Page 161 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

“Mall or downtown?” Jax asks, already reaching for his phone to make a plan. Always the alpha, always organizing, though with a lighter touch these days.

“Downtown,” Finn and I say simultaneously, then exchange grins.

“There’s that new housewares store I’ve been wanting to visit,” Finn explains.

“And I saw online that there’s this new omega shop that opened,” I add, a blush coloring my cheeks. The shop sells anything from candles, bath oils, to lingerie. And I’ve developed a mild addiction to lingerie since learning how much the alphas enjoy seeing me wear them. (Or removing them, more accurately.)

The decision made, we finish breakfast and prepare for our outing with the easy coordination of a pack that’s found its rhythm. No more glancing over our shoulders, scared of who might attack from the shadows. Today, we’re just five people heading out for a day of shopping and connection. It’s ordinary…and I love it.

Downtown bustles with weekend energy. Packs strolling hand in hand, groups of friends laughing outside cafes. We blend into this tapestry of normal life. The notoriety from my press conference has basically faded.

Our first stop is the shop I wanted to visit, where the bell above the door chimes softly as we enter. The shop is a sensory haven—gentle lighting, soft music, shelves arranged with artful care to display products that appeal specifically to omega senses without overwhelming them.

“I’ll be over here,” Finn announces immediately, making a beeline for the homeware section where scented candles and diffusers line rustic wooden shelves.

The alphas hover uncertainly near the entrance, clearly out of their element in this omega-centered space. I hide my smile at their discomfort, knowing it will pass once they’ve adjusted to the concentrated scents and purposefully calming atmosphere.

“Feel free to look around,” I encourage them. “They have an alpha section in the back corner.”

“There’s an alpha section?” Jax asks, perking up slightly.

“With things designed to complement omega scents,” I confirm. “Apparently we smell even better with the right preparations.”

That’s all the incentive they need. I watch with amusement as they make their way through the store, trying to appear casual while clearly cataloging everything that catches their interest. Ren examines a display of massage oils with scientific curiosity, reading ingredients with focused attention. Stone drifts toward leather goods—journals, wallets, wristbands infused with subtle scent-enhancing properties. Jax, predictably, finds the most expensive items in the store—a collection of rare imported essence blends.

I pause, watching them. This is my life now? I catch my reflection in the mirror and just like that first moment when I saw myself after six years of not even knowing what I looked like anymore, I see a new me. Bold, happy, confident Hailey.

Smiling, I turn away from the mirror.

There’s no rush. I can browse leisurely, enjoying the simple pleasure of just a normal day out. A type of day I wouldn’t have imagined having back at the Academy. A midnight-blue scarf catches my eye, the silk shot through with silver threads that catch the light. I lift it from the display, running it through my fingers to test its texture.

“That would look…” comes Jax’s voice from behind me, low and appreciative. “…beautiful on you.”

I turn to find him standing closer than I expected, his gaze warm with more than simple fashion approval. “You think so?”

“Definitely.” He reaches out, taking the scarf from my hands and draping it around my neck, his fingers lingering on my sensitive skin. “Perfect.”

The casual touch sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. Without being able to help it, I lean slightly into his space, inhaling the complementary blend of his natural alpha scent with something new—one of the scent samples from the alpha section, I realize.

“You tried something.” I tilt my head to better capture the scent. “Cedar and…something spicy?”

“Cardamom,” he confirms, looking pleased that I noticed. “Do you like it?”

“Very much.” I step closer to adjust the scarf but really to press briefly against him, gratified when his pupils dilate in response. “It makes me want to get much closer.”

Jax bites his lower lip. His hand settles at my waist, warm and possessive even through my sweater. “That can be arranged. Later.”

The promise in his voice sends heat pooling low in my belly. This, too, is new. I can flirt and tease without fear shadowing every interaction. I can want openly. I can expect pleasure without bracing for pain.

Across the store, I notice Stone has discovered the candle section where Finn is currently sniffing his way through every option. The sight of my largest, most intimidating alpha holding a delicate lavender candle to his nose with surprising delicacy makes me smile. When he catches Finn’s wrist to guide a particular scent closer for inspection, the casual intimacy between them warms me from the inside out.

Even Ren has abandoned his scientific assessment in favor of more sensual explorations, testing a mint-infused wrist cuff against his skin while covertly watching my interaction with Jax. When our eyes meet, he doesn’t look away—just lifts one eyebrow in silent acknowledgment of the current running between all of us.

We leave the store forty minutes later. Finn clutches his prize—a set of beeswax candles hand-poured by an omega artisan—while I adjust my new scarf around my neck. The alphas carry the heavier bags, looking surprisingly content for three men who just spent a fortune.

“Kitchen store next?” Finn suggests, already plotting our route through the streets.

“Lead the way,” Jax agrees, his hand finding mine as we navigate the weekend crowds.

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