Page 138 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

His silence is answer enough.

“You know what I see?” I run my fingers through his hair, feeling him lean into the touch like he’s starving for it. “I see someone strong enough to protect others. Brave enough to fight back.”

A sound catches in his throat—half laugh, half sob. “I punched an alpha, Hailey.”

“You did.” I hold him tighter. “And y-you protected me.”

“I wanted to kill him.” The words are barely a whisper. “When he touched you, when you screamed…I wanted to destroy him.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Because I’m not strong enough.”

“Because you’re better than that.” I pull back enough to see his face. “Because you’re exactly what an omega should be. Fin, y-you don’t have to be weak to be worthy.”

His eyes are wet when they meet mine. But there’s pride there…and suddenly I hear the words I just said. Words that, a few months ago, I didn’t know I could even believe.

Finn draws a shaky breath. For a moment he just stays there, staring into my eyes. “Sometimes I feel like I’m pretending, Hailey,” he finally whispers. “Like one day they’ll see through me and realize I’m not…I can’t…”

“Can’t what?”

“Be enough.” The words seem to drain him. “Be right. Be omega enough or strong enough or soft enough or…anything enough.”

I think about the way he stands between me and danger. The way he teaches me about this new world with endless patience. The way three alphas look at him with such devotion.

“Maybe,” I say softly, “you’re exactly enough of everything you’re meant to be.”

He doesn’t answer, but his trembling slowly subsides as I hold him. “I don’t want to crush you,” he whispers.

“You’re not.” I stroke his hair again. “You’re always taking care of everyone else. Let someone take care of you for once.”

He takes a shuddering breath, but he doesn’t pull away.

“Hailey…” he whispers after a few moments. “I need to tell you something.”

I hum softly, still running my fingers through his hair. He seems smaller somehow, curled against me like this, and some part of me revels in it.

“Before you came…” He takes a shaky breath. “Things weren’t good. Between me and them. Hadn’t been for a long time.”

My fingers pause in his hair. “But this morning, you and Stone…”

“Yeah.” His laugh is hollow again. “That’s the first time he’s kissed me in months.” He shifts slightly, but doesn’t pull away. “It’s you, you know. The calm you’ve brought. The hope. Like…like everyone can breathe again.”

“I don’t understand.” I try to pull back to look at him but he holds me tight, as if he prefers to hide his face against my neck. “I—I’ve only caused arguments.”

Finn shakes his head. “You give them something to focus on. Something to protect, to care for.” His voice drops lower. “Something that isn’t me and all my…complications. Something that isn’t the massive gaping hole that is our relationship.”

A chill runs through me. “Finn?”

“They want you to stay, you know,” he continues whispering. “They want you to stay here.”

I swallow hard. Why would they want me to stay when I’ve been nothing but trouble.

“Promise me you will.” He stiffens slightly, as if waiting for my answer.

I swallow again. “O-only if you want me to stay, too.”

He grips me tighter. “Of course, I want you to stay.” His arms adjust around me as he inhales deeply against my skin. “But once this is all over,” he whispers, “once you’re settled and safe…I won’t be here anymore.”

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