Page 130 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“Better suspicious than recognized,” Finn retorts, but there’s no derision in his tone. “Besides, lots of people wear sunglasses.”

“In winter?”

“Fashion knows no season, darling.” Finn gives the scarf one final adjustment. “Besides, it’s almost spring. Ready, sunshine?”

I nod, though my stomach is churning with nerves. It will be my first time in public since forever. The thought makes my hands shaky.

Finn must notice because he takes my hand, squeezing gently. “It’s okay. We’ll be right there with you the whole time.”

Stone opens the back door for us, and I slide in first, followed by Finn. The leather seats are cool and soft, the interior smelling of pine and leather and alpha. As Stone starts the car, I catch his concerned gaze in the rearview mirror.

“If anything feels off,” he says quietly, “anything at all—we leave immediately. No questions asked.”

I nod again, grateful for the sunglasses hiding my eyes. Finn’s hand finds mine again as we pull out of the driveway.

“Don’t worry,” he whispers, just for me. “Everything will be fine.”

But as we turn onto the main road, I notice him checking the mirrors, just like Stone. Watching for anyone who might be watching us.

The scarf suddenly feels very necessary indeed.

Chapter 34

Hailey

The world beyond the tinted windows seems impossibly bright, impossibly vast. Buildings stretch toward the sky like gleaming mountains of steel and glass, their surfaces flashing in the winter sun. Six years. Six years since I’ve seen a city, and everything feels alien and familiar all at once.

“Are those…billboards?” I press closer to the window, staring at the massive panels mounted high above the streets. They’re not like the ones I remember, the faded posters or the peeling paint. These are slick, digital displays, the images shifting seamlessly between ads.

“Digital advertising.” Finn’s voice is gentle beside me. His hand finds mine, squeezing softly. “They started putting them up everywhere about four years ago. Pretty, aren’t they?”

Pretty isn’t the word. Overwhelming. Mesmerizing. I watch as a woman’s face transforms into a cascade of butterflies, then reforms into a perfume bottle. The colors are so bright they make my eyes water behind the sunglasses.

“There are so many people,” I whisper, watching the crowds flow along the sidewalks. Alphas in tailored suits checking theirphones, betas rushing past with earbuds in or balancing trays of coffee. “So many alphas and betas.”

“And omegas too,” Finn says.

I go still. What? Turning to face the window once more, I realize I’m holding my breath. “How do you know?”

Finn leans closer, pointing at a woman dressed in white. “See her, how she walks between her alphas? Or that one surrounded by beta attendants? You can always tell by the way people move around them, making space.”

I squint, watching more carefully now. He’s right. Scattered among the crowds are omegas—some walking close to protective alphas, others accompanied by smartly dressed betas who clear their paths and attend to their needs. It’s like watching a complicated dance, the way the crowds naturally part around them.

I can’t help but stare. Omegas. Walking freely. Shopping. Laughing.

“You okay?” Stone’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, concern evident even through his stern expression.

I nod, not trusting my voice. An omega just walked past wearing the shortest skirt I’ve ever seen, chatting on a phone that looks nothing like the ones I remember. No collar. No trainer. Just…free.

Finn’s thumb traces circles on my palm. “It’s a lot, isn’t it? We can turn back if?—”

“No.” The word comes out as a whisper. “No, I…want to see.”

The car glides through traffic, and I try to absorb everything at once. The shops have changed—some of them names I don’t recognize. People carry themselves differently, too. Or maybe I’m the one who’s different, seeing the world through fresh eyes.

“Here we are.” Stone pulls into a parking structure attached to what looks like an enormous glass cube. “Ready?”

My heart hammers against my ribs and the scarf suddenly feels too tight, the sunglasses too dark. But Finn’s hand is warm in mine, anchoring me.

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