Page 24 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

I catch Jax staring at the worst of them—a jagged line that runs from just below my collarbone to my hip. He’s seeing them in new light now.

“Don’t ask,” I warn him.

“Wasn’t planning to,” he lies, turning away to focus on shedding his formal wear and strapping a shoulder holster into place.

I pull on a black compression shirt, then a tactical vest over it. The weight is familiar, comforting in its way. I’ve done this before. I can do it again.

“Once we get to the facility,” I say as I check my weapons one last time, “we’ll need to disable the perimeter sensors before we can approach. There’s a service entrance on the east side—less security, easier access to the lower levels.”

Jax nods, all business now. “And once we’re in?”

“We find Hailey, neutralize any threats, and get the hell out.” I slide the knife into its sheath at my ankle. “Simple.”

“Simple,” Jax echoes, his tone making it clear he doesn’t believe it for a second. “And if we run into our…friend? The one Ashgrave named? Or Heath?”

I freeze, the name echoing through my skull again. The man who bought Hailey like she was merchandise. The man who was at that very gala, sizing her up, and none of us even knew.

“If we see him,” I say, my voice dropping to a register I barely recognize, “he’s mine.”

Jax’s expression darkens. “You don’t get to handle him alone. Hailey isourmate.”

“And he ismydebt to settle.” I slam the weapons cabinet shut with more force than necessary. “There’s history there you don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand,” Jax challenges, stepping closer. “Because I’m not walking into that hellhole blind, Ren. There’s too much to lose.”

I consider shutting him down, using the alpha command that’s been my birthright. But I’m tired of secrets. Tired of carrying this alone.

“He was like family,” I say, the words bitter on my tongue. “That fucker was Father’s friend, my mother’s favorite dinner guest.”

“He’s a lone alpha.”

I laugh, the sound hollow. “Yeah. But now we know that’s for a reason and not because the fucker doesn’t want to align with a pack.”

Jax is quiet for a long moment, processing. Then: “What did you mean when you told Ashgrave they could have your father?”

I close my eyes briefly. “Exactly what it sounded like, Jax.”

“Fuck.”

“Ashgrave wants Father dead. Has for years since I helped them get their omega cousin back.”

“Ren—”

“It’s not negotiable.” I cut him off. “Father…what he’s done, what he’s responsible for…you should have seen that basement, Jax. You have no idea.” The nightmares I still have, the memories that won’t fade. The constant worry that they’d still come after Finn. “It’s a price I’m willing to pay.”

“To get Hailey back?”

“To end this.” I meet his gaze again, letting him see everything I’ve hidden for so long—the rage, the pain, the terrible resolve. “Once and for all.”

Jax holds my stare, searching for something. Whatever he finds seems to satisfy him. He nods once, then turns to finish securing his weapons.

“For what it’s worth,” he says over his shoulder, “I think Stone would agree. About your father.”

The acceptance in his voice nearly undoes me. I swallow hard, shoving the emotion down where it belongs.

“Let’s go,” I say, heading for the SUV. “We’ve got a long drive ahead.”

The facility looms in the distance, a sleek monstrosity of glass and steel set back from the road, surrounded by a high fence topped with razor wire. From the outside, it could be any high-end research lab—clean lines, manicured grounds, discreet security.

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