Page 186 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“You said you’d leave when the alphas bonded with me,” I press, my voice trembling. “You said this was temporary. That I’d be theirs…and you…”

Finn’s jaw tightens with an audible click, and he looks away, his shoulders stiff as tension locks every muscle. It’s like watching a fortress assemble itself brick by brick—his relaxed posture vanishing, replaced by rigid lines and carefully controlled breathing. His scent shifts subtly, too, taking on a sharper note that speaks of carefully contained pain. For a long moment, I think he won’t answer, that he’ll retreat behind that wall and leave me on the outside.

“It’s how packs work,” he finally says. His voice is low, almost detached, like he’s forcing himself to state a fact instead of how he feels. “It’s what’s best for you. Once you bond with them, you won’t need me anymore.”

“No.” The word bursts from me. “That’s not true. Idoneed you, Finn. I can’t—I can’t stay here without you.”

Finn’s face falls, and he shifts closer, cupping my face in his hands. “Sunshine,” he murmurs, his voice so thick with emotion the words come out rough. “You don’t mean that. The heat is making everything feel stronger than it is. Once it’s over, once you’ve bonded, you’ll see things differently.”

He says it like he believes it—like he’s trying to convince himself as much as me. But when I see the glassiness in his eyes, I know he’s as close to tears as I am.

I shake my head, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “I don’t care about that. I don’t care how it’s supposed to feel. If it means losing you, I don’t want it.”

Finn goes still, eyes searching mine. For a long moment, neither of us speaks, the tension between us rising.

Then, slowly, he leans in, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, lingering kiss. This one is gentle, almost sad, like he’s trying to memorize the moment.

When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine, his voice a whisper. “You don’t know how much I want to believe that, Hailey.”

“Then believe me,” I say, my voice trembling.

Finn’s arms wrap around me, holding me tight like he’s trying to steady both of us. I bury my face in his chest, his scent creating a calming effect, but my thoughts are anything but calm.

Something about the way he holds me, the tension in his shoulders, tells me he’s not done talking.

Finn pulls back slightly, his hands still resting on my shoulders, his eyes searching my face. “Hailey,” he whispers, voice careful, like he’s choosing each word with precision.

I meet his gaze, my stomach twisting. “Yes?”

He hesitates, his brows furrowing as he exhales through his nose. “You meant what you said,” he murmurs, more to himself than to me. “You’d rather go through the heat without them than lose me.”

I nod quickly, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I do. I mean it, Finn. I’m not staying here if you’re gone.”

Finn’s expression tightens, and he looks away for a moment, his jaw flexing. When he looks back at me, there’s something in his eyes that makes my chest ache—something heavy, conflicted.

“Hailey,” he starts slowly, his voice low, “I know how you feel right now. I know how much you think you need me, and I’m not saying you don’t. But…” He trails off, his hands dropping to his lap as he exhales deeply.

“But what?” I ask, my voice trembling.

Finn looks at me again, his eyes soft but steady. “But there’s a part of you that wants them, too,” he says quietly.

I shake my head instinctively. “No,” I blurt out. “I don’t?—”

“Hailey,” Finn interrupts. “You do. Maybe you don’t realize it yet, or maybe you’re too scared to admit it, but I can see it. You’re their omega, Hailey.”

I shake my head. “You are too!”

A pained look comes across his face before his expression shutters. “I was. Once. But omegas break bonds all the time, Hailey. It’s allowed. And it’s better this way—for everyone.”

His voice cracks on the last word, and I can see how hard it is for him to say this. How much it’s costing him.

“You think leaving will fix things?” I ask, my voice trembling.

Finn closes his eyes briefly, his jaw tight. “No,” he admits softly. “But staying would break me.” He releases a shuddering breath. “There’s been distance, Hailey, between me and them for a long time. I love them but having you here, touching me, giving me affection, it only underlines how much I’ve needed these things…”

The honesty in his voice shatters something in me. “Finn…”

“I’ve been carrying this for a long time,” he continues, his voice low and heavy. “The accident, the scars, the way everything changed after… I’ve been holding it all together because I hoped things would change. But I can’t keep doing it, Hailey. I need to find peace. And I can’t do that here.” He pauses. “This would eventually have happened, even if we didn’t find you.” Finn tilts his head, his expression softening. “I needed you…And you need them.”

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