Page 85 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

We’re nearly at the kitchen threshold when all three alphas move at once. Stone takes a half-step forward, Jax shifts to block the doorway, and the blue-eyed alpha’s scent spikes with something dangerous.

“A word, Finn.” It’s the one named Jax who speaks, his deep voice carefully controlled. “Now.”

“Food first.” Finn’s tone remains light, but there’s steel beneath it. “Everything else can wait.”

Something shifts in the air between them—some silent communication I can’t interpret. The bond between alpha and omega is almost tangible in this moment, crackling with unspoken words.

Finally, Jax sighs. “At least let me help with the?—”

“No.” Finn’s response is immediate but not unkind. “We’ve got this covered.” A pause, then softer: “Please, Jax.”

Another heavy silence. I keep my eyes fixed on the floor, heart hammering so loud I’m sure they can all hear it. This feels dangerous—an omega denying his alpha. Everything I learned at the Academy screams that this will end in pain.

But when Jax speaks again, his voice holds only resignation. “We’ll be right out here.” A pause, then, with quiet emphasis: “If you need anything.”

Footsteps shuffle across the hardwood, not retreating far—just enough to give us space. Some of the tension bleeds from Finn’s shoulders, but he doesn’t speak until the alphas settle into what sounds like the sitting area just beyond the kitchen doorway.

“Sorry about that,” he says quietly, finally leading me into the kitchen. “I should have checked if they were still here before bringing you down.”

I want to tell him it’s okay, that he doesn’t need to apologize, but my voice seems locked somewhere in my chest. My hands areshaking so badly that when he finally releases them to move toward the refrigerator, I have to grip the counter to stay steady.

“He won’t hurt you.” Finn’s voice is gentle as he starts gathering ingredients. “None of them will. I know that’s hard to believe right now, but it’s true.”

I watch him move around the kitchen with easy familiarity, trying to reconcile what I just witnessed with everything I thought I knew about alpha-omega dynamics. Finn stood his ground. Denied his alphas. Protected me.

And they…let him.

“How…” My voice comes out barely above a whisper. “How did you do that?”

Finn pauses in buttering bread to look at me. “Do what?”

“Stand up to them. Talk back. You weren’t…afraid.”

Something sad flickers across his features. “Oh, honey. Is that what you saw?” He sets down the butter knife, turning to face me fully. “I was terrified. Still am, a little. But not because of Jax—because of this whole situation. Because I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I also won’t…”

He frowns now, still looking at me but with a faraway look seeping into his eyes.

“Won’t what?” I dare.

Finn blinks, eyes coming back to present reality. He shakes his head. “I don’t…I don’t know why I feel so strongly about this. But I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

The simple declaration makes my eyes burn. “But they’re your alphas.”

“Yes.” Finn’s smile is gentle. “But that doesn’t make them my masters.” The word makes me stiffen, breaths feeling strangled as Finn continues. “It doesn’t give them the right to control me. To control either of us.”

I stare at him, trying to process this completely foreign concept.

“Here.” He holds out a slice of bread. “Help me with these? It’s harder to overthink when your hands are busy.”

Slowly, I move to join him at the counter. He shows me how much butter to spread, how to sprinkle the garlic powder just so. His movements are sure, practiced, and I find myself mimicking them without conscious thought.

“They’ll probably want to talk eventually,” he says after a while, carefully laying cheese on the bread. “About how you got here. About…everything. I admit, I still have some questions, too.” He glances at me. “But not until you’re ready. I won’t let them push you.”

The bread trembles in my hands. “What if I’m never ready?”

“Then we’ll deal with that, too.” He bumps his arm gently against mine. “One grilled cheese at a time.”

The kitchen fills with the sound of butter sizzling, cheese melting, bread turning golden brown. Finn keeps up a steady stream of commentary about optimal flip timing and the importance of pressing down just enough but not too much.

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