Page 268 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

Out here? In the open? Walking around others, socializing like she’s normal? It can’t be her. Doubt fills my mind.

I have to be sure.

I step forward again, ignoring the way Finn’s hand brushes against mine in a silent question. My knees feel weak, but I force myself to curtsy, the gesture small and deliberate.

The faintest trace of her scent reaches me then—jasmine, light and delicate but unmistakable. My stomach twists violently, the memories clawing at the edges of my mind.

I need to leave. Now.

“Alpha Veyra,” I say, bowing my head slightly, keeping my tone polite and measured. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe the evening’s pace has caught up with me. I wouldn’t want to risk embarrassing my pack by overstaying my welcome.”

The alpha’s lips curve faintly, her smile polite but cold, her soulless dark eyes still boring into mine. “Of course,” she says, her tone smooth, almost amused. “It’s always wise to know your limits.”

My jaw tightens, but I keep my face neutral, offering a small nod of gratitude. “Thank you for your understanding.”

I step back slowly, careful not to seem rushed or panicked, even though my heart is hammering in my chest. Finn is instantly at my side.

“Excuse us,” he says suddenly, his voice cutting through thetension like a blade. He steps closer, wrapping a gentle hand around my wrist. “We’ll leave you to your discussion.”

My stomach twists violently, and for a moment, I think I’m going to pass out.

It’s her.

It’sher.

The certainty crystallizes in my mind with terrible clarity.

Widow.

I manage to keep my expression calm, though every muscle in my body feels like it’s screaming. I have to tell them. I have to let them know. But not here. Not yet. I have to wait. I have to wait until a better moment.

Finn doesn’t wait for their response. He guides me toward the far side of the room, his grip firm but not unkind. Ren follows, his presence a silent shield that I’m suddenly grateful for.

When we’re far enough away, Finn stops and turns to me, his gray eyes filled with concern. “Hailey,” he says softly, his hand brushing against my cheek. “What just happened? Talk to me.”

“I’m fine,” I lie, though my voice is unconvincing, thin and brittle. My chest feels tight, an invisible weight pressing down on me, and I force myself to look anywhere but at Finn. “It’s…nothing. Just…overwhelmed. That’s all.” I can’t tell him yet. If she’s here, socializing with these people, who knows who else is in on this? Who knows who else is affiliated with the Academy?

Finn doesn’t buy it. “Come on,” he says softly, his hand steady as he guides me toward a quieter corner of the room. Ren moves with us, his sharp eyes darting toward the other guests, scanning for potential threats as if he can sense something is wrong even without me saying a word.

Finn finds an empty chair near a side table, pulling it out for me before crouching down to meet my eye level. His hand doesn’t leave mine, grounding me even as I try to focus, to breathe, to stop the storm raging inside me.

“You need to sit down,” Finn says gently. “Take a second. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it. Just—breathe, Hailey.”

I lower myself into the chair, my legs trembling so badly I’m afraid they might give out if I don’t. My gaze flickers toward the far side of the room, where Veyra stands, regal and composed, her dark eyes now fixed on Stone and Jax as if nothing had happened. But I can still feel her focus, the weight of her presence, as if she’s completely aware of me.

I try to look away, but I can’t help it. My eyes keep drifting back to her, drawn to the very thing I should be avoiding. My heart pounds wildly in my chest, every beat echoing in my ears like a deafening drum.

Ren catches the way my gaze keeps slipping. “I’ll get you some water,” he says, keeping his voice low. He doesn’t wait for a response, slipping into the crowd with the kind of quiet efficiency I’ve come to expect from him.

“Hailey?” Finn says, squeezing my hand, pulling my attention back to him. “You’re safe. You’re with us. No one is going to hurt you here. Look at me.”

I try to focus on him, on the steady warmth in his eyes, but the walls of the room feel like they’re closing in. My breaths come faster, shallower, until it feels like I’m not breathing at all.

“I—I can’t,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I can’t—breathe.”

Finn’s hand tightens over mine, his calm beginning to crack as panic seeps into his expression. “Hey, hey. Hailey. Focus on me. Just me. Forget everything else. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

But I don’t feel okay. I feel like I’m drowning, like there’s no air left in the room, and every breath I try to take is swallowed by the crushing weight in my chest. My fingers dig into the arms of the chair as my vision blurs, the edges of the room tilting and spinning.

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