Page 113 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“Water? Tea? We’ve got, uh…” Stone’s voice drifts from the kitchen, sounding uncertain in a way that doesn’t match his imposing presence.

“Hailey might like the jasmine tea,” Finn suggests softly. “If she wants to try it.”

My heart skips at his consideration, but it’s Ren’s reaction that catches my attention. His eyes close briefly, like Finn’s gentleness causes him physical pain.

“Jasmine tea,” Stone repeats, returning with an elegant teapot and several glasses of water balanced precariously in his large hands. “Right. Good. That’s…that’s good.”

He sets everything down with exaggerated care, but a little water still sloshes over the rim of one glass. The way his jaw clenches at this small imperfection makes me wonder if he’s always this tense, or if it’s just this evening.

“Here,” he says, pouring tea into a delicate cup. Again, Finn is served first, the motion almost reverent. When he turns to pour mine, his hands aren’t quite as steady. “Be careful, it’s hot.”

The familiar scent of jasmine rises with the steam, and something in me uncoils slightly. It smells like Finn’s bathroom—like comfort and safety.

“Thank you,” I murmur, wrapping my fingers around the warm cup.

“You don’t have to thank us for basic fucking decency,” Ren mutters, but there’s no anger in it. Just something that sounds almost broken.

Jax shoots him a look. “Ren.”

“No, he’s right,” Finn says quietly, setting down his chopsticks. “She doesn’t have to thank us for food or drinks or—” His voice catches. “Or basic kindness.”

The weight of unspoken words hangs heavy in the air. I watch as Stone’s hand twitches toward Finn before falling back to his side. As Jax’s throat works like he’s swallowing back words. As Ren stares down at his plate like it holds answers to questions not spoken out loud.

“Eat,” Jax says finally, and though his voice is gentle, there’s an undercurrent of something raw. “Both of you. Please.”

My hand shakes slightly as I reach for another dumpling, but not from fear this time. He said ‘please’ again. The way his voicecracked on that single word…like he was begging for something much bigger than watching us eat.

Finn moves beside me, reaching for the pad thai, and three sets of eyes track his movement. The intensity of their focus should be frightening, but there’s something else in their gazes. Something desperate and yearning that makes want rise in my chest.

Is this what love from an alpha is supposed to look like?

“This is good with the peanut sauce,” Finn tells me, and for a moment he sounds almost normal. Then his voice catches again. “They used to—we used to get this all the time. Before…”

He trails off, but Stone makes a sound like he’s been struck.

“Yeah,” Ren says roughly, pushing his own food around his plate. “Before we got too fucking in our heads to eat dinner together.” He stabs viciously once more at a piece of chicken.

“Ren,” Jax warns again, but this time, Finn speaks up.

“No, let him speak.” His voice is sweet, but the way he smiles at Jax makes the room feel cold. “Say what you need to say, Ren.”

The challenge in his tone makes me want to slide under the table, but none of the alphas react with anger. Instead, Ren seems to deflate, his shoulders slumping.

“What’s there to say?” he asks, and the bitterness in his voice makes me flinch. “We fucked up. We took you for granted. Took everything for granted. And now…”

The air feels thick with tension, making it hard to breathe. I try to make myself smaller in my chair, wishing I could disappear.

“Stop.” Stone’s command cuts through the tension. When I dare to look up, his nostrils are flaring. “You’re terrifying her. Her scent is all distress and—” He breaks off, running a hand over his face. “This isn’t what tonight was supposed to be about.”

Guilt flashes across Ren’s features as his eyes snap to me, right before they go cold again. I drop my gaze immediately, shame burning in my chest. I’m ruining their moment, taking up space when they clearly need to work through something between them.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, pushing my chair back. “I can leave if you need to?—”

“No.” Four voices speak at once, making me freeze.

“Please stay,” Stone says softly. He looks at his pack mates, something passing between them in that look. “Maybe…maybe just for tonight, we could pretend.”

“Pretend?” Finn’s voice is barely audible.

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