Page 117 of Knot So Social

“I’m sorry,” Jeremy says, shaking his head. “But we still need Alessandro’s permission for that. We don’t know enough about him or what happened. We could end up putting him in a worse situation.”

“He’s right,” Joel adds. “For an alpha to get to this state, something’s afoot. The police might be the worst people to get involved.”

They’re right. We need to hear Alessandro’s story first. I’m also letting my emotions get the better of me, which shows this alpha means more to me than I wanted to admit. My legs hollow out.

Joel’s hard gaze sinks to my shaking hand under his and he drops his grasp like my skin’s hot. Whirling on his heel, he strides from the room, stopping just outside the door.

I’ll think about that later. For now, Alessandro needs my focus.

“Okay, if he’s basically high . . .” I type into my search bar and read the results. “Keep him hydrated, offer a healthy snack, keep him calm and quiet. If he’s mobile, walking around can help burn it out of his system.”

Jeremy nods. “I’ll make food.”

“It mentions avocado and nuts here,” I call after him. “Healthy fats.”

“Roger that.” He touches his brother’s shoulder as he hobbles past, a small gesture but it feels powerful and connecting in this moment.

Joel seems even more worked up than I am.

I grab a face washer from the bathroom and use it to dab the sweat off Alessandro. He squirms, giggling when I wipe his ribs. The gentle sound eases the coil of fear lurking in my stomach.

“Ticklish, are we?” I ask, leaning over him.

Alessandro moans softly and arches up into me. His cock hardens and a soft moan vibrates across his lips. He lays there, slightly twisted, like a carved statue of a perfectly formed alpha that should belong in a museum.

I press a kiss to his forehead.

Alessandro squints up at me. “Cara mia?”

“Yes, I’m right here.”

“Are you a dream?”

“No. We found you. You’re safe in my house.”

Tears glisten in his eyes. He chatters in Italian at rapid fire until I grab his cheeks.

“English, Alessandro. English, please. I can’t understand you.”

He sucks in a shaky breath. “I didn’t want. I only want you.”

I scoop my hands around him, my chest aching. “I know. You’re okay now.”

He hooks one arm around my neck and squeezes with a fraction of his usual strength. We stay there for a long moment. Then he growls.

My heart breaks for him. I pull back so I can see his face and ask, “Do you . . . want to go the hospital? If someone touched you, then we need to get the swabs done, for evidence.”

His gaze goes murky for a second. He shakes his head. “No, she didn’t . . . but merda she tried.”

She? The words shock me. A woman did this to him? I mean, yeah, Alessandro’s stunning, like he should be a model in a magazine with an expensive watch and three-piece suit looking off into the distance while leaning on a Lamborghini. But to go that far, to actually attempt to assault him?

A growl from behind me echoes my inner rage.

Alessandro lifts his head. “Who is there?”

I snatch a peek at Joel who leans in the hallway outside, one arm locked rigidly across his chest.

“Joel?” I call.