Page 226 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

For a heartbeat, I think he’ll refuse—that the distance that’s been creeping back between us will keep him away. When he finally places his hand in mine, the simple contact sends electricity through my veins. His fingers are cool against my palm, and I resist the urge to bring them to my lips, to warm them with my breath as I used to. Instead, I guide him to the center of the room, hyperaware of every inch where our bodies connect, of the memory of how perfectly we fit together.

For a few magical minutes, we exist in a bubble of normalcy—two couples dancing to timeless jazz in a wood-paneled cabin, the outside world and all its dangers momentarily held at bay.

“Switch?” Finn suggests as the song ends, and without discussion, we rearrange ourselves—Finn guiding Hailey through more complex movements while I find myself face-to-face with Stone.

Despite all the jokes, Stone is a capable dancer when he wants to be. His injured arm limits some movements, but we adapt, finding a new balance that works within his current capabilities.

“This was a good idea,” he murmurs, low enough that only I can hear.

I nod, watching as Finn demonstrates a simple jazz step to Hailey, whose face is alight with the joy of discovery. “They both needed it. We all did.”

“It’s not enough, though,” he adds, the reality of our situation seeping back like a dark cloud. “A few hours of normal doesn’t change what’s coming.”

“I know,” I nod. “But it reminds us what we’re fighting for.”

I can almost believe we might find our way back to being a real pack.

Almost.

The next morning brings reality crashing back when the satellite phone finally rings. Stone takes the call in the bedroom upstairs, his voice too low to distinguish words but the tension in his tone unmistakable. When he returns, his expression is unreadable as he joins us in the kitchen.

“That was Ren,” he announces, sliding onto a chair by the table. “Everything’s quiet at the house. No sign of anyone coming back or watching the place.”

“That’s…good news, right?” Finn asks cautiously, looking up from the tea he’s brewing at the stove.

Stone nods, though something in his posture remains guarded. “He thinks we could head back in a few days.”

“Back to the house?” Hailey’s voice is small, uncertain. She sits at the kitchen table, a cookie in hand. “Is that safe?”

“Ren seems to think so,” Stone replies and I study his face for any hint of what else might have been discussed in that call.

Hailey doesn’t look convinced, and honestly, neither am I. The Academy doesn’t strike me as an organization that gives up easily, not after sending armed mercenaries to retrieve one escaped omega.

“We don’t have to decide anything today.” I straighten, rolling my shoulders. “We’re secure here for as long as necessary.”

Finn places a fresh cup of herbal tea in front of Hailey, his fingers brushing hers in a gesture that seems unconsciously comforting. “What did Ren say about the damage to the house?”

Stone shrugs. “Didn’t mention it. Don’t worry, I plan to put in a good few days making it as good as new.” He flashes what shouldbe a comforting smile but not even Stone can hide the strain of the past few days.

As Hailey and Finn eat, the conversation shifts to practical matters—what supplies we would need to pack if we did return home, what security measures we should implement regardless of location.

By afternoon, the weather turns, bringing a steady rain that drums against the cabin roof and transforms the forest outside into a misty, ethereal landscape.

Hailey curls up on the window seat with one of the books she discovered on Ren’s shelves, while Finn rests with his head on her lap, face turned to the window, watching the rain.

It’s after dinner, when Hailey and Finn have gone upstairs, that Stone approaches me in the kitchen. His movements are hesitant as he collects dishes from the table, placing them carefully in the sink before turning to face me.

He hesitates, then lowers his voice so it won’t carry upstairs. “There’s something else. About the call with Ren.”

My attention sharpens immediately. “What?”

“He asked about Finn. About how he’s…adjusting.” Stone’s eyes meet mine, weighted with unspoken meaning. “I told him about the…about the fact Finn had considered leaving us…”

My gut twists.

“Ren thinks…” Stone trails off, his gaze shifting to the window where rain continues to fall in steady sheets. He takes a deep breath, seeming to gather his resolve. “Ren thinks we need to tell him the truth. About what happened during the accident. About the bond.”

We’ve been having this dance for years and nowRenis on Stone’s side? Ren who’d been so afraid of Finn finding out just how he’d messed up that night? What the fuck made him change his mind?

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