Chapter 11
Lynn
Iwas wide awake, and I wanted to scream. I needed someone to knock me out. A swift punch to the head should do it, or an alpha’s bark. But as much as I’d gotten to know the alphas of the MC, as much as I trusted them, I didn’t trust them that much.
I exhaled a growling breath and turned over in bed for the sixth time, staring at the wall and the small, curtained window inset in it.
This place had become home in the past few months.
More than my shitty apartment, anyway. I didn’t miss it.
I didn’t miss that old life, either. And until the Knights told me I’d overstayed my welcome, I was staying right here where the rent was free, I had access to food, and people around that I knew wouldn’t hurt me.
It was more than I’d expected the night they took me from the farm.
More than I’d expected before that, to be honest.
I sighed and rolled over again, facing the wall, staring at the polaroid ChaCha had tacked up of me, her, and the cute-faced new addition to my annoyances—or friends—Jessia.
An hour later, I gave up on sleep and pulled a hoodie over my pyjamas, shoved my feet in the annoyingly fluffy slippers Winner’s mate Mercedes insisted I take—they were black, and felt so good, so I allowed it—and went in search of my most assholish friend.
“What the fuck do you want?” he grumbled when I banged on his bedroom door, squinting into the dim hallway like I just woke him up.
“Of course you’d be able to sleep,” I muttered, my mood turning even spikier. “I can’t fall asleep.”
Cobra groaned. “And you’re making that my problem, why…?”
I hesitated, but forced out the words. I’d spent weeks voicing the fucked up hell I was put through in that barn; this was nowhere near as triggering as that.
“You can bark,” I said, scowling into his bleary green eyes. “I’ve heard it.”
“No,” he argued immediately, trying to close the door on me.
I caught it before he could get it shut, and inserted myself between the door and the frame.
He wouldn’t hurt me, no matter how badly he wanted rid of me; after months in his company, I knew his limits, his moral code, his weaknesses.
He was a gentleman, loathed as he’d be to admit it, and I used it against him.
“I need you to knock me out,” I said, my voice low, throatier than intended. “One bark, that’s all I need.”
“Not happening.” His jaw set, his expression as hard as I’d seen it. “No, Lynn. Fuck, no.”
The desperation dug its claws into me, sank them into my skin and ripped crevices in me. “Cobra,” I breathed, pleaded. “I need it.”
A muscle feathered in his cheek. “Ask someone else.”
“Fuck, no,” I echoed his words.
He smacked his head into the door so suddenly the impact made me wince.
“Fucking idiot,” I muttered. “You’ll give yourself brain damage.”
“You’re the idiot for coming to me for this,” he retorted, his voice low, twisted.
He was angry at me. What the fuck for? “You must already have brain damage if you think me barking is a good idea. Do you have any fucking concept of how messed up that is? Sure, I’m not an alpha and mine is less severe, but Jesus fucking Christ, Lynn. ”
“Not calling me asshole tonight, I see.”
His eyes burned, pure venom. “You’re damn right I’m not using your nickname when I’m so fucking pissed off at you. Are you out of your mind?”
“Yeah,” I rasped, quieter. It stripped away my snarling, glaring irritation. “I’m going mad, Cobra. Loran.”
“Hey,” he complained.
“If you’re not calling me asshole, I’m not calling you Cobra.”
He rolled his eyes. “Petty-ass fucking woman.”
A weak laugh left me. I caught his gaze and said, “I’m tired. Every goddamn day. Even when I sleep, I get nightmares, but at least that’s something. Now, I can’t even fall asleep.”
He tipped his head against the door with a groan. “I cannot believe I’m even contemplating this. You are such a fucking pest.”
“Please,” I croaked. “I need to sleep.”
“Just this once,” he warned.
I nodded, even if the next few days yawned like a dark abyss. Maybe I’d get lucky and sleep through all three. “Just once.”
“And you’ll owe me.”
“Yeah, sure, I’ll let you win the next three games we play.”
His laugh was abrupt and ragged. “Asshole.”
“Nightmare,” I countered with a smirk.
“You’re absolutely, deadly certain?” he checked, a feverish light in his eyes.
“I am.”
He took a rough breath, then said in a bark laced with power and dominance, “Sleep, Lynn.”
My eyes rolled back in my head and I was out before I’d even begun falling.