Page 66 of Knot Enough
“Sleepy girl,” I murmured and tucked her hair behind her ear. She blinked up at me with her owlish brown eyes while the tub filled. Her silence put me off—made me anxious. I scannedher sleepy eyes, and she finally relaxed in my arms, resting her temple against my shoulder.
I checked on the bath again, and it was already full. With my arms back under her, I hoisted her up and stepped up to the edge of the tub to lower her. Her shoulders relaxed the deeper her body went into the water, and she studied me from under her eyelashes. Her attention warmed my face.
I was fucking blushing.
Clearing my throat, I reached over and shut off the water. Once I turned back to her, I grabbed the soap. We had washcloths at home, but my hands would have to do for now. I plucked the bottle of soap, my hands slightly trembling.
So much emotion coursed through my body, and I didn’t know how to process it. I was fucking terrified of fucking up more than I already had.
I started on her shoulders, and since I faced her and her back was propped against the porcelain, the tip of my fingers had easy access to the muscles of her neck.
She groaned, her head tipping back as I massaged her. My movements were slick and glided across her skin.
“Lena,” I said, my voice rough. She stiffened, and I worked the muscle to relax her. “You don’t owe me anything.” I paused to clear my throat. “But please listen.” She remained silent, her eyes shutting, and it gave me the courage to continue.
“I’m sorry for how I’ve hurt you. You didn’t deserve any of it. I won’t make any excuses because they’re bullshit. You were perfect from the start, and I should have worshiped you.” Tears slipped out from her squeezed eyes. I let out a hard breath. Fuck. That broke my heart.
I struggled to swallow.
“I've stepped down as Alpha of Reaper Pack.”
She gasped, her eyes widening. I stopped massaging her shoulders and cupped her neck, leaning so close I was in danger of falling into the tub.
“You already left your Pack?” she finally said. “But why, how?—”
I rubbed my thumb on her lower lip, and she clammed up.
“Because I don’t care for anything other than you, Lena,” I admitted. Now that I’d said it out loud, it felt like I could breathe. “I will make up for every fucked up thing I’ve done to you. You will never have to doubt me. My love for you won’t ever be swayed.”
Her eyes widened, and she shot upright, causing the water to sway. Water splashed over the lip of the tub.
I’d made her speechless.
I tucked her hair behind her ear. A flush spread across her cheeks. A beautiful shade of pink. I rubbed my thumb along the swell of it.
“Now let me take care of my little Omega.”
I inched her back until she finally rested against the porcelain again. She watched me through still-stunned eyes while I massaged and cared for her tired, abused body.
THIRTY-FOUR
After overhearing Lena dominating Grimm, Oak and I stared at each other, hard as a fucking rock. Holyshit.It went against my Alpha instincts—submitting. It shouldn’t have turned me on as much as it did, but there I sat, aching and unsatisfied. Axel paced back and forth as we waited for Kane to return from her bath.
The scent of sex permeated the living room, making it difficult to concentrate. The lock clicked, and the door banged as Valerie strutted in like she owned the place. I don’t know how I mistook Lena for her. They didn’t look alike at all, but it wasn’t just looks. There was an entitled air about her, but her eyes widened brightly as a flirtatious smile pulled at her lips.
“I don’t know why you’re here, but–” her words were cut off as my fingers wrapped around her throat, pinning her to the wall. She gargled and choked as I cut off her air supply, but the bitch looked like she enjoyed it.
Fucking gross.
She smiled—lips parted, eyes wide, like this was a sick game and she was winning.
All I saw was red.
That conniving smirk cut deeper than any blade because she knew. She was guilty. I tightened my grip. Needing to end her.Her feet lifted off the ground. She was like a fucking roach, so hard to kill. I focused on the way her skin turned blue. It was there. Her death. A little longer, and she’d be gone—just like Nox. And vengeance for the pain she’d caused my pack, justice for his death, it would be mine.
“Don’t make the same mistake twice,” Oak’s voice reached me as he gripped my arm. It was the first time he’d touched me since I’d become the devil in his eyes.
I blinked and released her. She crashed to the floor, but glared up at me.
