Page 58 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

“Sick prick,” I growl in disgust. I hate that I know that he let me hit him.

I stalk away, grabbing my pack and heading towards the river. Merle hesitates, then jogs after me, King following close behind.

“It was hot.”

I cock my head, looking at the strange duo as Meg whispers to her alpha.

“Meg, please.”

“I’m sorry, babe, but you had to admit, it was just drippy.”

“Drippy?” I hear Bonnie ask.

“One of the holes is dripping, so drippy.” Desi explains, and his face turns red.

“Gross, you two. Keep your dripping holes to yourself.”

“Yes, Boss!” they say together.

I think I hear a snarl behind me, but I don’t turn to look. Twenty minutes later, I throw my whole self in the river, finally getting rid of that noxious smell. When I surface, Merle is staring at the water anxiously.

Aaron plunges into the water and crosses the river, moving to sit on a large rock and stare in the opposite direction. Merle looks at the water and then slides down and wades in.

Sage shadows her, though I’m not sure if she even knows he’s there. She kicks and swims but quickly gets snatched up. My anxiety surges, and I turn to where she is fighting, ready to jump in and save her.

“Come on, Merle, you’ve got this.”

She struggles harder and kicks the water, finally pushing towards me. I edge backwards, watching as she gets her feet under her and steps up on the bank. Sage is right there, a protective presence ready to jump in and be the help she needs.

He doesn’t need to, though, she drags her dripping frame out of the water and looks around her curiously. Except, every now and then, she glances at Roseland, and she edges towards him.

Interesting.

By the time everyone else has joined us, Merle is three feet behind Roseland and has stopped even pretending not to notice him. When he moves, she moves.

“I am confused about what’s going on there,” Kota says to me.

“I think she’s going to skin him and wear him as a body suit,” I say absently, hoping Kota will just leave me alone for a few minutes to think.

Kota chuckles. “Of all of us, he should not be the one that feels safe to an omega. He lies, incessantly. He repeatedly states how much he doesn’t want one.”

This is true, not that I will admit it to him. What is the appeal of this alpha? He’s hot, skilled, kind, intelligent. He’s got so many interesting things. He’s everything I’m not. Staid and serious where I’m so erratic and chaotic.

I watch for another five minutes before it suddenly clicks.

“Mirroring! She’s displaying mirroring behaviour. He’s the safe one right now.”

Kota purses his lips. “That’s not a healthy mindset, then.”

I glance at him and wonder if anyone will stop me if I punch him in the head. “She’s fine,” I snarl.

But is she? Maybe I can steal her something pretty.

Her eyes skip around, scanning in a pattern if you watch long enough. She’s situated herself so she’s further away from people and closer to the forest. Her fingers play with her T-shirt.

Okay. Not fine.

I disappear into the forest, searching until I find a stick that’s the perfect length and weight. I strip it of branches and return, holding it out to her.