Page 178 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“When she came to us,” Finn finishes for her, his tone leaving no room for judgment.

Dr. Greene nods slowly, reaching into her bag. “I’ll need to take some blood samples, check your hormone levels. Six years of suppressants, especially during developmental years…” she trails off, then seems to catch herself. “Well, let’s see where we are now.”

As Dr. Greene prepares the blood collection equipment, I notice how Hailey curls closer to Finn. His response is immediate, natural—wrapping an arm around her, murmuring something too low for us to hear. The doctor’s eyes track this interaction again, her clinical assessment never missing a detail.

“This might sting a bit,” she warns, swabbing Hailey’s arm. “Try to relax.”

Hailey tenses anyway, and Finn strokes her hair. “Look at me, sunshine,” he says softly. “Just focus on me.”

The term of endearment makes Dr. Greene’s hands pause for just a fraction of a second before she continues her work. I can almost see the questions building in her head—questions about pack dynamics she’s never encountered before.

“There we go,” she says, securing the vial of blood. “Now, Hailey, I need to ask you some questions about your previous heats. Even the suppressed ones.”

“They weren’t…” Hailey starts, then stops. Finn’s hand continues its soothing motion through her hair. She looks uncertain, vulnerable. “I’ve never…this is my first…”

Dr. Greene’s pen clatters to the floor. Her professional mask cracks completely as she whips her head toward us at the door, eyes wide with shock. “First?” She turns back to Hailey. “You’ve never had a heat before? At all?”

Hailey shakes her head, shrinking slightly at the intensity of the doctor’s reaction. Finn pulls her closer.

“The suppressants,” Hailey explains quietly. “They started me on them as soon as they took me to the—” She stops, eyes findingmine. Outside of the doctor’s peripheral vision, I shake my head slowly.

We trust Dr. Greene, but telling her about the Academy doesn’t feel like the right move to make. Not yet.

“I’ve been on them since I revealed,” Hailey finishes.

Dr. Greene frowns. “Even then…there were no suppressed heats?”

Hailey looks so small, and I don’t realize I’m moving toward her until Jax’s fist tightens on my shoulder.

Hailey shakes her head. “No. None.”

The doctor’s jaw clenches briefly before she forces herself back into professional mode, though her voice carries an edge of controlled anger. “Six years of suppressants during crucial developmental years, and then a sudden cessation…” She takes a deep breath. “No wonder the pre-heat hit so intensely. You’d think your family had been preparing for this exact thing to happen when they finally took you off them.”

A growl rumbles in my throat until I realize it’s not mine, but Jax’s. The thought of Hailey going through this with some asshole who paid for her like she was cattle makes me want to punch something.

Dr. Greene turns back to her examination, her movements even more gentle now. “I need to check your glands, particularly the ones on your neck. Is that alright?”

Hailey nods, though she instinctively tilts her head toward Finn rather than away—another gesture that catches the doctor’s attention.

The examination continues in tense silence, broken only by soft reassurances from Finn when Hailey flinches at particularly sensitive spots. Finally, Dr. Greene sits back, pulling off her gloves.

“I need to speak with your alphas,” she says, her tone brooking no argument. She looks at Finn. “Stay with her. The pre-heat isn’t over yet, and given the circumstances…”

Finn nods, already gathering Hailey closer as we step backfrom the doorway. Dr. Greene follows us out, closing the door firmly before turning to face us.

“We should continue this downstairs,” Dr. Greene says in a low voice, glancing at the nest room. We follow her down to the living room, where she sets her bag down and adjusts her white coat in a way that seems to help her gather her thoughts.

Finally, she turns to us, and the professional mask has completely slipped away. “Do you haveanyidea how dangerous this could have been?” Her voice is controlled but intense. “A first heat afteryearsof suppressants? She could have gone into shock. Her hormone levels could have spiraled out of control. The fact she’s stable at all is…” she trails off, pinching the bridge of her nose. “How did this happen? How did you end up with a second omega who’s never had a proper heat?”

Jax and I exchange looks. “She’s our scent match,” I say finally.

Dr. Greene stills completely. “What?” When we nod, she sinks slowly into the nearest seat. “A scent match?” She shakes her head slowly. “I’ve only read about those in medical journals. The odds of finding even one true scent match is astronomical…” She looks up at us sharply. “When did you find her?”

“Just over a week ago,” Jax answers.

“A week—” she cuts herself off, taking a deep breath. “And she stopped the suppressants then?”

I nod.

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