Page 180 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

As we walk her to the door, she suddenly pauses, turning back with a thoughtful look on her face. “One more thing…” She seems to consider her words carefully. “I noticed Hailey doesn’t have any bonding marks yet. Not even surface scent marking.”

Jax shifts uncomfortably. “We didn’t want to overwhelm her.”

“I understand the instinct to be cautious, especially since she’scoming into her first heat,” she says gently. “But scent marking would actually help stabilize her right now. It would give her system something concrete to latch on to, make the transitions easier.” She adjusts her bag on her shoulder. “You don’t need to rush into deeper bonding, but some basic scent marking from all of you—including Finn—would help ground her. Think of it as…creating a scent foundation for your pack bonds to build on.”

She opens the door, then stops. “Oh, I almost forgot. On my way up the drive, just at the entrance, actually, I ran into a couple of betas. They said they had a flat tire and asked for help.”

My entire body goes still.

Jax’s eyes narrow, his stance shifting subtly. “A flat tire?”

Dr. Greene nods, oblivious to the way the air around us shifts. “Yes. They flagged me down as I was turning in. Two males. Seemed…friendly enough, I suppose.” She shifts her bag to her other hand, shrugging lightly. “They asked if I had a jack or if I could call someone to help, but I told them I wasn’t exactly equipped for that sort of thing. I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.” She lets out a soft laugh at her own joke, but neither of us reacts.

“Did they say anything else?” Jax presses.

She frowns, looking between us now, clearly picking up on the tension. “No. Just asked for help with the flat tire. Why? Is something going on?”

“No,” I say quickly. “Thank you for telling us. We’ll check it out.”

She glances between us again, clearly unconvinced but too professional to press further. She gives us one last look before heading to her car. She pauses at the driver’s side door and turns back to us. “Don’t wait too long to scent mark her,” she adds as if it’s an afterthought. “It’ll make a world of difference for all of you.”

We nod, but neither of us responds. My attention is already fixed on the drive, my mind racing.

As soon as Dr. Greene pulls away, her car disappearing downthe winding road, Jax steps off the porch, his movements sharp and deliberate.

“Flat tire, my ass,” he mutters, his hands clenched into fists.

I follow him, my chest tight with the same unease that’s been gnawing at me for hours. “The same car,” I say quietly as we reach the edge of the porch, my eyes scanning the tree line. “It has to be.”

Jax nods, his jaw tight. “Yes.”

“And now they know we’ve got a doctor coming and going,” I add bitterly, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “If they didn’t know about Hailey before…”

“They do now.”

The weight of that realization settles over us like a storm cloud, and for a moment, neither of us speaks. The morning sun feels colder now, the shadows stretching longer across the yard.

“Get the keys,” Jax says finally, his voice sharp. “We’re going to check it out.”

I nod, already moving for them. My pulse is pounding in my ears, adrenaline sharpening my focus as I grab the keys and head back out, climbing behind the wheel.

Jax slides into the passenger seat, his expression grim as I turn the SUV and head toward the entrance.

The drive is quiet, the tension between us thick and heavy. When we round the last bend and the entrance to the drive comes into view, my stomach twists.

The car is gone.

No sign of a flat tire. No sign of anyone at all.

Jax lets out a low growl, his hands gripping the dashboard. “They’re fucking with us.”

I pull the SUV to a stop, my eyes scanning the surrounding trees. “They were here,” I say, my voice tight. “Dr. Greene wouldn’t make something like that up.”

Jax nods, his gaze sweeping the area. “They’re watching,” he mutters. “Waiting for something.”

“For her,” I say darkly, my hands tightening on the steering wheel.

Jax doesn’t respond, but the look in his eyes says enough.

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