Page 24 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

I listen hard, but there’s nothing.

I suck in air and try to shove at the cupboard, but I can’t get it from this angle.

I let out a mewl of sound as I gasp. My lungs are burning. I can’t breathe.

The cupboard door is ripped open, and his huge, massive hand wraps around my ankle and yanks me out.

Air drags into my lungs with a guttural groan. My back arches as my eyes roll.

His hand slides up my sternum and spreads over the place where my heart lives. I wonder if he can feel it thundering.I wonder what a lifetime of fear does to a heart like mine. How many years have I lost?

He’s got silver hair, this alpha, and piercing green eyes. This alpha doesn’t look like a bad alpha. He looks like an angel. But then, all the bad people didn’t look bad until they were doing things that made my nightmares look like a refuge.

“Omega, breathe.”

I’m forced to obey, though I want to fight the command, but no omega could.

“Again.”

My body obeys before my mind does.

“Again.”

He keeps me breathing until the adrenaline dump has worn off, and I’m lying on the cool kitchen floor shaking like a leaf.

This strange alpha scoops me up and sets me on the bench, where I slump sideways. Only his arm around my shoulder keeps me upright. He stays there until I have my balance. Exhaustion hits me like a wave, and my eyelids droop.

“Don’t move.”

I couldn’t even if I wanted to. There is nothing left. My chin drops, and I wrap my arms around myself and shake.

Another alpha explodes into the room, the movement has me shrieking and almost flying backwards off the counter.

He slows, sees me shaking, and pulls off his jacket. It’s thick and black and looks like it would dwarf me. His eyes are the most intense shade of sapphire I have ever seen. But it’s the golden skin and hair that have me speechless. I’ve never seen anyone like him. His movements slow but don’t stop.

“Rolly,” the silver-haired alpha growls.

He ignores him, and when he gets to me, he wraps the jacket around me. No words, no sympathy, nothing but deep concern and the scent of amber and clove. I stare at him, feeling used and broken and so very tired.

This is my scent match.

I have scent matches?

The thought is too much. I just can’t.

The angel returns. “My name is Sage, by the way. I didn’t mention it, and this is Rolly.”

He smells of sage and nutmeg. It’s nice. Calming. Soothing. I press my lips together. They already know my name; I’m sure of it.

He pushes a large plastic cup into my hand.

“Chocolate milk with vitamins, nothing sinister.”

I hesitate. He will just command me anyway, I concede with resignation, I drain the cup and wait for the inevitable side effects of the drugs he’s slipped into it.

He plucks the cup from my hands and gives me a muffin. It’s massive and all chocolate, and it’s warm.

I stare at it.