Page 143 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

Stone nods understanding. “I’ll review the security logs, make sure nothing triggered the sensors while we were gone.”

“And I’ll put on some lunch,” Finn offers, clearly recognizing that Hailey needs normality more than anything right now. “You must be hungry after all that.”

Hailey smiles gratefully at Finn. “Starving, actually. Nerves, I guess.”

Ren moves to accompany me on my perimeter check, falling into step beside me without comment. We walk in companionable silence, both scanning for anything out of place, any sign of disturbance to our property.

“She did well,” Ren says finally as we reach the northern edge of our land. “Better than I expected.”

“Yes.” Despite my lingering concerns, I can’t keep the note of pride from my voice. “She was…remarkable.”

“It was the right call,” he continues, giving me a sidelong glance. “Her decision to speak publicly. You see that now, don’t you?”

I consider his question seriously, weighing my instinctive opposition against the reality of what Hailey achieved today. “Maybe,” I concede. “If it helps bring Heath to justice. If it doesn’t put her in more danger.”

Ren nods, accepting my response. “The pack is changing,” he observes, changing the subject slightly. “All of us. You’ve noticed?”

I have, of course. How could I not? The shifts in dynamics, in relationships, in individual behaviors. Ren’s transformation from isolated, angry enforcer to integrated, contributingmember. Stone’s gradual relaxation. My ongoing struggle to balance protection with respect for autonomy. And most remarkable of all, the growth in our omegas—Finn reclaiming his voice and assertiveness, Hailey discovering her strength and courage.

“For the better, I think,” I reply, surveying our property with a sense of unexpected peace.

Ren’s mouth quirks in what might almost be a smile. But before he can respond, my phone vibrates with an incoming call. Stone’s name flashes on the screen.

“Everything okay?” I answer, immediately alert.

“Security systems are all clear,” Stone reports. “No alerts, no unauthorized access attempts. But…” He hesitates.

“What is it?” I press, tension returning to my shoulders.

“Finn and Hailey aren’t in the house. Their phones are here, on the kitchen counter, but they’re gone.”

Ice floods my veins, my vision narrowing with sudden, overwhelming fear. “What do you mean, gone? They just went inside. Less than twenty minutes ago.”

“I’ve checked every room,” Stone says, his voice maintaining its usual calm despite the concerning news. “They’re not here. And both their phones were left behind. No signs of struggle or forced entry, but?—”

I don’t wait for him to finish, already running back toward the house, Ren matching my pace effortlessly. My mind races with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. Heath found a way to breach our security. Someone inside the FBI tipped off her network. The press conference was a trap, designed to draw us out.

We’re back at the house in minutes, bursting through the door to find Stone waiting in the entryway, his expression grave but not panicked. He holds up two phones—Finn’s and Hailey’s—confirming his report.

“Did you check the security footage?” I demand, struggling to think clearly through the surge of primal fear.

“Already reviewing it,” Stone confirms, leading us to the security monitors in the study. “Nothing unusual on the perimeter cameras. No breach of the fences or gates.”

“Pull up the front camera.”

Stone complies, rewinding the footage to our return. We watch as the three of us—Stone, Ren, and I—split off to perform our respective tasks. Finn and Hailey enter the house through the front door as expected. The next few minutes show Finn moving around the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, pulling out ingredients. Hailey sits at the counter briefly before standing and saying something to Finn that the camera doesn’t capture. They both nod. Then Finn sets down the knife he was using, and they exit the kitchen together.

“Where did they go?” I mutter, frustration mounting. “Check the other interior cameras.”

Stone switches to different views—the main hallway, the living room, the back door that leads to the gardens. There—the back door camera shows Finn and Hailey exiting the house, moving with purpose but not fear, clearly not under duress. They head toward the tree line at the edge of the property, disappearing from view.

“The cabin,” Ren says suddenly.

“Why would they go there?” I ask, confusion momentarily replacing fear. “And why leave their phones behind?”

But even as I ask, a possible answer forms in my mind—a desire for true privacy, for space away from constant monitoring and protection, after the intensity of the press conference and the public exposure of Hailey’s most traumatic experiences. Still, to leave without telling us, without taking a means of communication…

“We need to check,” I decide, already moving toward the door. “Make sure they’re safe.”

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