Page 9 of Rot In Knotty Pieces

He looks so relieved. He’s not even going to try to get rid of me.

“You’re hiding from a bad man?”

“A very bad man. We could use your help.”

“And he’s going to hurt you?”

“Yes.” I don’t feel bad manipulating her at all.

She looks at Pix. “Can we help him?”

Pix nods, his chin wobbling. I let go of Dove and walk up the steps. He flings himself into my arms, strangling me with how tightly he holds on. He’s crying.

“I’m here now, Daega. I’m never going to leave you again.”

He holds me tighter, shaking. Our bonds open, and I feel his fear, pain, and loneliness. He missed me as much as I missed him. That soothes the last of the anger.

The door slams open, and I’m ripped off Pix, only to find myself face to face with my stepbrother.

Aaron Roseland looks different, he looks broken. I wonder what’s happened to him.

Eleven weeks of hunting for your lost omegas and then finding…that, will fuck you up. But apparently, eleven weeks of whatever they were doing has been worse.

“We could use the help, Rose,” Pix says. “I need them. Please. I can’t do it anymore.”

Aaron dips his chin; he’s not fighting me. I am both surprised and relieved and worried. I suddenly don’t want to beat him anymore but wrap him in my arms and catch him before he falls. He moves towards me, and I meet him, pulling him hard into my chest, holding him as he buries his face in my neck, completely collapsing.

What is happening here?

I hold him up while he hides in my embrace.

What happened to you?

Blaze comes out of nowhere and goes straight to Dove, kneeling before her and smiling easily. He’s always had a way with children and animals.

King walks up to the porch and pulls Pix into a hug that lifts the omega off his feet, while Rolly stands in the middle of the yard staring at Dove like she’s a ghost.

Roseland pulls free and turns, blinking quickly and clearing his throat.

“You can stay,” he says in a rasp.

Dove smiles widely at Blaze and shakes his hand. Now that I know she is safe, I turn back. Pix is still buried in King’s arms, and the alpha is rocking him gently, whispering to him. I don’t know what’s being said, but then I don’t need to know.

I return my attention to my Rose, who has moved away, like he’s trying to put distance between us. He looks like shit but better than anything I’ve seen in a long time. I approach my stepbrother softly, gently. I reach out and cup his cheek. He tilts his head into my caress, his eyes soft and warm.

“Sage,” he whispers.

“I killed our parents,” I coo. “They won’t ever hurt you again.”

His eyes open wide, and his nostrils flare.

“Then, you are mine, forever,” Aaron Roseland says in a stark whisper.

It’s not what I expected, but it sends me over the edge. I don’t care about anything anymore but this, us. The pack together. I step into him, walking him back into the house. I don’t look away, not for a second.

He’s changed, but so have I. Absence didn’t make my heart fonder, it made our destiny crystal clear.

I don’t think I’m sane anymore.