Page 62 of Knotted their Beauty

I frown and turn to face my pack. “It was, we were questioned but cleared of⁠—”

“Kincaid?” Ves asks as he sits up a little straighter and I nod. “Baron Kincaid?”

“Yes…”

“Former left wing for the Illinois Yetis?”

I nod slowly, “You a hockey fan?”

“No,” he grunts. “But I remember the headline. You killed a guy on the ice during a game.”

Lennox barks out a laugh. “Was that ruled an accident, too?”

“Manslaughter,” I shrug. “Guy fucked with my brother.”

“Who also plays professionally,” Ves says. “Xavier Kincaid, right?”

“He just got traded to Michigan.”

“I didn’t realize how dangerous hockey is,” Arlo says with an awkward giggle. “I mean, I don’t watch but I knew there were fights. I just didn’t realize they ended in death so frequently.”

I bark out a laugh and squeeze his hand. “Depends on the player, I guess.”

“I guess.”

“That’s how I got hooked up with my doc, though. Conditions of my release from prison. I started seeing a psychiatrist and after a lot of trial and error, Gabriel was able to get me on the right stuff. Murder isn’t my first choice anymore.”

Ves huffs, “Still makes the list of options, though.”

“That it does,” I grin and scoot closer to my omegas. “The meds help keep my head clear. They take the very miniscule edge off my anger, help me think things through before I act. I’m more balanced now, even if I still walk a fine line. It’s less dangerous if I take them but I’m still me.”

“I get it,” Lennox says with a sigh. “Give me his number. I’ll talk to your doc if it means it will stop this conversation from circling back to my mental health issues.”

“At least you know you’re not alone,” I say with a smirk. “A pack that’s fucked up together, stays together. Or some shit.”

I have a feeling that might only be true in our case, but I’m okay with it.

Chapter

Nineteen

LENNOX

The hot water feels good as it hits my back. I’m trying hard to decompress after how heavy our pack meeting was, and breathing in and out slowly to release how tight my chest feels.

I tied my hair up in a knot at the top of my head because I can’t be fucked to wash it right now. I’m kind of a princess when it comes to hair products, and I can’t use any of the shit in this bathroom. I really hope Baron gets my stuff here, or I’m going to need to reorder it all.

Come to think of it, I should probably just order some curly product for Cali because her ends look a little dry. I wonder if she’ll sit long enough for me to put a hair mask in. Ugh, I really am desperate to not think about everything, aren’t I?

Dropping my head forward as I brace my hands on the wall, I groan as my muscles stretch with the help of the heat. I hate that my pack members all have some form of trauma, but can see how their roads led to each other. Despite their words of encouragement, I still feel on the outskirts.

I’m certain it’s a ‘me’ problem. I just need to shake this off and find my way. I plan to stay in the shower until I get my head right. It’s not as if any of us have to pay for the hot water. I’m going to soak the sad out of me.

My head tilts as the door opens. I know I locked it. Damn fools are yet again impeding on my alone time. I’m not used to having such nosy people in my space.

“I’m gonna be a minute,” I grit out. Half of the walls to this shower are glass except for the one I’m leaning on and the tile one with all the bottles of hair products I won’t use.

“You’ve already been in here for half an hour,” Ves grunts, shutting the door behind him and twisting the lock to the right. “Arlo took Cali to the park and Baron is coordinating with someone to pack up your room then drive your van here.”