Page 100 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“Alpha,” I manage, my voice barely a whisper. “I—I’ve come to beg forgiveness.”

Silence answers me. I can feel him approaching, even though he walks so silently. My body trembles, but I hold the position.

“What I did was unforgivable. I kissed your omega. I made him doubt your bond. I—” My voice catches, but I force myself to continue. “I deserve whatever punishment you see fit. But please, please don’t blame Finn. He did nothing wrong. It was all me. It was all m—my fault.”

The gravel crunches under the alpha’s boots as he draws closer. My heart pounds so hard I’m sure he can hear it.

“Take your anger out on me instead. I can bear it. Just…don’t hurt him.Please.”

The boots stop directly in front of me. I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for pain, for his hand to grab my hair, or?—

Strong fingers wrap around my upper arm, and suddenly I’m being hauled upward. A small sound escapes me—not quite a whimper—as I’m brought face to face with those arctic eyes.

I try to lower my gaze—submission, deference, everything I was taught—but his other hand catches my chin, forcing me to meet those penetrating eyes. There’s something in them I can’t read, something that makes my breath stop in my chest.

“Look at me,” he commands softly, and there’s an edge to his voice. Not anger, exactly, but something else. Something that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “Really look.”

He doesn’t use an alpha command, but with that chill in his voice, I can’t help but obey, though every instinct screams at me to look away. His eyes search mine, and for a moment, it’s like he’s seeing straight through to my soul. To every dark corner. Every scar. Every moment of terror at the Academy.

“You ran.” It’s not a question. Not an accusation either. Just…a statement of fact, delivered in that quiet voice that somehow carries more weight than a shout.

“Y-yes, Alpha.”

His thumb brushes my chin, the touch unexpectedly gentle. “Of course, you did. It’s what they trained you to do, isn’t it? Fear us.”

The words hit me hard. How does he…?

“But you came back.” His eyes never leave mine, studying every micro-expression. “That wasn’t part of their training, was it?” His eyes seem to get even more intense. “You overrode your fear of us and returned.”

My heart continues hammering against my ribs. There’s something about the way he says it—like he knows exactly what he’s talking about. Like he understands precisely what happened behind those cold stone walls of the Academy.

“I,” I whisper, trying to drop my gaze again. He doesn’t let me. “I couldn’t leave Finn.”

He stiffens at the sound of his omega’s name on my lips, those cold eyes still searching mine.

“You talk like you actually care about him.”

I swallow hard, unable to answer.

“Even though you only just met him…” The alpha muses. A smile plays on his lips, but there’s something wrong with it. As if it’s not real. “Of course, you do. Finn’s amazing. Finn is perfect.”

Something behind my ribs pains in response to his words, and I don’t know why.

“But you…” He twists me so I’m pressed against him, forcing me to face him fully. “You’re different. You came back.” His eyes narrow a fraction. “To face consequences. You pushed back… You were trained not to.”

Each word lands like a dart. I want to look away, but his grip on my chin prevents it. Forces me to face whatever this is.

“You wonder how I know?” That almost-smile again, but this time there’s something darker behind it. Something that makes my stomach clench. “Let’s just say I’m…familiar with how places like your Academy operate. With their methods. Their goals.”

A chill runs down my spine despite the afternoon heat. The way he says it…It’s the voice of someone who knows.Reallyknows.

But that’s impossible. Isn’t it?

Before I can process this, he lets go of my chin to pull out his phone, never releasing his grip on my arm. His eyes finally leave mine as he pushes some buttons on the touch screen, and I almost sag with relief at being freed from that penetrating gaze.

“She’s back,” he says into the phone, voice clipped and professional now. “Yes, unharmed. Mostly.” A pause as he glances at my bleeding feet. “I’ll take her inside.” Another pause. “Of course, I won’t hurt her. I’m not a monster, Jax.”

He ends the call with a sharp tap and pockets the phone. When his eyes return to mine, they’re unreadable again. “Come on. You need medical attention, and we have much to discuss.”

---