magazines and whatever food I can eat in my room for tonight and tomorrow. I want to lay low in my room for the next few days. I don’t want to face the public feeling humiliated and abandoned, but also, I’m worried that the pack will find me.
Or will they?
As I turn back to the door and slip out quietly to go to the shops, I have to wonder if they’ll even care that I’ve gone. They’ll notice when they’ve got nowhere to stick their knots during the season, but otherwise? They’ll probably be relieved not to have me hanging around, and they can conduct their shady business without worrying about me. Besides, the more I think about it, the more I think Adam couldn’t stand me. All the little things he said and did to chip away at my confidence, to isolate me from anyone I cared about. If he loved me, he wouldn’t have done that. If he loved me, if any of them loved me, they wouldn’t have done what they’ve been accused of.
Trying not to cry as I stuff my hands in my pockets and keep my head down as I tread carefully on the icy pavement. I soon reach the small Spar supermarket and head inside to the warmth. I pick up a basket and go straight to the cleaning products. Picking out a few bits, I then veer back to the magazines and grab a couple before spending some time finding snacks and pre-packed sandwiches, drinks and crisps. On impulse, I walk down the chocolate aisle and pick up about five chocolate bars to stuff my face with over the next two days. Sod Adam and his healthy-eating chocolate ban. He can get knotted. Totally and utterly get fucking knotted.
The angrier I get, the more chocolate I pick up until my basket is overflowing. Feeling a stupid sense of satisfaction, I go to the till to pay, making sure to get a receipt so I can keep track of this expenditure. I don’t have access to the balance on hand, so I need the receipts for my own peace of mind.
Asking for a bag as well, I load up and place it over my arm as I head back out onto the pavement, feeling the icy chill as the wind has picked up. Quite frankly, it'll be nice to hole up for a few days in my room. I’ll make a nest and curl up with chocolate, magazines and bad daytime TV.
Sounds like heaven, really.
Once back in my room, I unload all of my supplies and take my outdoor clothes off. Setting to work on cleaning up the place a bit, I spritz some fancy air freshener as well to make this room seem as homely as possible.
Then I get to work on my nest. I move the bag and box to the floor while I arrange my pillows and duvet into a comfy-looking nest, adding the solo, slightly sad-looking throw cushion from the uncomfortable-looking chair in the corner. I throw my blanket gently in the middle so I can curl up with it and have a familiar scent that isn’t one of the alpha’s.
I unpack and then pick up the box, placing it in my nest as I crawl in. I’ve been ignoring it on purpose, but now it’s time to open it up.
I rip the tape off it and fold back the top. I see two big brown envelopes, which I pick up and place next to me, and then I stare at a big, black lockbox, which will account for the weight of the box.
I go back to the envelopes and look at both. One says “open me” on it. The other is sealed and taped, chunky and heavy.
Shrugging, I focus on the “open me” one and, well, open it.
I peer inside and then pull out a thick document with a handwritten note paperclipped to it.
My heart skips a beat when I see it is scrawled in Adam’s handwriting.
Mor,
If this has been delivered to you, we’ve been arrested. Don’t believe a word you hear about us. It’s all lies. But the fuckers will have frozen the bank accounts, so check the other envelope for some cash. Don’t use it all. In fact, hardly spend any of it, only on necessities. We’ll need it when we get out. Also, the house is in your name, so they can’t touch it. The deed is enclosed. Keep it safe.
Don’t worry about the lockbox, just keep it in a safe place and forget about it. Don’t mention it to anyone.
We’ll be seeing you soon, girl.
Adam.
I gulp.
Trying not to glance at the lockbox, I flick through the documents attached to the letter that is less than remorseful or concerned about me in any way whatsoever. How did I ever think they loved me? Especially Adam. The more I learn about him, the more I think about the things he did, I know it was all a ruse.
And this proves it.
