Page 84 of Knot Unwanted: Part One

“You should come help me cook,” Finn says firmly, not letting me retreat. “I need someone to tell me if I’m using too much butter.”

A sound that might be a snort comes from the bottom of the stairs. “There’s no such thing as too much butter.”

The comment is so unexpectedly normal it makes me blink. Through my lashes, I catch glimpses of Jax as Finn begins leading me down the stairs. He’s stepped back, giving us space. His posture appears to be relaxed, hands loose at his sides—not threatening, but still undeniably powerful. But there’s tension in his shoulders. I canseeit.

We’re halfway down the stairs when another scent hits me—pine, followed immediately by sandalwood. My legs nearly give out completely as two more figures appear in the entryway below.

Stone.

I recognize him immediately, my eyes widening before darting back to the floor even though I want to stare. The dim light in the cabin had given me a good idea of what he looked like but here, in the bright sunlight now streaming through the windows, I can see Stone—the first alpha who showed me kindness—with painful clarity. His chestnut hair catches the morning light, and when he shifts, those remarkable eyes flash amber, like honey held up to the sun. The strong line of his jaw is tense, and that pine scent—the first scent I’d breathed in as a free omega—wraps around me like a warm cozy blanket.

Finn’s arm is still linked through mine, solid and steady. Without it, I’m certain my knees would have already hit the floor. Jax’s cedar scent mingles with Stone’s pine and the other alpha’s sandalwood, making my head spin with fear…and something else.

Stone stands there looking up at us, his expression unreadable. Beside him, an even taller alpha with dark curly hair watches the scene unfold. When I dare to glance toward him, ice-blue eyes that look like they belong on a wolf rather than a human being pierce right through me. The rage I see there makes me stop breathing—raw, primal fury that speaks of violence barely contained. My heart stutters in my chest as I quickly lower my gaze again. I’ve seen that look before, in betas’ eyes when my blindfold would slip in the early days. Right before the worst punishments would come. Right before they?—

Finn’s arm tightens around mine, drawing me slightly closer to his side. The gesture is subtle but clear—he won’t let them hurt me. But even his steady presence can’t completely quell the terror rising in my throat.

Three alphas.Threeof them. My vision starts to blur at the edges.

“Finn.” Stone’s voice is low, careful. Like he’s trying not to spook a wild animal. “We need to talk.”

“Do we?” Finn keeps moving, each step measured and deliberate, keeping me close. His voice is light but there’s steel underneath. “Because I think what we need is breakfast.”

“Finn—” The other alpha, the one with the fury in his eyes, takes a step forward.

“Careful,” Finn cuts him off, the word sharp enough to make me flinch. “You’re blocking the hall.”

I’ve never heard an omega speak like this and I discreetly slide my gaze to Finn again. His chin is held high and there’s a coldness in his eyes. For a moment, I wonder if I’ve been mistaken this whole time and heisn’treally an omega at all.

The tension in the air thickens until it feels hard to breathe. I keep my eyes fixed on Finn’s shoulder, trying to make myself invisible even as I’m painfully aware of every alpha gaze fixed on us. On me.

“Finn, we need to talk. You can’t just—” Jax begins.

“Watch me.”

The challenge in Finn’s voice makes my heart stutter. He’s going to get himself hurt. They’re going to punish him. And it will be my fault. All my fault. He’s been so kind to me. I can’t let them hurt him. Even if it means I’ll be punished myself, I can’t?—

“Hey.” Finn’s voice drops to a whisper meant only for me. “Stay with me. Almost there.”

Each step feels like walking through quicksand. Finn keeps up a steady stream of chatter about different cheese combinations and the proper technique for achieving the perfect golden-brown crust. His voice wraps around me like a shield, giving me something to focus on besides the alphas’ presence.

“…and some people swear by mayonnaise on the outside instead of butter, but that’s just wrong,” he’s saying as we reach the bottom step. “I mean, technically it works, but where’s the joy in that?”

We’re closer to the alphas now, close enough that their scents fill my lungs with each shallow breath. And I realize something.

The scents…fresh and coming directly from them…they’re different from what I expected. Cleaner somehow. Less aggressive than the masters that visited the Academy. But still distinctly alpha, still making my instincts flutter with the need to submit.

“The joy is in not having to scrub burnt butter off the pan,” Jax says dryly, but there’s something careful in his tone. Like he’s trying to maintain this facade of normalcy even as tension radiates from him in waves.

Finn’s jaw ticks, almost as if he wants to ignore what was just said. But then he glances down at me and smiles. “That’s what steel wool is for.” He tugs gently at my hand. “Come on, I’ll show you my secret weapon—garlic powder in the butter. Changes everything.”

As we walk between the three alphas to reach the kitchen, my entire body trembles with the effort of staying upright, of not falling to my knees. Through my lowered lashes, I catch glimpses: Stone’s strong jaw and amber eyes, Jax’s full lips pressed into a thin line, and those piercing ice-blue eyes that seem to strip away every defense. All watching us intently.

No, watchingme.

My steps falter.

“Almost there,” Finn murmurs encouragingly. His thumb hasn’t stopped its soothing motion across my knuckles. “Just a few more steps.”

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