Page 110 of In Knots

“What are you doing?” my mother says. “You need to rest. You’ve been through an ordeal and you aren’t thinking straight.”

“I am thinking straight, no thanks to the bloody drugs,” my mother baulks at the curse, “and I’m leaving!”

“You most certainly are not,” she says before storming from the room.

I realise I’ve made my first mistake. I should have played along. I should have been complicit. Even showed some regret. My defiance will only be met with their determination, and I will not be able to fight them. Especially if my father is resorting to guns and needles.

But it’s too late now. I tug on a skirt and a top. I’m scooting under my bed, looking for a pair of trainers, when my father and mother march back into the room.

“Alexa,” my father says. When I look up he is standing, feet planted apart, hands on hips. The look on his face tells me he won’t be brokering any argument on any points. I stand anyway, though, lifting my chin to meet him.

“You drugged me,” I hiss. “And threatened them with guns.”

“They are dangerous men, Alexa. Criminals. They deserve to be in jail. They took advantage of a young vulnerable omega.”

“That … that isn’t true. You are the one who hurt me!”

“Alexa!” My mother cries.

“They are criminals. They have criminal records.” I stare at him, my mouth falling open ever so slightly, and he smirks at me. “I guess they didn’t tell you that. Very interesting criminal records. For all sorts. But mostly assault and handling stolen goods. Now it seems sexual assault and kidnapping an omega could be added to that list. I’m sure the police would be very interested to hear what I have to say.”

“Maybe they’d be interested to hear what I have to say!” I sit on the edge of the bed and pull on the first trainer, tying the laces quickly.

My father snorts. “You really are so very naïve. I suppose your mother and I are to blame for that. Perhaps we have sheltered you and protected you from the world too much. Maybe a dose of reality is what you needed. You’re certainly going to get it now. Because I’m telling you, daughter, that the police won’t be interested in anything you have to say, not when I have so much to tell them. And I am very prepared to talk to them if you don’t start cooperating and behaving like a responsible member of this family.” My hands pause over the laces and I lift my gaze to meet his. “Let me be clear here, Alexa. If you don’t do as I and your mother say, I will be reporting that pack of alphas to the police and they will be going to jail for a very long time. In fact, I suspect they’d never see the light of day. After all, I know most of the judges in this town. Do you understand?”

“I understand you’re threatening me,” I say, my foot falling to the ground with a stamp.

“Yes,” he growls. “Yes. I. Am. You are my daughter and you will do as I say.”

“And what is it that you say,” I ask with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

“Alexa!” my mother hisses, stepping towards me.

My father also steps towards me, lifting his hand to stab his forefinger in my direction. “For a start, you won’t talk to me in that manner or in that tone. Second, you will behave in a ladylike manner in public. And third, you will be marrying Simon Sandford.”

I keel backwards as if he’s slapped me.

“No!” I gasp. “No, no, no! I’m not marrying that bastard!” I swing my gaze desperately from my father to my mother. “Surely,hedoesn’t even want to marry me anymore!”

“It’s fine, Alexa,” my mother says, in a placating tone. “No one knows where you’ve been. We told people you were away in Europe visiting family, that you were unwell and recuperating. No one knows the truth, no one ever has to know the truth.” She sits beside me on the bed, leaning in and whispering in my ear, “We all make mistakes, we all have our little dalliances. This won’t ruin your reputation. Your father and I have seen to that. You can still marry Simon Stanford.”

“It wasn’t a mistake!” I yell. “It was a decision. My decision! The best I’ve ever made. And I’ve never been happier. I’m going back to that pack. It’s where I belong. I belong with them.” I take my mother’s hands in mine and squeeze them. “I feel this bond with them, it’s so strong I can almost see it, taste it. And they haven’t even claimed me. We are meant to be together! I’m certain of that!”

My mother snatches her hands from mine and, standing, strolls to my father’s side. “Nonsense! Absolute nonsense, Alexa! Belong to men like that? Ridiculous! You’re just young and confused. You don’t understand the world. Your father is right, we have sheltered you from it and now we are paying the price.” I shake my head vigorously, the first tear spilling onto my cheeks. Her voice softens a little when she speaks again, “In time you’ll thank us, Alexa. In time, and with distance and perspective, you’ll see this was the right thing. For you, for us, for this whole family.”

“I won’t marry him,” I whisper, the tears trailing down my face and dripping off my jaw.

“You will!” my father says. “If you care for these men as much as you say you do, you will do this to protect them. Because if you don’t, I will have them locked up.”

“When?” I whisper, sensing there is more they aren’t telling me. “When am I marrying him?”

“Tomorrow,” my father says. “You have a day to get used to the idea and make yourself presentable. If you fail me, my side of the bargain will be off, and I will have no qualms in throwing you to the wolves and those little shits to the authorities.” He marches from the room.

“Mum,” I plead, but she shakes her head and walks away too. I fall back onto the bed, sobbing so hard I can hardly breathe.

There’s nothing I can do. I can’t change their minds. And I won’t be responsible for ruining the lives of the men I care about.

I’m going to have to marry Simon Stanford.

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