I trusted them.
“The doctor said you were at risk,” Knox says when I don’t answer. His voice is calm, maddeningly calm. “That the bond from your old packhadto be replaced before it collapsed completely. Dr. Mara said it’s dangerous for an omega’s body and mind to be cut off so abruptly. But I didn’t choose to do this lightly.” He holds me closer, but I stay rigid, refusing to melt into him. “She also told me the risks—Bond Rejection Syndrome, Post-Mating Aggression Syndrome, and even bond instability.”
I frown, then stare up at him over my shoulder, not understanding half the words he’s saying.
“I couldn’t risk you suffering because of your lost bond with your old pack,” he goes on, tone steady and deliberate, like he’s presenting a damn report instead of explaining why he decided to risk my life without giving me any say...and all for something that won’t work anyway.
“Sky.” Knox sighs, lifting a hand to touch my cheek. “The doctor said?—”
“Stop.” The word rips out of me before I can hold it back. “The doctors don’t know shit,” I snap, jerking away from his touch. My head twists, breaking his hand’s contact with my cheek. “They don’t know what I’ve been through—or what I can handle.”
The room goes still.
Tadeo’s jaw tightens. Dakota doesn’t even breathe. Knox’s mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
Then, all at once, the pressure inside me shifts, a release that makes my muscles seize before they finally ease as Knox’s knot goes down. Alex exhales, long and shaky, his whole upper body sagging against the mattress.
I immediately scramble—kicking out, twisting, shoving until I’m free. I tear myself off Alex’s lap and out of Knox’s arms, forcing both of their cocks to slip from my body. There’s a sudden cold rush of air hitting where their warmth used to be, followed by a gush of fluid between my legs. My knees catch on the blankets, but I don’t stop until I’ve backed into the far corner of my nest. My hands fumble for the nearest blanket, and I pull it tight around me—hiding every inch of skin from them.
“Get out of my nest,” I snarl, low and raw.
Knox freezes in place, still straddling Alex’s legs.
Alex just stares at me, wide-eyed, like he doesn’t know whether to come closer or bolt. But neither of them moves.
“I saidget out!” The words rip out of me louder this time, sharp enough to sting the air. Knox starts to speak, but I cut him off with a shuddering breath. “You don’t deserve to be in my nest.” I glare at Alex. “Either of you.” I jerk my chin toward the door. My body’s trembling, but my voice doesn’t shake. Not this time. “Go!”
And to my absolute shock, Knox obeys. The pack alpha moves slowly, shoulders tight, head dipped like he can’t bear to look at me. Alex lingers a second longer. His mouth opens—ready to say something, anything—but I meet his eyes and whisper, “Please.”
It’s not a plea. It’s a warning.
And that’s enough. He looks away and follows Knox, standing awkwardly at the foot of the bed. Tadeo lingers near the door, his sad eyes locked onto my face, but Dakota looks shamed, like he’s not sure whether to beg me for forgiveness or to run from the room and never return.
“You were supposed to be different,” I say loud and clear, the words slicing through the air like a blade.
Knox looks at me with those pained dark green eyes. Alex doesn’t look up. Tadeo’s jaw clenches, and Dakota’s scent turns sour with shame.
“I thought…” My voice cracks, the words catching in my throat before I can stop them. “I thought you’d never hurt me. That I could finally stop being scared.” My hands tremble as I fist handfuls of the blanket. “But you’re just likethem.”
No one breathes.
“Theysaid they knew what was best for me.” I choke out, trying like hell not to say my old pack’s name out loud. “He said that I needed his bond, his claim on my body. Hemarked meeverywhere. All the time. Nonstop!” My voice rises, unable to stop the rush of words. “He marked me before my first heat, then every day afterwards. During sex. During dinner. In the bedroom, living room, bathroom. Even the fucking kitchen!” Tears blur my vision, hot and humiliating. I swipe at them, furious that they’re even falling. “They ripped me apart and left me bleeding every chance they got. And I was stupid enough to think you were different,” I whisper again, suddenly feeling very overwhelmed. “But you’re not. You just smile more while you take what you want.”
Tadeo takes a single step closer, but I flinch so hard he stops cold.
Knox’s face twists with pain, guilt, and something else—but I can’t look at him long enough to figure out which it is. Alex looks wrecked, silent, like he’s swallowed every apology before it could form. And Dakota…he looks like he’s about to cry.
“Skyla,” Dakota whispers my name. “We would never?—”
“Don’t,” I bite out. “Just—don’t.” I take a deep breath, trying to steady the storm in my chest. “You don’t get it.” My chin quivers, and my hands suddenly feel cold and clammy. “My old pack did this too. They hurt me, because they decided it was best. They thought it would fix me too.”
Knox’s brows furrow, confusion flashing across his face. “Fix you?”
“Yeah,” I spit out. “And it didn’t work. Itneverworked.”
“What do you mean?” Knox’s voice is soft, careful — like I’m something fragile that might shatter if he breathes too hard. And maybe I am. “Fix what, sweetheart?”
I shouldn’t tell him. I should swallow it down, bury itdeep like I always do. But I’m too tired. Too raw to keep it inside anymore.
