Page 254 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

I glance over my shoulder, my heart twisting at the sight of them. Jax is leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his dark-brown eyes clouded with worry. Stone is pacing, his hands stuffed into his pockets, his movements sharp and restless.

They look tired.

No, more than tired. They look…frayed. Like the weight of everything is finally starting to crack the careful facades they’ve built over the years.

I want to help, to tell them that everything will be okay, but the words feel empty in my throat. Because I don’t know if everything will be okay.

And that terrifies me.

Later, at dinner, I finally bring it up.

“The gala,” I say, my voice cutting through the silence at the table. “You’re going, aren’t you?”

Stone glances at Jax, his brow furrowing slightly. “How did you know about the gala?”

I shrug.

“We’re not going,” Jax says, pushing his food around on his plate. “We’re not leaving you and Finn here alone. I mean, I could send Stone alone, but these things…they need the presence of pack. Going along isn’t an option.”

“Th-then we all go,” I say, pushing as much surety as I can into my voice.

Jax raises an eyebrow, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. “Your pre-heat?—”

“Finn and I have been managing it well,” I interrupt, my cheeks heating at the memory of exactly how Finn has been helping me. “I-I’ll be fine for one night. I promise.”

“That’s not the point,” Stone says, his voice calm but firm. “Jax is right. You shouldn’t have to push yourself like this. We can figure something out.”

“I’m not pushing myself,” I insist, though the warmth in my body has been simmering steadily all day, making it harder to think clearly. “I want to go. I’ve never been to a gala before. It will be nice, and I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Finn, who’s been quiet until now, reaches for my hand under the table. His touch is warm, grounding, and when I look at him, his gray eyes are filled with quiet understanding.

“She’s right,” he says softly, his gaze shifting to Stone and Jax. “We need to go. You both know that…and wehavegotten better at managing her symptoms.” He does a little cheeky smile. “We’ve been working at it all day, haven’t we, Hailey.”

I flush at his words, the memory of his hands and mouth on my overheated skin flashing through my mind. He’s been so patient, so gentle, easing the worst of my pre-heat with a care that makes me feel cherished in a way I’ve never known before.

But I can’t deny that the thought of being at the gala, surrounded by strangers, makes my stomach twist with anxiety. Not because I don’t want to go, but because I’m afraid of what might happen if I lose control.

Jax’s gaze lingers on me for a long moment before he sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. “Fine,” he says finally. “But we’re staying close. No wandering off, no splitting up. Understood?”

I nod, relief washing over me. “Understood.”

That night, sleep doesn’t come easily.

I lie in the nest, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day replay in my mind. The tension in Stone’s voice, the worry in Jax’s eyes, the way Finn’s still trying to create a cocoon around me.

They’re all trying so hard to hold everything together, but I can see the cracks forming. And I know that if we don’t figure out a way to stop the Academy, those cracks are only going to get bigger.

The warmth in my body flares again, sharper this time, and I let out a soft sigh, pressing my thighs together as I try to will it away. It doesn’t help.

Slipping out of the nest without waking Finn, Jax, or Stone takes everything within me. I spend what feels like a whole half hour just making my way to the edge. When my feet finally touch the cool floor, I let out a slow breath.

The moonlight streaming in through the window is picturesque. It’s deathly quiet. Everyone is sleeping, but the tension in the air feels heavier than ever.

Walking to the window, I look out over the darkened drive.

I never thought I’d find this. This peace. These males. A promise of a life I actually want to live. I don’t know how…I don’t know how to fix this. But I must.

That’s when I see it.

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