Page 90 of Knot a Bad Idea

The roaring continues after another shot.

And another.

Time passes, and I ignore the soured, horrific scent of April’s agony.

I hurt her, like I always do.

But what I don’t expect is Liam’s cold voice behind me.

“What did you do?”

I turn to my packmate, whose green eyes have turnedblack.

He’s still as stone except for his flared nostrils. “You locked her in her room?” His voice is quiet and low. “Donovan, what the fuck did you do?”

I stare at him, unable to give him a reasonable answer.

Liam chuckles bitterly, then lets out a shaky breath. “You’re no longer welcome here,” he says cooly. “You need to get the fuck out, now. This isn’t your home any longer.”

I frown, the alcohol making my head fuzzy. “What?—”

A fist flies at me so hard my head snaps back and my glass drops. “AN HOUR?” Hunter roars so loud my ears ring. “She was locked in there anhour?”

He punches me again, and I let him. I let my best friend beat the shit out of me, and I don’t fight back.

An hour? I left her in there for an hour?

“Do you realize what you’ve done?” Hunter screams, his eyes wild. “That’s her trigger, youstupid fucking piece of shit!”

I blink.

I didn’t think?—

“No, you didn’t fucking think!” I realize I’ve spoken aloud as another fist flies at me. Liam hauls me out of the barstool as horror races through me.

That’s April’s trigger.

I locked her in that room, and I’m no better than that piece of shit that I had killed.

I don’t fight back at all. I let Hunter and Liam pummel me until I taste blood on my lips and my face aches.

I triggered April. I locked her in a room with no way out.

I did exactly what was done to her all those months ago.

I forced her to relive a memory.

And as Liam and Hunter toss me outside of the packhouse, I realize what I’ve done is unforgivable.

I’ve irrevocably damaged our relationships beyond repair.

I’ve ruined the pack.

17

APRIL

ONE WEEK LATER