Page 36 of Knot All Is Ruined: Part 1

“How are we supposed to follow them if they’re driving off?” I whispered.

“We aren’t. I know where they’re going, so I plan to beat them there. I just want to see them get in and drive off before we take the road less traveled,” Petru explained. “With Sal driving, I know they won’t be making any unexpected stops. Your friends will be safe.”

I wasn’t sure I believed that, for a lot could happen in the back of a truck. It wouldn’t be the first time a man got his jolly’s in however he could. If either of my girls came out of that truck looking like they’d gotten bent over a bench, I’d fucking lose it. The vehicle rumbled to life and slowly rolled away through a pair of chain-link fence gates. Once it turned the corner, we lost our line of sight, but before I could panic, a hand clasped mine and pulled me to follow. Usually I would struggle and demand he removes his hand, only there was something different about his touch.

It was warm and gentle. I knew I could pull free if I wanted to. He wasn’t trying to keep me, just guiding me wherever we were going. It turned out to be a dirt bike covered with a tarp and a lock around it. Petru deftly entered the numbers needed and the lock snicked open, freeing the tarp. Together we pulled it off and folded it up, stashing it in a wooden storage box nearby.

“Ever ridden on a bike before?” Petru asked as he swung his leg over.

Shaking my head, I eyed the two-wheeled machine with caution. I’d seen people riding on them yet never felt the desire to face death at such a high speed. People might see me as reckless but it was a thought-out risk, not impulsiveness.

“Climb on, we don’t want them getting too much of a head start,” Petru encouraged, reaching out a hand to me.

Thinking it over once more, I groaned and hurried forward to take his hand and pull me up behind him. Once there, I didn’t know where to put my hands. There was no handle or strap to grab, only… him.

“You have two options, either wrap your arms around my waist or grab the belt loops at my hips. Just avoid the gun,” he instructed.

Taking a second to consider, I decided on the belt loops. I jumped when the bike growled to life at how loud it was in the silence of the night. There were small pegs for me to place my feet giving me more stability as Petru took a few steps forward before revving the throttle. Shooting off like a rocket, I squealed and threw my arms around his body. Holy fuck, I might actually die tonight.

Heading in the opposite direction than the truck, another gate appeared and was being opened for us. Shutting my eyes, I held my breath waiting for us to crash into the fence with how fast we were going and how slow it was opening. When the moment never came, I lifted my head and found myself outside the base grounds. A large open field lay before us with rolling hills like you’d see in a magazine. The moon gave us plenty of light as Petru raced over the empty stretch of land.

The wind buffeted me, tussling my hair in all different directions and causing the back of my shirt to ride up. None of that mattered, however. This had to be the most freeing moment of my life. No walls around me, the wind chilling my cheeks, and the moon above shining down. This was the freedom I’d been craving. The feeling that no one could stop me or trap me in a life I didn’t want. I could go anywhere and do anything just because I wanted to. My heart soared with elation only made more enticing with Petru’s scent and warm body so close. Before I realized it, I found myself nuzzling into the space between his shoulders as I hugged him tightly.

All too soon, the moment was over as we slowed, entering a neighborhood of simple two-story houses. They were spaced relatively wide apart, with lush yards surrounding them. It reminded me of Oscad in some ways, but the city would never have been able to afford that much land with how many people needed to be housed.

Petru pulled into a driveway and killed the engine. “Here we are, figured we’ll head inside and greet them when they arrive. That gives you a chance to meet Klarisa and see where they’ll be living until we get them back to Oscad.”

The vibrations of the bike had made my legs numb, and I almost ate concrete as I hopped off. Thankfully Petru had quick reflexes and managed to snatch me to his chest. This was becoming a common occurrence between us. I also noticed that my reaction to his physical contact didn’t make me instantly want to pull away as it did with most men. Lucian was the only other person I felt this comfortable with, but I figured that was because I’d grown used to it over the years. Either way, it was something to be aware of since it was so opposite to the normal.

