Page 106 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

“They found the others?” she asks quietly.

Finn nods. “Everyone Heath was holding at that place. And five more at Caldwell’s estate.”

Tears well in her eyes. “Are they okay?”

“They will be,” Stone assures her, his arms tightening protectively around her. “They’re getting proper medical care and support.”

She nods, swallowing hard. “Good. That’s…good.” A breath shudders from her. “Any sign of Vi?”

“Vi?” The name isn’t familiar to me.

“She’s an omega. She escaped from the truck when Hailey did,” Finn supplies. His gaze shifts to Hailey, eyes softening. “Sorry, sunshine. I haven’t seen anything about her on the news.”

Hailey swallows hard before she nods.

I watch her carefully, attuned to her emotions through our new bond. There’s relief there, but also lingering fear, anger, and something that feels almost like guilt.

“Hailey,” I say gently, drawing her attention back to me. “None of this was your fault.”

She looks startled, then rueful. “The bond goes both ways, huh?”

“Yes,” I confirm. “And you should know that we all feel the same way. What happened to you—what Heath and Caldwell tried to do—that’s on them. Not you.”

“But if I hadn’t wandered off at the gala?—”

“They would have found another opportunity,” Stone interrupts firmly.

“Which is why we need to be vigilant,” I add. “We don’t know if Heath survived, or if she has other associates we haven’t identified yet.”

Fear flickers across Hailey’s face, the scent of her distress sharp enough to make Stone growl low in his chest.

“You’re safe,” he tells her immediately. “We won’t let anyone touch you again.”

“It’s not just me I’m worried about,” she says, looking around at all of us. “They hurt Ren, too. And they could have hurt any of you. Because of me.”

“No,” I say firmly, rising from my chair to cross over to her. I kneel before Stone’s chair, taking her small hands in mine. “Not because of you. Because they’re monsters who see omegas as commodities to be traded. Because they thought they could take what belongs to us and get away with it.”

The possessive edge in my voice makes her breath catch, her pupils dilating slightly.

“You’re ours,” Stone rumbles behind her, his mouth close to her ear. “Our omega. Our mate.”

“And we protect what’s ours,” I finish, squeezing her hands gently. “All of us. Together.”

The bond between us pulses with reassurance, with commitment.

Ren returns with a steaming bowl of soup, pausing at the intensity of the moment he’s walked into. “Everything okay? What’s this I hear about another omega?”

Hailey nods, blinking back tears as she looks up at him. “Yes. Just my friend. She escaped from the truck with me when it crashed. Her name is Vi and she’s out there somewhere.”

He sets the soup on the coffee table, then reaches out to brush a tear from her cheek with unexpected tenderness. “One day at a time, Hailey. That’s all any of us can do.” Then heglances at me. “I’ll call in another favor with the Ashgrave gang. See if they’ve seen or heard of your friend.”

This seems to calm her down a bit.

With a smile, Ren takes up the soup. “Ready?” He lifts a spoonful.

I watch as Hailey lets him feed her, before my gaze slides to Finn and Stone.

Part of being a better pack leader is ensuring all of them remain safe. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

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