Page 114 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

Fuck, I’ll never get tired of hearing her voice. Of hearing her speak to us so freely.

“Good morning.” I pull out the stool beside me at the kitchen island. “Coffee?”

She nods, sliding onto the seat with a small smile. I pour her a mug, adding the splash of milk and honey she likes, while Ren moves to the refrigerator.

“Hungry?” he asks. “I could make eggs.”

“I’m alright for now, thanks.” She accepts the coffee from me with a grateful hum, taking a deep sip before looking between us. “You two are up early.”

“Ren was just telling me about your conversation last night,” I say, watching her reaction.

Her fingers tighten slightly on the mug. “Oh.” Her voice wavers a bit, some of that fear returning, and I want to punch myself.

“I think it’s a good idea,” I tell her. “The self-defense training.”

Surprise flickers across her face, followed by relief. “You do?”

“Absolutely.” I cover her hand with mine on the counter. “In fact, I’d like to help, if you’re open to it.”

She turns her hand beneath mine, lacing our fingers together. “I’d like that.”

“We thought we could start today,” Ren adds. “At one of our gyms that opens to the public only at night. No crowds, no prying eyes.”

Hailey nods eagerly. “Yes, I’d love that. Should we wake Finn?”

“Let him sleep,” I suggest. “We can fill him in over breakfast.”

When I glance over, Ren is studying her, his gaze showing more than it usually does. There’s warmth there. Real warmth.

“I was worried you might want to back out of training today.” He finally murmurs. “After what you went through, no one would blame you for needing more time.”

Hailey shakes her head. “No. I need to do this. The sooner I start, the better.”

The determination in her voice, the set of her jaw—there’s a strength there that I admire deeply. This woman, who has endured a reform academy, kidnapping, a forced heat, the trauma of believing Ren was dead, has emerged with her spirit intact. Bent, perhaps, but unbroken.

“Alright then,” I say. “After breakfast, we’ll head to the gym.”

The gym on Bridge Street is one of our smaller facilities, tucked between a bookstore and a café in a renovated brick building. It’s modest by design—a place for serious training rather than the social workout scene that dominates downtown. Jax unlocks it, ushering us inside.

“I still think I should be part of this,” Jax says, watching as Ren and I start removing equipment from storage. “Another perspective can’t hurt.”

“We talked about this,” I remind him. “Too many instructors at once will just be confusing. You can take the next session.”

He concedes with a nod, though I can tell he’s not entirely satisfied. Jax likes being involved, particularly concerning the omegas’ safety. But we’d agreed on the drive over—Ren and I would handle today’s session. Finn decided to just observe, and overwhelming Hailey with three different teaching styles on day one would be counterproductive.

“Fine.” He turns to Hailey, who’s exploring the space with evident curiosity. “You good with this plan, darling?”

She smiles at the nickname. “I’m good.” Her gaze slides to Finn, who has migrated over to the couch with a book in one hand and a cupcake in the other, and she beams.

Once Jax heads over to sit with Finn, I turn to Hailey. She stands in the center of the training mat we’ve laid out, her small form almost swallowed by the borrowed workout clothes she’s wearing. I’ve already made a mental note to get her proper gear. Despite the too-big clothes and the hesitation in her posture, there’s a determined set to her jaw that I find oddly cute.

“Ready?” I ask.

She nods, pulling her hair back into a simple ponytail. “What do we start with?”

Ren and I exchange a glance, silently confirming our earlier plan.

“Basics,” he says, stepping onto the mat. “Stance, balance, awareness. The foundations that everything else builds on.”

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