“I’m fine,” I said, no inflection in my tone. I soundedso odd.
He reached for me, but I flinched away, ruining Sinclair’s progress on the wrap.
Elias acted like I had punched him. He kept his attention on me, his throat bobbing. I could tell words bubbled behind his lips, but I didn’t want to hear them.
Sinclair made a half-hiss, half-grunt of anger, and he caught my arm. “Stop moving.” He started over, and this time tucked the end, so it wouldn’t loosen, working with quick, efficient motions.
I mustered the courage to look up at Elias. Shell-shocked and frozen, shaking his head.
“I found a doctor. Discreet, female, and experienced,” Kyan murmured from near the bathroom, finally getting off the call. He approached, steps slowing as he took Elias in. Thick tension clung to all of us.
“Done.” Sinclair caught my hand before I pulled away, and he squeezed it. I left it limp in his hold and met his gaze. His honey-brown gaze searched mine, and his mouth turned down.
“I want to sleep.” I tugged out of Sinclair’s grip and lay on my side, curling into a ball at the end of the bed. He flicked his attention over to me, and his jaw worked side to side. “Alone,” I added pointedly.
Elias stepped forward, and I tensed. Kyan’s hand fell on his shoulder, and he squeezed it, then tugged the blanket out from where it was tucked around the mattress. He stretched it over me, cocooning me in warmth. I closed my eyes, shuddering.
“I don’t want to leave her.” Elias’ tone forced me to look at his straining features.
Kyan kept trying to push him out, but Elias fought him.
“Come on, man, let her have some peace,” Kyan whispered in a steely tone.
“No,” Elias said, close to Kyan’s face as he bunched the front of his shirt. Elias’ eyes moved wildly from side to side.
Kyan met his dominance head-on, shoulders rolling higher, tension unleashing from his form. And he grabbed Elias in the same rough grip.
“She fucking cut herself, Elias,” Kyan roared. Elias stopped fighting against Kyan, and he stumbled backward. I yanked the blanket tighter around me, letting my mind drift. There was silence and a loud thump accompanied by a grunt.
A warm body curled over me, tucking closer like it could protect me.
Too late.
All too late.
“I’ll be near, sweets.” Sinclair was trying to comfort me, but it didn’t work.
I clenched my hand, and it sent a fresh sting down my bandaged arm. Footsteps retreated, and the door creaked, but didn’t shut.
Not when my mom passed away from heart complications, or when I worked endless hours trying to make something of myself, or even when I lost my home, had I been brought so low.
Shame devoured my insides, and I clenched my hand harder, wanting to feel the wave of pain to remind myself of my moment of weakness.
A moment of weakness I wouldn’t be able to take back.
Chapter 23
I’d been drifting in and out of sleep, not allowing myself to pass out in the short time that passed between them leaving and Kyan walking in with an older Beta woman. She approached, face stiff, hands clasping a briefcase in front of her.
“Let’s see what we’re working with,” she announced, heading directly for the bed. I sat up, and the towel slid down, baring my body.
Kyan straightened, a growl leaving his lips. The doctor stopped mid-step, but my focus was on Kyan as he pulled the knit sweater over his head. He wore a dress shirt, the collar of which lifted as he took the knitted garment off. In a few strides, he was next to me, pulling it over my head. I didn’t bother fighting him and stuck my hands through the sleeves. I breathed in as if I could get a hint of his scent.
Kyan retreated, nodding at the doctor and standing near the door, arms folded across his chest. As she approached, I rolled the long sleeve to my elbow and stuck it out.
She placed her briefcase on the bed and popped it open. Neat compartments divided the inside, each with a flap to keep whatever contents in each section. She began to unwind the bandage. My mind wandered as she checked my arm, prodding and humming.
I met Kyan’s squinted, focused gaze.
