Page 12 of Knot Enough
“What have you got planned today?” he asked. The chopping resumed.
“I need to head into the office. Rath left a lot of work for me,” I teased. The downfall of being Rath’s assistant was catching up on his paperwork when he fixated on something. Little did I know it would be the Omega that killed Nox and Kim.
“Don’t look atme.” He lifted the cutting board and walked to the stove.
“Yes, you too. I should be back by dinner,” I sighed as I watched him sauté the veggies before cracking in eggs.
“The others?”
“Kane has business at the vineyard, and Rath should be going to work,” I answered. He’d show up later than usual, but he’d show up. If I went earlier, I could have some lunch ready for us.
“I meant,whereare they?” Axel laughed.
“They’re still sleeping, but I’m sure they’ll wake up soon,” I chuckled. After we lost Nox, I’d made it a habit to know where everyone is, and that included knowing what was on their schedule for the week. He had a lot on his shoulders with the new program the council wanted to start for Omegas.
“Mm … Hungry?”
“Starved,” I whined. He smirked at me knowingly.
“Eggs are done. Pick your poison,” he said. He grabbed an onion and sliced it up.
I grabbed a plate from the stack and a fork. In front of me lies a feast. Waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, and hash browns.
“Thanks for breakfast,” I hummed as I started stabbing.
“What do you think she’d want?” he asked as he turned away.
“Axe…” I trailed off.
He tossed the onions into a boiling pot. We’re both silent as he pours a bowl of vegetables in.
“I don’t think feeding her is a good idea,” I murmured gently. His eyes are cold as they cut to mine. Food is a sensitive subject for him.
“She’ll be hungry,” he rumbled. His green eyes softened with guilt.
“You can’t let your past control you . . . inthissituation.”
Axel’s mother died, and he was too young to take care of himself. He starved for two weeks until someone found him by her rotting body. He turned his trauma into a form of art. His love for food is what made him decide he was our official pack cook. We never went hungry, and it filled that hole inside him.
“I feed the people who live under this roof,” he grunted.
“I don’t think we’re the ones who can care or worry about her. We’re the ones hurting her, Axe.” I lifted the jug and poured orange juice into my glass.
“It’s simple. She’s hungry, and I’ll feed her,” he said nonchalantly.
“It’s been a day. She isn’t starving,” I sighed.
“Yet.” He grunted.
“She’s our prisoner,” I tried again.
“Even they get food. . . I fed her last night,” he admitted.
“Axe,” I sighed in frustration. I lowered my fork and massaged my temple with my thumb and middle finger.
“She needs to eat,” he said with a shrug.
“Sheis the reason we lost Lennox.She’sthe reason we don’t have our Omega anymore,” I gritted out the images I’d worked so hard to get over.
