Page 40 of Knot Enough
A keening cry escaped from my lips. Again?Kanecalled me her name, too?
Why, why, why?! What had I done to deserve this? Why was Valerie always the chosen one?
I thought I finally had something for myself, but I was so fucking wrong, and it hurt so much. Kane dragged me to his lap, curling his arms around my waist. I stiffened, struggling to throw myself out of his arms, but he only tightened his hold.
“Stop thrashing around, you’ll hurt yourself,” Axel ordered, gripping my chin. I sank my teeth into the soft palm. Bloodspread on my tongue, but I didn’t care; I wanted him to hurt in any way possible.
All of this sweetness was never for me.
I slammed my head back and smacked into Kane’s nose. A crunch echoed with a loud grunt, but finally he released me.
I staggered away. I physically hurt so much, but my shock and anger overwhelmed the agony.
“Stay away from me,” I screamed, backing toward the corner, near the window.
“What the fuck is all the yelling?” Rath stormed into the bedroom, and his gaze quickly took in the scene. “The little bitch acting up?” His gaze narrowed on the blood dripping from Kane’s nose.
Rath narrowed his eyes at me.
Axel yanked Rath’s hair and stopped his progress toward me. Rath’s fist balled, so I could only imagine what he was about to do to me.
“You’re trying to protect us, but wait a fucking second,” Axel rumbled.
“That’s not my name,” I whispered, my voice breaking midway.
Silence fell across the bedroom, and all I could hear was the sawing of my breath.
“What?” Axel breathed so low that I could barely hear it. Kane’s features rippled.
I sucked in a breath and narrowed my eyes.
“I am not Valerie,” I spat, almost choking on the words.
“What?” Oak’s eyebrows furrowed, and he moved forward, forcing me back a step.
“Lies, I followed you. I saw everything you did?—”
“I am not Valerie!” I interrupted Rath. My throat hurt from how loud I screamed. All of them tensed. “She’s my twin.”
Disbelief rippled over Kane’s expression. Axel stayed stunned, his green eyes widened, and his head slightly shaking.
“Liar.”
I fucking hated Rath. So much.
A wave of numbness tingled over my nerves, and my shoulders lowered.
“What time and day is it?” I asked, my voice curt and unfamiliar.
“Tuesday 1:35 PM.”
“She’s at the gym at that time. It’s on Fifth Street, downtown.” The luxurious, expensive one I’d never had the chance to go to.
“Let’s go,” Kane ordered. A coldness had fallen over him. He seemed robotic, but I didn’t care what he struggled with. I was the one wronged.
Rath didn’t need to be told twice. He turned on his heel and was out of sight within seconds.
“Oak, stay with her,” Kane ordered and then was gone too.
