Page 262 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

The air hums with the sound of conversation and laughter, the clink of glasses and the soft strains of a live orchestra filling the space. Everywhere I look, there are people who exude wealth and power, their movements graceful and deliberate as they navigate the room with an ease that comes from belonging.

I swallow hard, my grip on Finn’s hand tightening as my nerves threaten to overwhelm me.

Finn leans in slightly, his voice low and reassuring. “You’re doing great.”

I nod, forcing myself to take a steadying breath as we move deeper into the room. Stone and Jax have already begun drawing attention, their commanding presence impossible to ignore. Stone’s quiet confidence and Jax’s effortless charm make them stand out even in a crowd like this, and I can see the way people are drawn to them, like moths to a flame.

Finn stays close to me, his presence solid and grounding, and for a moment, I let myself relax.

But it doesn’t last for long.

“Jax Ironwood!” A deep voice cuts through the hum of the room, and I glance up to see an alpha approaching us, his stride purposeful. He’s older, his salt-and-pepper hair swept back neatly, his sharp black suit tailored to perfection. There’s an air of authority about him, the kind that makes people step out of his way without him even needing to ask.

“Robert,” Jax greets him with a nod, his voice calm. Polite. “I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight.”

“Of course, I’m here.” Robert gives him a faint smile, though his sharp blue eyes flick to me briefly before settling back on Jax. “With everything that’s been happening, I couldn’t afford not to be. And you—well, I’m surprised to see you here, given the circumstances.”

“Circumstances?” Jax’s smile doesn’t shift.

“Well, a little birdie told me Iron Fitness might be in some trouble.”

Jax’s jaw tightens almost imperceptibly, but his voice remains steady. “Ah, is that what you heard?” He laughs, those polite chuckles reserved for the rich and famous. “We’re here to make sure things move forward, despite the setbacks.”

“Setbacks,” Robert repeats, his tone laced with dry amusement. “Is that what we’re calling them now?”

Stone steps in smoothly, flashing a smile that’s equal parts charming and disarming. “Setbacks, challenges, opportunities—depends on how you spin it, doesn’t it?” He extends a hand to Robert. The older alpha hesitates—just for a fraction of a second, but long enough that I notice—before clasping Stone’s hand. “Good to see you again, Robert. Still running the show over at Burlington?”

“Still running it,” Robert confirms, eyes slightly narrowed as his lips twitch into another faint smile. “Though if I’d known you were coming tonight, Stone, I’d have prepared myself for a headache.”

Stone laughs, the sound easy and genuine.

Robert shakes his head, but there’s a glimmer of something calculating in his eyes as he looks back at Jax. “You’ve got your work cut out for you tonight. I’ll say that much. A lot of people are…concerned.”

“We’ll address their concerns,” Jax replies firmly. “We’ve already taken the necessary steps to stabilize things, and tonight is about showing them that.”

Robert hums thoughtfully, his gaze flicking between Jax andStone, before landing on me again. This time, his glance lingers a little longer, and I fight the urge to shrink under the weight of his scrutiny.

His nostrils flare slightly, almost as if he’s trying to catch my scent, and something shifts in his expression—a subtle darkening of his eyes that makes my skin prickle with unease.

“And who’s this?” he asks, his tone polite but with an undercurrent I can’t quite place.

Stone’s golden eyes harden as he steps slightly closer to me. “This is Hailey,” he says simply. No more explanation. Not other words.

“Hailey,” Robert repeats, as if savoring the name. He offers me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Welcome. I hope the evening isn’t too overwhelming for you.” His gaze trails down briefly before returning to my face, the movement so quick I almost miss it.

“Thank you,” I manage to say, focusing on keeping my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my chest.

I feel Finn shift closer to me on one side, while Jax subtly repositions himself in front of Robert. The movement is casual enough that an outsider might miss it. But I don’t. And from the slight shift in the strange alpha’s gaze, he doesn’t either.

“I must say, Jax,” he continues, his attention ostensibly back on business though his eyes dart to me once more, “you always did have excellent taste. In all things.”

I’m not imagining that, am I. There’s a double meaning there.

Jax’s smile doesn’t falter, but his eyes cool several degrees. “We’ve always valued quality over quantity at Iron Fitness,” he replies.

But I don’t think either of them are talking about Iron Fitness anymore.

Robert nods, his expression unreadable, before turning his attention back to Stone. “Well, I won’t keep you. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of people to charm tonight.” He tips his champagneglass before stepping away, though not before his gaze lingers on me one final time.

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