Page 206 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“Stone?” I whisper, and his muscles coil in response, body already orienting toward whatever potential threat disturbed our peace. He reaches for his phone resting on the edge of the nest, the screen’s glow illuminating the sharp planes of his face. My heart stutters when I see what he’s looking at—something on his screen is blinking red.

“Perimeter alarm,” he breathes.

A soft creak from downstairs has my heart racing. Not just my imagination then. Not just paranoia left over from years of sleeping with one eye open. This is real.

The peace of moments ago shatters like glass as adrenaline floods my system. My body remembers this feeling—the electric anticipation of fight or flight that was my present companion at the Academy. But this is different. This isn’t just about my survival anymore. My gaze sweeps over the males sleeping beside me, and something fierce and protective rises in my chest, an emotion so strong it almost chokes me.

Finn mumbles in his sleep, shifting closer to my warmth, completely unaware of the danger. I want to keep him that way—safe, peaceful. The thought surprises me with its intensity. When did these men become so essential to my existence that the mere thought of harm coming to them makes my blood burn?

Stone’s hand finds mine in the darkness, a gentle squeeze that grounds me. He presses a finger to his lips and shakes his head slowly.Don’t make a sound. I give him a nod. I’ve had years of being trained to do just that.

Another creak, closer this time. Jax is fully awake now, his body curved protectively around Finn even as his attention fixes on the bedroom door. The air grows thick with alpha pheromones—both Stone and Jax radiating protective fury. Under different circumstances, I might have found their possessive display a bitanxiety-inducing. Now, it only feeds the growing certainty that I’ll do whatever it takes to defend them, too.

“Someone’s in the house,” Stone whispers, his voice barely a breath against my ear. The strange topographical map on his phone screen shows several red dots blinking at different points. Not just one intruder then. My stomach clenches at the implications.

“They’ve come for me,” I whisper, the words barely audible, but Stone’s sharp inhalation tells me he hears them. His hand tightens on mine briefly—reassurance, or maybe a silent promise. Either way, it steadies me.

Jax is already moving, his motions silent as he slips out of the nest, his body radiating tension. He slips into pants and crouches low, disappearing into the shadows beneath the nest. I strain my eyes, trying to make out what he’s doing, my heart pounding in my chest. When he rises, a glint of metal catches my eye—the distinct, unmistakable shape of a handgun. The sight of it makes my stomach twist—not because I’m afraid of violence, but because I know exactly what it means: Jax means business. He’s not playing games. He’s preparing for war. He’s ready to protect his pack, his home,me, by any means necessary.

“Never did understand why Ren kept this here,” he mutters so low, it’s almost impossible to hear him. As he checks the barrel, his gaze shifts to me. “Stay quiet.” His gaze flicks to Stone, a silent communication passing between them.

I nod, my throat too tight to speak, and Stone leans in close, his massive frame blocking out everything else for a moment. “Stay here. Don’t move unless I say,” he whispers, his voice as steady as his hand as he brushes a finger against my cheek.

“I can help,” I whisper back, but his sharp shake of the head cuts me off.

“Not this time, sweetheart. Let us handle it.”

Before I can protest, he’s gone, following Jax out of the room buck naked. But that doesn’t take away from the fact he looks likea warrior stripped for battle, every muscle coiled tight, every line of him honed and dangerous.

The door closes softly behind them, and the silence that follows is deafening. My heart thunders in my chest, every instinct screaming at me to follow, to do something, but I force myself to stay put. I’m not stupid. I know I’d only be a liability out there.

They’ve come forme. I’m not going to just walk into their arms while my pack is doing everything they can to prevent that.

Finn stirs beside me, his brow furrowing as he blinks himself awake. “What’s going on?” he mumbles, his voice thick with sleep.

“Shh,” I whisper, placing a hand on his chest to keep him from sitting up. “There’s someone in the house. Stone and Jax are handling it.”

His eyes snap open, the fog of sleep vanishing in an instant. “What?” he breathes, his hand already reaching for me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I reassure him, though my voice shakes slightly. “They told me to stay here.”

Finn’s jaw tightens, and he sits up fully, his body coiled with tension. “The hell you will,” he mutters, swinging his legs over the edge of the nest. Reaching under the nest, he grabs the baseball bat and I begin to wonder what the hell else is hidden under there.

“Finn—”

“Bathroom,” he says firmly, cutting me off. “Lock the door and don’t come out until one of us gets you.”

I hesitate, my instincts warring with his command, but the sound of something crashing downstairs decides for me. I scramble out of the nest, my limbs shaking as I hurry toward the bathroom. Finn is already moving toward the door, his broad shoulders taut with tension, but he pauses for a brief moment to look back at me.

“Please,” he says, his voice softer now, but no less urgent. “Don’t make me worry about you too, Hailey.”

The words make something in the center of my chest clenchpainfully, and I nod, slipping into the bathroom and locking the door behind me. My hands tremble as I back away, my heart pounding so loudly I can barely hear anything else. The bathroom is dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon through the window. Leaning against the sink, I try to calm my breathing, but every sound from beyond the walls sends fresh spikes of adrenaline through me.

A muffled shout echoes from downstairs, followed by a sharp crack. My knees threaten to give out, but I force myself to stay upright, my mind racing. Stone and Jax are out there. Finn is out there. They’re fighting for me. I can’t fall apart now.

Footsteps thunder down the hallway below—running. A shout, then the heavy thud of something hitting a wall. More footsteps, these slow, heavy.

My fingers grip the cold porcelain of the sink as gunfire erupts downstairs, startling me right down to my bones. The sharp cracks echo through the house, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Someone curses—Jax, I think. Another burst of gunfire, closer this time.

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