Petru didn’t bother hiding the bike or moving it out of the driveway, he simply left it in plain sight. “Are we not hiding from the other soldiers anymore?” I questioned.

He shrugged and motioned for me to follow. “My job was to make sure they did their job. As long as they show up here with both women unharmed, their work is done. It’s not their place to question why we had them do this job. Part of the training is learning to trust when a superior officer gives you an order, you do it.”

“Seriously, you expect everyone to do as they're told without question? What if your orders are wrong or they ask you to do something bad? How could you even begin to trust someone so blindly?” I asked, my mind reeling with situations that could go so awry.

Knocking on the front door, Petru studied me with a curious expression. “I get the feeling you’re not one for taking orders. As for your questions, let's deal with this situation first and then come back to it. None of your concerns have simple answers, and I have a feeling I’m going to need the others to chime in on this matter.”

He was right. I didn't much like taking orders or accepting that things just were, because someone said so. Yet I saw the reason and logic for saving this conversation for another time and place. Right now, I needed to be focused on Tori and Violet. I could deal with the other problems once I knew they would be safe. The front door opened to reveal a woman who was probably around my mother’s age if she was still alive.

Her blonde hair was going white at her temples, only noticeable because it was pulled back. Kind blue eyes greeted me with a gentle smile on her lips. Everything about this woman radiated warmth, safety, and love. It was like she was the perfect embodiment of what every person dreamt of their mother to be. She was closer to my height, which was nice for a change with all these giant soldiers marching around.

“Good morning, Petru. I didn’t realize plans had changed, weren’t there supposed to be two ladies I was going to look after?” Klarisa asked, her voice sweet and light, setting you at ease.

To my shock, Petru stepped up to the woman and wrapped her in a tight hug before answering. “Good morning, mom,” he murmured, then released her. “Thanks so much for helping us out and I’m sorry Lino is acting like a bastard. No, plans haven’t changed. The two you’re going to care for should be here shortly. This is Danella, she’s incredibly close to the other two. In fact, we rescued them all together, but Danella got hurt and hasn’t been released by Beth yet.”

“I see, so how is it that she found herself on the back of your bike to show up at my home in the early morning hours? Something I doubt Beth would allow if she knew it was happening,” Klarisa challenged.

Petru looked slightly chastised but glanced at me almost as if to check if I was okay with him telling her what had happened. Rolling my eyes, I decided to speak up for myself. “I gave him little choice in the matter. Tori, Violet, and I have known each other for a long time, and I refused to let them go somewhere I couldn’t find or know if they were okay. When Sorin and the others found us, we had been fleeing from a Northern outpost.”

Klarisa reached out to stroke my arm as she made a distressed noise at my words. That’s the moment I realized she was an Omega. This woman was living on her own, helping other mistreated women, and no one seemed to be batting an eyelash about it. I’m not sure even Oscad would allow that. They’d demand that she’d at least have protection.

“I’m sorry if this is rude but how are you able here, alone, in a home with no Alpha or pack?” I blurted.

She smiled and ushered me inside to a living room that was welcoming and inviting. If her scent and mannerisms hadn't given away the fact she was an Omega, this room would’ve. Everything about this space was worthy of being in a nest; soft blankets, fluffy pillows, an overstuffed couch that looked like you could practically sink into it. The urge to find out was so overwhelming, but I didn’t want to intrude in her personal space. Many Omegas were particularly fussy about things like that.

“Please make yourself comfortable, and I’ll try to explain things,” Klarisa urged.

At her approval, I headed right for the couch, snatched up a pillow, and snuggled into the corner letting out a sigh. There were some things we couldn’t escape from our designations, and when it came to Omegas, comfort was a need more than a want. Some instinct drove us to crave safety, comfort, and physical touch from our pack. Not having had any of that for most of my life, this was like a balm to a wound I never realized had gotten so bad. Sitting here, it was like the world fell away and all that mattered was how fucking fluffy this pillow was.