Page 45 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

His words don’t make sense. I haven’t met many other omegas in my life. Despite the numerous others I’d hear back at the Academy, there was never any social time. The only other omega I could say I’ve met was Vi. Just the thought of her makes my anxiety spike and I watch as this strange male omega shudders when my scent hits him. I have to try to calm myself because I need him to be calm, too. I need his help.

“I’m the same as you,” I whisper. “You can trust me.”

He looks up at me then, those storm-cloud eyes meeting mine. There’s so much pain there, so much confusion and hurt, that it makes something deep within me hurt.

“Trustyou?” He manages between breaths. “Drop the innocent act. It won’t work on me.”

I pause where I’m standing just a few feet away from him. Innocent act? Does he think I’m trying to trick him?

The accusation makes me blink, trying to understand what he means.

“I don’t understand.” He heaves another breath. “What’s happening? Why are you here? Why is Stone…”

“I don’t know,” I admit, wrapping my arms around myself. The morning air is cool against my skin, making me shiver in the alpha’s borrowed clothes. “I just…I need help. And you’re the first person who’s found me that isn’t…”

I can’t finish the sentence, but I don’t need to. Understanding flashes across his face, followed quickly by something darker.

“Stone wouldn’t…” he starts, then stops, looking lost. “He’s not…”

“The alpha…” I whisper. “He’s brought me food but…” I want to whimper. To curl into myself as the hopelessness and gravity of my situation weigh down on me. “I can’t stay here. Please…please help me.”

His breathing has steadied somewhat, though his hands still shake. We stand there, caught in a situation neither of us understands. Both terrified for different reasons.

“Your scent,” he says suddenly. “Ismelledit on him.” His gaze shifts to me, the storm in those eyes increasing. “You’re wearing his clothes.”

I flinch, remembering how, after the alpha left, I couldn’t resist burrowing into his clothes. How wearing them makes me feel safe when they shouldn’t. How sleeping with his scent wrapped around me has become my anchor these last few nights.

But from the way this omega talks about the alpha, they must know each other. Maybe the alpha is this omega’s master. “I didn’t…I never knew…”

“He didn’t tell you,” he cuts me off, and something in his voice makes me go silent. “Of course, he didn’t.” There’s pain again, reflected in those eyes as he glances my way again.

The morning sun catches his hair, turning it to molten gold, and I stare as if transfixed. He might be an omega, but he’s bigger than I am. Despite his obvious strength, though, there’s somethingvulnerable about him now—something that makes me want to trust him completely.

“What’s your name?” he asks softly.

“Hailey,” I whisper. “I’m Hailey.”

He stares at me for a long moment before his legs seem to give out. He sinks to the ground, sitting heavily on the damp earth. His bare chest rises and falls with each steadying breath, and I can’t help but track the movement of those scars.

What happened to him?

Carefully, I edge toward a fallen log a few feet away, maintaining distance while staying close enough to talk. My legs shake as I perch on the rough bark. Neither of us speaks for several heartbeats.

“How…” He swallows hard, starts again. “How did you meet Stone?”

The question makes me tense. How do I explain something I barely understand myself? “I…I found the cabin. Fell asleep.” I whisper, gripping the hem of the alpha’s Henley.

His head snaps up, those stormy eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, you ‘found’ the cabin?”

“I don’t…” My voice cracks and I have to take a steadying breath. “I was lost. Tired. The cabin looked less scary than being in the forest at night.”

His eyes narrow more.

“What do you mean ‘lost’?” He’s frowning, but I can tell the panic attack is ebbing. His breaths are more even now and his entire focus is on me, which makes me want to squirm. “Where were you going? Who were you looking for?”

His questions hold me silent. How do I explain to this omega that I have no idea where I was going? That I’d simply been running because anywhere was safer than where I’d been? That all I was seeking wassafetyand that it wasn’t a specific place, because I had none.

When I don’t answer, he releases a breath and pushes the ground with his sneakers.

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