Page 22 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

Fuck. Just…fuck.

I force myself to move past, but each step feels like I’m dragging lead weights. Through the gap, I catch a glimpse of him curled up in the nest, surrounded by blankets and pieces of clothing from all of us. The sight hits me hard. How many times have I added to that nest? How many nights have we all piled in there together?

And here I am, sneaking past like a goddamn thief.

I practically sprint the last few steps to my room, shutting the door with exaggerated care before leaning against it. My heart’s pounding like I’ve run miles, torn between pack bonds and…whatever the hell is happening between me and the omega in my cabin.

Clothes. Focus on clothes.

I throw open my closet, then stop dead. Shit. I don’t have anything that she’d want to wear. There’s nothing in here for a female. Of course, there’s nothing in here for a female—we’re a pack of three alphas and a male omega. For a moment, I consider raiding Finn’s closet. His clothes would at least be softer and prettier than mine, but…

The thought vanishes as quickly as it comes. The mere idea of exposing her to another omega’s scent, let alone three alphas’,makes my hackles rise. She’s already terrified of me—how would she handle being surrounded by strange pack scents? Besides, in her current state, even Finn’s gentle omega presence might be too much.

And maybe…maybe I’m not ready to share this yet. These moments where it’s just us, trying to figure out what the fuck is happening. Before everything explodes. Before I have to explain to my pack why I’m harboring a traumatized omega filled with wounds, evidence of trauma, and more.

“Selfish bastard,” I mutter, yanking shirts off hangers with more force than necessary. My own scent will have to do. At least she seemed to tolerate my jacket earlier.

I grab what I can: soft t-shirts, drawstring sweats, a hoodie that shrank in the wash. Each item I choose feels intensely personal. She’ll be wrapped in my scent, surrounded by it. The thought does something to me that I’m not ready to examine too closely.

The bag fills quickly—too quickly. I should get more, but time’s slipping away. How long has it been? Twenty minutes? Thirty? Every second I’m gone is another chance for her to bolt, to disappear into the forest like some wild thing. The image makes my chest tight with an emotion I can’t name.

I zip the bag shut, then hesitate. There’s a worn sweater at the back of my closet, one I haven’t worn in months but couldn’t bring myself to throw away. It’s soft from countless washes, the kind of comfort item that might help a frightened omega feel safe. Before I can overthink it, I grab it and stuff it in the bag, too.

As I head back downstairs, I pause again outside Finn’s door. The guilt wells up, threatening to drown me. I should wake him. Should explain. Should…

When the low drone of Jax and Ren talking reaches my ear, their presence is enough to kick my heart rate up again. She’s waiting. Alone. Scared.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper to Finn’s door, knowing it’s not enough. Not nearly enough.

Then I’m moving, taking the stairs two at a time, praying Jax and Ren don’t get in my way. The sooner I get back to her, the better. Because something tells me, this isn’t just about providing clothes and food anymore.

This feels like the beginning of something that’s going to changeeverything.

Chapter 9

Hailey

Pain comes first.

It ripples through me in waves, each throb a reminder of…of…

The memories slam into me. The cell. The escape. Running blind through the forest. An alpha’s growl.

My eyes snap open as panic tears through me. The unfamiliar ceiling above me swims into focus, and my heart pounds so hard I can barely breathe. Where am I? I’m still in that cabin. But how long have I been unconscious? I try to sit up, but my body screams in protest, every muscle burning from exertion and fear.

An alpha’s scent surrounds me. Rich and deep pine. It feels like it’s everywhere—but the most potent source is the jacket draped over me once more. I shudder at the sensation of it, even as my treacherous omega nature wants to burrow deeper into that scent. To forget there’s a world outside and I’m on the run.

Years of training war with instincts I thought they’d beaten out of me.

Eyes down. Always down. Never speak unless commanded. The rules are branded into my bones.

The room is brighter now. Early morning light spills across thefloor that I force myself to study. Medical supplies are scattered nearby, and my arm…I blink down at the neat bandage wrapped around the worst of my cuts. Someone removed the rope from my wrists and treated my wounds while I was unconscious. The alpha?

H…how?Why?

My insides twist with unease. An alpha touched me while I was defenseless. But…but he didn’t…

The fragments I remember don’t make sense. Strong hands catching me as I fell. A deep voice promising safety. But that can’t be right. Alphas don’t serve. I’m the one that’s supposed to play that role.

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