Page 150 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“Finally,” Finn says, making grabby hands at the food. “I’m starving.”

Stone sets everything down, but remains standing, his large frame awkward at the edge of the nest. Despite the invitation, there’s still something hesitant in his posture, like he’s not quite sure where he fits in this soft, intimate space.

Finn rolls his eyes. “Oh, get in here, you big alpha. The nest won’t bite.”

Stone’s throat moves. “You’re sure?”

Finn nods, already reaching for a box of pizza. Stone’s focus shifts to me. “You can say no if you want, Hailey. I won’t feel bad.”

“Stay?” I add softly, and something in Stone’s expression melts.

He stretches, blowing out a breath of air before he settles beside us. I don’t miss the fact he’s careful not to disturb Finn’s careful arrangement of pillows and blankets. “What fresh horror are we watching now?”

“Only the finest in omega dating disasters,” Finn grins,reaching for another pizza box. “You’re just in time for—oh my god, is that his ex-omega?”

Finn’s wide eyes are on the screen as he takes out a slice of pizza and digs in. The sound he utters from his throat immediately has my eyes darting to him, and then suddenly he’s the only thing I can look at. Something at the center of my thighs wakes up the moment he moans again.

Stone clears his throat and shifts. A pillow appears suspiciously quickly in his lap, almost as if he’s hiding something. When he barks out a laugh at a joke on screen, it sounds slightly forced.

“She didnotjust say that,” he manages, eyes darting at Finn and then at me.

Finn launches into commentary about the show’s history, and I find myself relaxing into the familiar cadence of his voice. The pizza is perfect—even my ‘abomination’ topped one—and the tea Stone made soothes my throat. Gradually, the space between us all shrinks, until I’m nestled between them, surrounded by warmth and the mixing scents of sage and pine.

“This is nice,” I murmur during a commercial break. My cheeks burn immediately…but I’m feeling brave. “Thank you. Both of you.”

Finn’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. Stone’s response is quieter—just a soft rumble in his chest that I feel more than hear. But it speaks volumes. The bruises on my throat still ache, but here, curled between them in this nest that smells like pack and home, even that pain feels distant.

The show returns with a segment introducing the “special guest judge” for the evening’s challenge. The camera pans to reveal a striking woman with sleek dark hair and impeccable posture. She’s so startling beautiful, I can’t help but stare.

“Veyra Heath,” the host announces with exaggerated reverence. “Business mogul and philanthropist.”

Stone straightens slightly beside me, his attention suddenlyfixed on the screen. “Huh. Didn’t expect to see her on this kind of show.”

“Ugh. I can’t stand her. She gave me the creeps when I met her in person.” Finn shivers, but he’s not paying attention to the screen. He’s busy stripping a string of cheese from a pizza slice.

Stone’s eyes narrow slightly. “Her investment firm reached out about acquiring a stake in Iron Fitness last quarter. Pretty aggressive about it too.”

“But you didn’t sell?” Finn asks, reaching for another slice of pizza.

“Nah.” Stone’s expression turns thoughtful. “We built that place from nothing. We’re not looking to give up control, especially not to Heath Enterprises. They have a reputation for gutting companies they acquire. Iron Fitness is our baby.”

The camera zooms in on the woman. Her smile is perfect, practiced, but there’s something cold in her dark eyes that makes my skin prickle uncomfortably.

“Getting noticed by her is still pretty impressive though.” Finn shrugs. “Her family is like the definition of old money—like, generations of it. Being on her radar must mean you guys are doing something right.”

Stone just makes a noncommittal sound, but I notice the way his jaw tightens slightly.

I study the woman on screen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more striking. But there’s something almost predatory in the way she watches the contestants. Like she’s performing humanity rather than experiencing it.

“I don’t think I’d want to get on her bad side,” I whisper, not entirely meaning to say it aloud.

Finn nudges me playfully. “Look at you, already developing business-world instincts.”

My cheeks warm and a soft laugh escapes through my nose. Me? Business-world instincts?

“Oh!” Finn suddenly sits up straighter. “This is the part where they bring out the vision board?—”

As he launches into another hilarious explanation, I catch Stone watching us both, his expression different in a way I’ve never seen before. When he notices me looking, he doesn’t glance away. Instead, his lips curve into a smile that makes something warm unfurl in my chest. He’s so handsome. Gods. All of them are.

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