Page 92 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

I nod my thanks and add the yogurt to the tray.

The silence that descends suddenly feels heavy again. Finally, Stone speaks.

“Has anyone…has anyone checked the news?”

Jax breathes out a breath of air. “Nah. Not…not yet.”

We’ve all been focused on Hailey. We’ve purposefully not let the rest of the world in, especially after what happened.

“What about the livestream?” Ren asks. I feel his gaze on me, but I keep arranging food on the tray.

“I had to do something,” I say quietly. “They had both of you. I couldn’t just sit there and wait.”

What I don’t say is that I was terrified. Sick with the thought that I might lose them both.

What I don’t say is that I’d grown used to Ren’s distance, to his absence, but the thought of it being permanent was unbearable.

What I don’t say is that I’m in love with Hailey, and the idea of her suffering at Heath’s hands made me want to burn the whole world down.

“It was smart,” Ren says. “If it worked, the whole world would have seen Heath’s men leaving that facility. Seen them trying to clear out shit and move the omegas.”

I glance up at him. “If it worked…”

An uncomfortable silence falls. All our gazes shift to the TV in the living room.

Jax takes a step toward me. “It will work. And if it doesn’t, we’ll find another way to expose it all.”

“And I’m helping.” I meet his gaze, daring him to say no.

“And you’re helping.” There’s a soft smile on his lips as he reaches toward me, his large hand clasping the back of my neck, fingers brushing my nape. “We’re not going to do that anymore.”

“Do what?” My breath hitches as Jax leans in, inhaling deeply before his lips press a kiss to my brow.

“Keep things from you. Like you’re fragile.”

“Like with the accident,” I supply.

Ren flinches visibly.

“Yes,” Jax admits. “But it was wrong. You’ve never been fragile, Finn.” His hand slides down, curving under my ass. He gives it a squeeze. “Soft.” He murmurs. “Deliciously sweet and sexy. But not fragile. Not in that way.”

The unexpected honesty hits hard.

“We got used to making decisions for you,” Stone adds, his deep voice rumbling as if he’s moved closer. “Telling ourselves it was for your own good.”

“Even when it wasn’t,” Ren finishes.

I look at each of them in turn—Jax with his straightforward gaze, Stone with his stoic concern, Ren with his damaged face and haunted eyes.

“You hurt me,” I say simply. “All of you. You made me feel like I wasn’t really part of this pack anymore.”

No one protests. No one makes excuses.

“I know.” Jax presses his forehead to mine. “And I’m sorry.”

“Sorrier than you know,” Stone adds.

Ren just looks at me, the weight of guilt in his eyes more than I can bear.

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