Page 27 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“Look at me.” It’s spoken gently, not an alpha command. “Please.”

The request confuses me. Without the command behind it, I shouldn’t…but he asked… My head lifts slowly, eyes meeting his for the first time. The intensity in his gaze makes me want to look away, but something holds me there.

“You’re safe here,” he says, each word stressed. “No one knows about this cabin except me. No one will find you here.” He runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident. “I need you to stay. Please stay. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I blink at him, confused. He’s not using his alpha command. He couldforceme to stay, but he’s…asking? The concept doesn’t compute.

“There’s food,” he continues, gesturing to the table. “Water. Clothes. The bathroom is just there.” He gestures with one hand. “Whatever you need. No one comes to this part of the property. Just…” His scent spikes with worry. “Just please be here when I get back.”

He backs away slowly, like he’s afraid any sudden movement will startle me. At the door, he hesitates. “A few hours. That’s all. I promise.”

Another moment of hesitation. I can smell how much he doesn’t want to leave. Finally, he steps out, closing the door with painful gentleness behind him. His footsteps crunch through the fallen leaves, growing fainter until they fade into the forest sounds.

I’m alone.

I stand on shaky legs. No alpha command holds me in place. I could run. Should run.

But the scent of perfectly cooked chicken draws my attention to the table. My stomach growls, mouth watering at the sight of the food he left.

Widow’s voice slithers through my memory: “Look at the pig, boys. No self-control. No discipline.” The crack of her whip against my back. “An omega who can’t control their appetite must be trained to. You will eat only the scraps left from your master’s table. You’ll be thankful if all he gives you to eat in a single day is his essence.”

This chicken looks perfectly prepared. I haven’t seen food look this good in…well…in years. Not since before the Academy, when I used to walk past expensive restaurants and spot people eating within.

This dish looks prepared with love and care. This isn’t some scraps from his table. And it’s nothing like the food at the Academy.

I remember the tests. Food left out, seemingly unattended. But there were always eyes watching, waiting to catch us being greedy. Disobedient.

This has to be another test.

Why would he just give away such perfectly prepared food?

My feet carry me to the door before I fully register moving. The cool air hits my face as I step outside, my body trembling with more than just cold.

Somehow, I find my way back through the trees until I reach the fence where I’d collapsed last night. Beyond it lies freedom. Or maybe just another kind of cage. Everything I know about alphas, about the world, tells me not to trust this alpha’s kindness.

I stand there, frozen between staying and running, as the wind whispers through the trees.

Chapter 10

Jax

The steering wheel creaks under my grip as I watch Stone through the windshield. He’s standing at the edge of the drive, staring at his phone like it holds answers to questions I didn’t know he had.

“He’s been weird all morning,” I murmur. “More than usual.”

I glance over to the passenger seat, but no one’s there. Ren doesn’t sit there anymore and Stone, well Stone’s always preferred relaxing in the back.

Ren grunts from the back seat, not bothering to look up as he scrolls through something on his tablet. Probably the quarterly reports we need to review today. I can almost feel his focus, that razor-sharp intensity that’s become his armor lately. His jaw twitches slightly—a tell I’ve learned means he’s using the job to push back against something else that’s been constantly threatening to come to the fore. That darkness that’s always simmering just beneath his surface.

Fuck, I can’t even talk to him about it. I’ve been doing the same thing. Focusing on other things to take my mind off the fact that we’re all breaking inside.

My gaze shifts back to Stone. As pack alpha, I should know what’s going on with my people. Should sense it. But lately…

My chest aches with that hollow feeling that’s been plaguing us all. There’s a hole straight in the center of our pack bond and there’s nothing I can do to fix it. Movement at the window above makes my gaze shift to the house and I spot Finn watching us from the gallery room.

Haven’t seen him there in a while. He used to go there just to admire Ren’s paintings. But then again, the reason he hasn’t been there is because Ren hasn’t been there either. I can’t remember the last time Ren painted, well, anything. And yet, that dangerous energy that rolls through him like waves has been muted lately. I don’t dare to ask why.

A part of me doesn’t want to know how he’s managing to calm himself.

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