Page 264 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

Because I know we need him.

Not just for his skills, though those are invaluable.

We need him because he’s part of this. Part of us.

And if we’re going to stop the Academy, if we’re going to fix this mess and protect what they’ve built together, we need to be whole.

All of us.

I just hope Ren realizes that before it’s too late.

Chapter 60

Hailey

The gala is in full swing now, the hum of conversation growing louder as more and more people arrive. The space seems to pulse with energy, a mix of clinking glasses, the soft strains of the orchestra, and the low murmur of deals being made in the shadows.

Stone and Jax are in constant motion, weaving through the crowd like seasoned warriors navigating a battlefield. Every conversation is a delicate dance, every smile, handshake, and words carefully chosen. They’re working hard, harder than I’ve ever seen them, to regain their footing on the social ladder. Whatever interference the Academy caused—whatever damage they did—it’s clear that Stone and Jax are determined to overcome it.

And, somehow, it’s working.

I can see it in the way people respond to them. The lingering glances of respect, the subtle nods of acknowledgment. Even those who seemed skeptical at first are softening, their gazes warming as Jax’s quiet authority and Stone’s effortless charm start to win them over.

“They’re doing it,” Finn murmurs beside me, his voice low enough that only I can hear. His gray eyes follow Stone and Jax asthey move through the room, his expression a mix of pride and relief. “Turning up here, being present—it’s working.”

I nod, my chest swelling with the same mix of emotions. Pride, relief, and something softer, something warmer, as I watch the three of them—my pack—fight to protect what’s theirs.

But even as I smile, even as I let myself feel that flicker of hope, my gaze keeps drifting.

Waiting forhim.

I know I shouldn’t. I know I should be focusing on the moment, on what’s happening in front of me. But I can’t help it. My mind keeps circling back to Ren, to the empty space where he should be.

I told myself not to expect too much, not to hope too hard. But as the night drags on, as Stone and Jax continue to rebuild what the Academy tried to tear apart, I feel the weight of his absence like a stone in my chest.

“Hailey?” Finn’s voice pulls me back, and I realize I’ve been staring at the doors again.

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, forcing a smile. “Just…taking it all in.”

Finn doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t press. Instead, he squeezes my hand lightly. “You’re doing great,” he says softly, and the warmth in his voice eases some of the tension in my chest.

I nod, drawing strength from his steady presence, and try to focus on the task at hand.

But then, just as the night seems to be hitting its peak—just as Stone and Jax manage to draw a crowd of influential alphas into a conversation that could turn everything around—the air in the room changes.

It’s subtle at first, a shift so small it’s almost imperceptible. But then I hear it—the faintest ripple of murmurs, the kind that spreads like wildfire in a place like this. Heads turn, conversations falter, and the charged energy of the gala seems to freeze in place.

I follow their gazes, my breath catching as I see him.

Ren.

He steps into the room like he owns it, his presence commanding without him even trying. Gone is the scruffy, unkempt male I last saw stalking through the forest. His beard is gone, leaving his strong jawline sharp and clean, and his curly hair has been neatly trimmed into the familiar crew cut I remember from when we first met.

But it’s not just the grooming that makes him look so different. It’s the suit.

The dark, perfectly tailored fabric clings to his broad shoulders and powerful frame. He’s wearing all black. A crisp black shirt and black tie adding a touch of sophistication that only amplifies his raw, untamed energy. He looks like he doesn’t belong here—and yet, somehow, like he’s the only one who truly does.

My heart falters, a mix of emotions crashing over me so quickly I can’t sort them out. Relief. Disbelief. And something deeper, something I’m not ready to face yet.

---