Page 179 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

She’s quiet for a moment, clearly processing everything. Her gaze keeps drifting to the ceiling, where we can faintly hear movement from the nest room. “The way they interact…” she says slowly, as if piecing together a puzzle. “Finn and Hailey. Have you noticed anything unusual?”

“Besides the fact that they’re not trying to tear each other apart?” Jax asks dryly.

She shakes her head, standing to pace the room. “No, it’s more than that. The way she orients toward him, how she responds to histouch, how naturally he soothes her…” She stops, turning to face us. “In medical school, there was this theory. Most dismissed it as folklore, really. There were so few documented cases that it was considered almost mythological.”

“More mythological than a scent match?” Jax lets out a breath. He looks exhausted. Pretty sure he’s the mirror image of me right now.

“What kind of theory?” I prompt when Dr. Greene doesn’t continue.

“Omega imprinting,” she says carefully, watching our reactions. “Not like animals,” she adds quickly, seeing my frown.

Dr. Greene studies us for a moment. “When exactly did you notice their unusual dynamic? Was it only after the pre-heat started?”

Jax and I exchange looks. “No,” I say slowly. “From the moment they met. It was…” I search for the words. “Immediate. Like they recognized each other somehow.”

Her eyes sharpen with interest. “Before the pre-heat? Tell me exactly what you observed.”

“Finn was drawn to her instantly,” Jax explains. “Which isn’t like him at all with other omegas. And Hailey…” he pauses, remembering. “She was terrified of everything, of us even, but not of him. She looks at him like…”

“Like he’s her world,” I finish for him.

Dr. Greene leans forward. “And their scents? Did you notice anything there?”

We both shake our heads. “There’s never been anything to cause alarm.”

Dr. Greene taps her fingers together, the soft sound breaking the silence in the room. Finally, she gestures upstairs. “What you’re describing—the instant recognition, the natural compatibility, the way their scents work together—it all fits. If I’m right, and I’ll need to run specific tests on their blood to confirm, Finn and Hailey aren’t just compatible omegas. They’re mates.”

“Mates?” Jax’s voice rises just a little. “They’re both omegas. How is that even possible?”

Dr. Greene’s eyes are bright with academic excitement. “Biology isn’t as simple as we think. These cases are so rare that most doctors consider them myths, but I’ve always believed…” She catches herself, becoming more clinical again. “The blood work will tell us more. I’ll need your permission to run tests on Finn’s stored blood, but if I’m right…”

“If you’re right?” I prompt when she trails off again. The exhaustion is making it hard to process all of this.

Dr. Greene rises, her expression thoughtful. “If I’m right, it would explain everything. Why Finn isn’t territorial around her, why she calmed so quickly in his presence, why they’re able to share space so naturally.” She pauses. “It would also explain why this pre-heat hit her so hard. It’s not just the suppressants, though those certainly contributed. Her body is likely trying to sync with her mate.”

“But what does this mean?” Jax asks, running a hand through his hair. “For all of us? She’s our scent match, but if she and Finn are…” he can’t seem to finish the sentence.

“That’s what makes this case sofascinating,” Dr. Greene’s eyes light up again. “A scent match and omega mates in the same pack? It’s unprecedented. But from what I can observe, it seems to be creating a perfect balance. Have you noticed any confusion in your own bonds with Finn? Any jealousy or territorial behavior toward Hailey?”

We both shake our heads.

“And Finn’s been more settled since she arrived, hasn’t he? More centered?”

“Yes,” I admit. “He’s been…” I glance at Jax. “Happier.”

Dr. Greene nods. “Think of it like this—you two and Ren are anchored to each other as alphas, and to Finn as your omega. Hailey is anchored to you three as your scent match, and to Finn as her omega mate. It creates a complete circuit, so to speak. Eachconnection strengthening the others instead of competing with them.”

She moves to her bag. “I’ll need to run comprehensive panels on all of you. Blood work, hormone levels, pheromone analysis. With your permission, I’d like to document this case for medical research. Anonymously, of course.”

It all sounds interesting but I don’t…I don’t care about all that.

“Will she be okay?” I ask, my mind going back to Hailey upstairs. “With the pre-heat, and everything else?”

Dr. Greene’s expression softens. “With proper care, yes. The pre-heat is intense because her body is adjusting to multiple significant changes at once. Coming off suppressants, meeting her scent matches, bonding with her omega mate…” She starts gathering her things. “But she has exactly what she needs— alphas who can protect her, and an omega mate who can guide her through it.”

Dr. Greene adjusts her coat again, still talking. “I’ll start the blood work first thing when I return to the lab. The sooner we understand exactly what’s happening, the better we can support all of you through this transition.” She smiles at us, but I can’t even respond to it. I don’t know what the fuck I’m feeling. “I’ll also send over some supplements—vitamins, minerals, things to help ease the strain on her system.”

She straightens, looking between us. “I know this is a lot to process. A scent match alone would be significant enough, but combined with everything else…” She shakes her head slightly. “Just remember that what feels overwhelming right now is actually your pack finding its perfect balance. These bonds—all of them—they’re meant to strengthen each other.”

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