Page 80 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

Tears prick at my eyes and I blink them back furiously. Howdoes he do that? How does he see right through every wall I try to put up?

“I can’t pay you back,” I whisper.

“I’m not asking you to.” When I dare to look up, his expression is so earnest it makes my chest hurt. “Money isn’t an issue, Hailey. And before you protest—” He holds up a hand when I open my mouth. “I’m not bragging. I’m just stating a fact. Jax, Stone, and Ren earn more than enough?—”

My eyes widen. Using the alphas’ money? Oh God…

Finn blinks, hurrying on. “But that doesn’t matter because I have my own money, too.” He lifts his arms, palms down as if placating me. “We don’t have to touch a cent of theirs.” Then he frowns, something cold coming into his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I prefer not to. Between my knitting and some excellent investments, I can easily afford to help. Please let me do this.”

He knits?

I want to ask him more. Want to learn everything about this captivating creature, but a tear escapes instead, despite my best efforts. Finn makes a soft sound, reaching out like he wants to wipe it away, but stops himself. Always so careful with boundaries. Even now, when we’re literally sitting in his nest, he’s conscious of my space.

“Tell you what,” he says, voice deliberately light. “Think of it as payment for being my reality TV watching buddy. I need someone to share my terrible taste with. Stone and Jax are too highbrow—they only watch documentaries about, like, the migration patterns of butterflies or some shit.”

A wet laugh escapes me before I realize he’s talking about his mast—His alphas. What if they’re listening? What if they hear us talking about them? What will they do? Will they be angry? Finn doesn’t seem at all concerned about the fact the alphas are somewhere outside that door. As a matter of fact, he seems intent on ignoring that fact. The thought alone makes me nervous. But if theyhaven’t come in here yet…maybe what Finn has said about them is true?

Maybe this is a whole different world with different rules from the Academy.

“The butterflies sound interesting.” I hedge, just in case.

“Oh god, you’re one of them.” He clutches his chest dramatically. “My first friend in forever, a traitor to the cause of trashy television.”

Friend? The word sends a delicious shiver through me. It should frighten me, this casual claiming. Instead, it feels…right. Like slipping into warm water after being cold for so long.

“I could…” I take a deep breath. “I could maybe try both?”

His whole face softens. “Yeah? Cultural education on all fronts?”

I nod, twisting my fingers in my lap.

“We’ll start small. With the shopping, I mean. Whatever you’re comfortable with.” He reaches for a tablet tucked between some pillows. “We can make a list, order online first if you’re not up for going out. Though fair warning—” That playful glint returns to his eyes. “Once you’re ready for actual shopping trips, I’m kind of unstoppable. Ask Jax about The Great Mall Incident three years ago.”

He wants me to talk to his alpha?

“What happened three years ago?” I manage to whisper, though the thought is now in my head, threatening to engulf me with unease.

“Let’s just say there was a sale at my favorite retailer, three different credit card companies called to verify suspicious activity, and I may have stress-bought an entire display of cashmere sweaters.” He pauses. “In my defense, they were really nice sweaters.”

The unease dissipates like it wasn’t there and a laugh bubbles up before I can stop it—small and rusty from disuse, but real. Finnbeams like I’ve just given him a gift, and that warm feeling spreads through my chest again.

“Okay,” I say softly. “A small list.”

“A start,” he agrees, fingers hovering over the tablet. Then he looks up, expression turning serious. “And Hailey? Thank you. For trusting me with this.”

Something about the way he says it—like my trust is precious, like I’m giving him something valuable instead of the other way around—makes my eyes sting again. I don’t know how to respond, so I just nod.

He seems to understand anyway, turning his attention to the tablet. As he starts typing, I find myself studying him again. The way his brow furrows in concentration, the slight purse of his lips as he thinks. A lock of dark hair falls across his forehead, and I have the strangest urge to brush it back.

The thought startles me so badly I almost miss his question about shoe sizes. What is happening to me? These feelings, these…reactions. They’re foreign. Dangerous maybe. But watching Finn’s profile in the morning light, I can’t bring myself to be afraid.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel…safe.

Chapter 25

Hailey

The list-making ends up being less stressful than I expected, mostly because Finn keeps distracting himself with random commentary about his favorite shows. He’ll be typing something about toiletries, then suddenly launch into an explanation about why that dating show where the alphas aren’t allowed to touch the omegas is “basically a masterclass in human psychology.”

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