Page 19 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

“Hey, sweetie. Ready to go again?”

“My legs hurt.”

“Ah, well, the good thing about having so many best friends is that we can just get one of the big ones to carry you.”

Her beautiful eyes get wide like I’ve offered her the moon.

“King looks good, doesn’t he? He is also nimble as a goat.”

She giggles and holds her hand out. I take it and lead her to King.

“Can you carry Dove? She needs a big, strong goat to get her around all nimble-like.”

He grins. “Course, I can. Why else have I got such big shoulders?”

Dove squeaks. “A piggyback?”

He lifts her onto his back, and we start moving again. The silence is thick, no one really speaks as we move along the half hidden trail, getting further and further away from civilization. It drags on until I suddenly pay attention, my instincts screaming at me. It’s weird. The silence is so unusual for Dove, and that’s why it alerts me.

I whip around, staring at King and the woman on his back.

Tears run down her cheeks, but it’s her expression that has me taking a halting step towards her. Adult. Pained. This isn’t a child.

“Merle?” I whisper.

King stops, his expression turning stricken. He shakes visibly and carefully pulls her from his back. He crouches, taking her face in his giant hands as I arrive, staring into her distress. “Baby?”

She nods her head.

King and I wrap her in a hug at the same time.

She came back. Oh, my god, she actually came back. The relief is so strong my legs get weak, and I have to let go of her and sit down.

“Merle!” Rolly shouts and pulls her away from King, squeezing her in a hug that envelopes her. King joins them, but I just stare.

Merle is back. I didn’t break them.

Blaze and Sage take their turns, gently but lovingly cuddling her while she clings to them. My pulse is thundering. I step towards the omega, wondering if she hates me. If she will blame me.

The alphas peel away, and it’s just me and Daega. He stands beside me as if he’s waiting for judgment, and it feels like it.

“We didn’t reach you in time,” I say bluntly, flatly.

She trembles.

“I’m sorry,” Daega says the words that we are both screaming.

She shakes her head and swipes at her tears before rushing towards us, her arms outstretched to bring us both into her. She’s soft and real, and the scent of her is intoxicating and sweet. Dove’s distinct lack of scent has been driving me nuts, but this omega is full-scented and familiar.

Her fingers stroke the back of my neck, teasing my hair. Her lips press against my cheek. I turn my mouth to hers. Kissing her lightly, impulsively. She responds instantly. It’s a quick kiss, little more than a peck, but it’s everything to me.

I feel like I’ve aged a million years.

Rolly bounces down the path, while she’s staring into Daega’s face, stroking his cheeks. They don’t communicate in words; it’s all gestures and whatever secrets their eyes hold.

Everything is worth it to know that we got them out. Merle is back, which means the rest should be there. Raven is back. Kestrel.

The urgency, the almost evil need to shake Merle and demand information on the others, presses on me, but I shove it back, knowing it will do nothing but hurt her.