Page 1 of Unwanted

FINN

When I got in the car with Liam, I had no idea how things would turn out. The day had already started off strangely.

I’d met up with my ex, Winter, in the park. We hadn’t been together for three years, but we had this odd relationship people like to call ‘friends with benefits’. For the past few months, though, Winter had been avoiding our meetups, always with excuses—work, not feeling well—and I sensed something was up. I was right. When we met, Winter told me someone else had caught his attention. He seemed embarrassed, which made sense for a few reasons. First of all, Winter wasn’t fond of alphas; he was usually the first to take a jab at them. He’d never been in a relationship with one, and always said he never would. But now, avoiding eye contact, he admitted he was interested in an alpha. And that was just the tip of the iceberg—the guy was way younger than him, just a 22-year-old kid.

I’ll admit, the news surprised me, but I didn’t hold it against him. What we had was super casual anyway, and honestly, I’dalready been thinking it was time to find a real partner—a boyfriend, not just someone I hooked up with once a week. My career had finally stabilized—I was working in two places, as a genetic researcher at Malden Pharmaceuticals and as a college professor and lecturer. Maybe it was time to look for something more serious?

That’s why Winter’s news didn’t bother me. To be honest, I felt free, like I could finally focus on finding someone to fill the emptiness in my life.

But the rest of that walk in the park took a strange turn. The whole time, I felt uneasy, and my gaze kept drifting toward one of the cliffs. Eventually, I suggested we hike to the top. Winter wasn’t thrilled about it but agreed.

When we got there, I noticed a small figure crouched by the edge, dangerously close to the cliffside. To make it even stranger, Winter actually knew the guy—Liam. He worked in an adjacent department and occasionally did projects for Winter. To complicate things, Winter’s brother, Skye, had… stolen Liam’s boyfriend.

After a dramatic conversation and an even more dramatic moment where I managed to grab Liam just before he jumped, we decided that I’d take him home. We agreed he shouldn’t be left alone, especially since Liam refused to go to the hospital or get professional psychological help.

Holding him in my arms after pulling him back from the cliff, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—if ever. His body was small and frail, almost skeletal. His face was thin, with sunken cheeks and dark circles under his eyes. He might have only been 22, but he looked like someone on the edge of collapse; his condition really shook me.

I wasn’t sure why his story affected me so much. He’d been in love with the same guy, Soren, for ten years—a fellow beta—but that beta was never interested in him. They were friends,nothing more. Eventually, Soren gave Liam a chance for a few weeks, but it didn’t go anywhere because he didn’t love Liam or feel attracted to him. In the end, Soren left him for Skye.

It was hard to imagine loving someone for ten years only to be betrayed and abandoned like that. I really felt for Liam. That’s why, even though it seemed crazy, I impulsively suggested he move in with me. We barely knew each other, and aside from a few mutual friends, we had little connection. The most we’d ever done was cross paths at the college—while he was visiting his friend. He’d studied computer science, and I was a molecular geneticist working as a lecturer there.

As the car doors shut behind us, it hit me that I was bringing a complete stranger into my home, someone who might need serious help. And yet, I felt drawn to this fragile guy.

Liam’s lightly freckled face was unassuming, with pale brown, almost cappuccino-colored eyes hidden behind his glasses and strawberry blond hair that fell almost to his shoulders, which he nervously tucked behind his ears.

He looked like a stereotypical computer nerd, but something about him was unexpectedly cute—maybe even adorable.

That moment, holding his trembling body, sent shivers through me, and the feeling hasn’t left. It was hard to let go of him as we walked down the hill. There was something about him that drew me in, something that I could not easily explain.

In the car, I decided I wouldn’t let things get awkward. I wanted to stay positive and natural, to make him feel welcome and comfortable.

Liam sat with his arms wrapped around himself, staring out the windshield, while I pulled into traffic, trying to find a safe topic to start with.

"You know, I live in what’s basically a tiny house. Ever heard of the term?"

Liam’s cappuccino-colored eyes glanced at me briefly before returning to the road.

"Yeah, those are like mobile homes, right? You can put them on small lots, and some are pretty energy-efficient."

"Exactly. Mine’s built into the ground, though. It’s a bit bigger than a typical tiny house because it has two loft rooms. They’re pretty nice, with skylights so you can watch the stars at night. I thought you might like staying in one of them."

Liam let out a quick breath. "I feel so stupid, crashing at your place when we don’t even know each other…"

"It feels like we do. We have mutual friends, and besides, why not do something spontaneous? I just had a gut feeling it was the right thing to offer. Call me superstitious, but I’ve learned to trust my intuition."

Liam shot me another curious look.

"Did you and Winter ever date?"

The sudden inquiry startled me a bit. Such an intense question, considering we barely knew each other! But oh well, we'd have to talk about it sooner or later anyway.

Clearing my throat, I replied, "Yes. Winter and I dated over ten years ago, while in college. Then we broke up. About three years ago, we reconnected and decided on a casual arrangement. We’d see each other sometimes—weekly, sometimes once a month—just as ‘friends with benefits’. My career was fast-paced then, and Winter had just become a department head at DevApp, so it worked for us as a stress reliever. But for the last three months, we didn’t see each other at all. Today was an exception because Winter wanted to explain why he wanted to end things. He thought it’d be fairer to do it in person. He feels ready for a new relationship, and honestly, I think I’m ready too. My career’s finally stable, I’m earning the money I wanted, so the pressure’s lifted a bit."

Liam was weirdly quiet as we pulled up to my house.

The small building was modern and stylish, and I was proud of it. Over the years, I’d refined it to perfection. I’d bought a narrow plot of land for next to nothing, but now it was exactly how I wanted. In the back, there was a cozy terrace with a built-in hot tub. All the plants were precisely placed, surrounded by white gravel, with clusters of ornamental grasses like Pony Tails, Red Baron, Chinese Miscanthus, and striking white and pink Pampas grass. A tall wooden fence surrounded the yard, perfect for relaxing on the rattan loungers under the covered patio.

I opened the gate remotely and pulled into the driveway.

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