Page 171 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

That doesn’t ease the tension in my chest. If anything, it only makes it worse. “And you’re not?”

His eyes flash, and for a moment, I think he’s going to snap at me. But then he shakes his head, stepping closer. “I need you to fucking focus,” he says again, his voice low and urgent. “There’s a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” I ask, though my attention is still split between him and the way my cock is throbbing, aching for relief.

Stone doesn’t answer right away. He glances toward the door, his jaw clenching before he turns back to me.

“There was a car,” he says finally.

I blink, trying to process his words. “A car?”

“Yes,” he explains, his voice tight. “It came up the drive, stopped near the porch, then turned around and left. No one got out. No one rang the doorbell.”

A cold knot forms in my stomach, cutting through the haze of arousal clouding my mind. “Wait.” My voice sharpens as the pieces click into place. “I think I saw them.”

Stone’s head jerks up, his wild eyes narrowing. “What?”

“Two betas,” I say. “At the entrance to the drive. They were parked there when I pulled up—said they had a flat tire.”

Stone steps closer, his body going rigid. “Did they say where they were from?”

“They claimed they were new to the area. Said they had just moved in a few miles down the road.” My jaw flexes as I replay the conversation in my head. “That already felt like bullshit. No one’s moved in around here. I’d know.”

“What did they look like?”

I rub the back of my neck, still struggling to focus past the oppressive pull of Hailey’s scent that feels like it suddenly clings to every surface of the house. “Normal,” I admit reluctantly. “Jeans, hoodies. Nothing that stood out. They didn’t act threateningoutright, but…” I trail off, my hand dropping to my side as Stone’s sharp gaze stays locked on me. Without the lights on, his usual warm amber eyes look like dark pits.

“But?” he prompts, his voice tight.

I exhale sharply, my mind circling back to the moment when one of them asked me a question that hadn’t sat right. “They asked if I was the only one home,” I say finally, my voice dropping lower.

Stone’s face darkens, and a muscle in his jaw twitches. “They what?”

I nod, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “It was subtle, like they were just making conversation. But the way he said it…” I take a step back, running a hand through my hair as unease twists in my gut. “It felt wrong. Like he already knew who was home and who wasn’t.”

Stone curses under his breath, his fists flexing. “They knew something,” he growls. “They weren’t just passing through. This wasn’t random, Jax. They weren’t just looking for directions or fixing a flat. They were scoping the place.”

The weight of his words settles over me. My throat tightens, and I take a step forward, my fists clenching. “You think they know about her? About Hailey?”

Stone doesn’t answer right away, his jaw flexing as he stares at the floor. Finally, he looks up, his expression hard. “I don’t know,” he admits. “But the timing isn’t a coincidence. And if they do know…”

He doesn’t finish the sentence, but he doesn’t have to.

The thought of someone coming for her—of someone trying to take her away—makes my blood run cold. My protective instincts surge to the surface, and I can feel my hands trembling with the effort to stay calm.

“Jax,” Stone says, his voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts. “I need you to focus.”

I blink, my gaze snapping back to him.

“Whoever they are, they’re not gone,” he continues. “They didn’t just show up here for no reason. They’ll be back. And when they do, we need to be ready.”

I nod, though my mind is still reeling. There’s a reason Stone is my second. At least one of us can be level-headed in any circumstance. Like now.

The scent of Hailey’s heat is still clawing at me, making it nearly impossible to think straight. It’s a constant pressure, a primal need that’s pushing at the edges of my control. But Stone’s words cut through the haze just enough to bring me back, just enough to remind me there’s a bigger problem to deal with right now.

“We need to lock this place down,” I say, my voice low and steady. “Check the cameras. Make sure every door and window is secure.”

Stone nods, his expression grim. “Agreed.”

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