Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
THISTLE
Knotted and content, I’d stayed in Knox’s arms so long I’d lost track of time. At some point he’d turned on the TV in the background and gone to grab us lunch.
He’d returned with sandwiches, Bunny, and a replacement of the thin golden chain. I didn’t even deny the thrill I felt as he replaced it, coiling it in his fist as he drew me close again.
When he was finally done cuddling, he carried me to my room, dressed me, and bundled me out of the mansion and into his car.
It seemed extreme that he always had a driver, but I didn’t comment on it as he tugged me onto his lap.
“Where are we going?” I’d asked at one point.
He’d just shrugged and told me it was a surprise.
I pursed my lips.
Oh dear…
In movies, surprises were always good, but that was a lie. Like when my dad had tricked me into his car to get Pizza—a treat I never got—and I ended up with Dan.
I’d thought the knotting and cuddles were a good sign, so this was all super confusing.
More so when the car finally came to a stop, and he tugged his keys from his pocket and tried to unlock my collar. A startled whine escaped my chest as he reached for it, and his wrist was in a death grip before I realised it.
“W-what are you doing?”
Oh no, Bunny.
He’s done with us.
He’s giving us away.
Panic choked me, a thousand worries all clamouring to the surface of my brain at once.
“You can’t, Daddy. I said I’m sorry.”
He’d just given me orgasms—pain free ones.
I didn’t understand.
And what about Rogue? I couldn’t go somewhere else.
“You want to keep it?” he asked.
“Please!”
He was frowning, glancing between me and the golden collar. “I…” He trailed off. “Alright. It can stay.”
For a moment, his hand dropped to the thin chain as if he wanted to remove that, but he released it at my whimper.
Did I beg him?
Would it matter?
Wouldn’t have mattered to my dad, Bunny…
I could barely breathe as he helped me from the car door. We were in a strip mall. It was quiet, a little seedy—just the kind of place…
I squinted, seeing a pack of teenagers on the corner. There was a bar, a real estate agent, a hair salon…
I was almost dizzy, trying to figure out what was happening. Was he selling me to someone?
He was sick of me.
I’d gone too far.
I glanced at the bar, and my mind flashed back to Dan and his pack.
Then I realised Knox had begun crossing the parking lot without me. With a little shaky breath of panic, I followed, catching up to him and gripping his arm.
He slowed, peering down at me curiously as I tugged at his sleeve, revealing the golden cuff he hadn’t taken off since the party he’d hosted, back when we were attached.
I grabbed the end of the chain and hooked it onto the little clip, not meeting his eyes and trying to stop my chin quivering.
What did I say?
What could I offer?
Oh, what had I been thinking?
And did I really think one good fuck would erase how mad he was? It was too late…
He opened the door of what I realised belatedly was a craft shop.
What kind of trick was this? I used to dream of these places. If he sold me to someone in here, maybe I’d be able to snag a sketchbook…?
People were staring at us as he led me down the aisles—like they knew something bad was about to happen to me. I stuffed the chain into Knox’s hand, too, so he wouldn’t forget I was supposed to be his.
He’d said that, right? Told me I was.
He couldn’t take it back now.
He took the chain, and I felt his hand brush my waist as he let me huddle closer.
Is this a trick, Bunny?
Finally, we ended up in the aisle of sketchbooks and he drew to a stop, but my brain was like a multi-vehicle collision and I couldn’t process what was happening.
“You asked Rogue if he’d buy you a sketchbook.” His words were foggy, but I latched onto one thing.
Oh god. This was about the Rogue thing.
My eyes slid down the aisle. No one else was here. No big mean Alpha who looked like he was gonna take me away.
Was he hiding?
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m really sorry. I promise I won’t do it again.”
Which part?
Chaining him up?
Biting his dick?
Any of it—I wouldn’t do any of it if it meant he wouldn’t give me away.
His brows came down, and he nudged my chin with his finger, so I was forced to meet his eyes. “I brought you so you could pick.”
Pick?
Pick what? Who was gonna take me away?
But I didn’t want another Alpha. I couldn’t do this again. Knox didn’t know how different he was, treating me like he did. And when he had sex with me, he wanted me to feel good, and there was no pain?—
“Wasn’t sure if you’d want a bigger one. Sometimes people like them smaller, maybe one that would fit in Bunny.”
Fit in Bunny?
“I know he’s got that little pouch at the back.”
A strangled sound escaped my lips, and I flinched away, drawing Bunny tight into my arms.
This was sick.
Really sick.
What was happening?
Knox’s palm brushed my cheek, and I felt his fist at the base of the chain at my neck, pulling it tight. “Doll,” he murmured, a very odd expression on his face. “I’m buying you a sketchbook.”
“You’re…”
What…?
I’d barely never cried in front of Alphas—Ace hated it, Dan got off on it—but right in the middle of the art shop, I burst into tears.