Page 40 of Knot Unwanted: Part Two

“Take him away from here,” he says to Heath, not looking at me again. “I don’t like an audience when I bond with my omegas.”

Heath looks disgusted, rolling her eyes. “Quality control, Caldwell. Ironwood stays.” She moves to Hailey, checking her pulse with medical detachment. “We have to know if the drug worked. If she’s truly free of any pack bonds, she’ll submit without resistance. If not…” She shrugs. “We’ll need to adjust the formula.”

“She’s an experiment to you,” Caldwell realizes, his voice flat.

“Everything is an experiment,” Heath replies. “That’s how progress is made.” She steps back, gesturing to Hailey. “Well? The clock is ticking. She’s fully ready for you to fuck her.”

Caldwell doesn’t look convinced. “Listen, Heath. I like my omegas…responsive. You might not have a knot, so you don’t know, but I’m sure your alpha lock operates the same.”

Heath’s eyes narrow. “What are you trying to say, Caldwell?”

He sighs. Closes his eyes for a moment before opening them again. “I like to hear them scream when I knot them.”

Heath lets out a breath. “I swear, you will be the death of me.” She gestures at Hailey. “Does it really matter in this case?”

“I will not fuck an unresponsive omega. Not on the first joining. I want her to look at me as I make her mine.” There’s a glint in his eyes as he says the words, and my stomach churns with fury.

Heath crosses her arms. “Your decision. You can try to rouse her, if you want. But I can’t make any promises.”

Caldwell hesitates again, something almost like reluctance crossing his features. Then he schools his expression and turns his full attention to Hailey.

“Omega,” he calls softly. “Can you hear me?”

To my surprise—and clearly to Heath’s as well—Hailey’s head lifts. Her eyes are glazed, unfocused, but open.

“That’s it,” Caldwell encourages, his voice gentle. “Look at me, omega.”

Hailey’s gaze drifts to his face, her brow furrowing slightly as if trying to place him. Recognition dawns slowly, followed by confusion.

“Who…?” she manages, her voice barely a whisper.

“You will call me Master,” Caldwell says, crouching before her to bring himself to eye level. “I am your alpha.”

Hailey’s confusion deepens. “Alpha…?”

“Yes.” Caldwell’s voice is hypnotic, soothing. “Your alpha. You’re in heat, omega. I’m here to help you.”

I strain against the gag, desperate to shout, to warn her, to break through whatever fog they’ve pushed her into. But all that emerges is a garbled groan.

Hailey’s head turns slightly at the sound, her eyes drifting past Caldwell toward the glass. Toward me. For a moment, I think she sees me—really sees me. A flash of recognition lights her eyes, quickly followed by fear.

“Alpha…” Hailey murmurs again. Her head sags, and Caldwell tilts her chin up so she’s facing him.

“You’re mine now,” he says. “A part of my pack, omega. After I bond with you…” He leans in, arms trembling as he takes in too much of her scent at once. “Fuck, you smell delicious.” He shakes his head as if to clear it. “After I bond with you, I will take you home. You will beg me to knot you like you’ve been trained to. Do you understand me, omega?”

I feel sick.

Hailey doesn’t react, not even when he sticks his tongue out and licks some of the sweat from her jaw, an obscene growl leaving his lips.

I’m going to kill him. And I’m going to kill him slowly.

But then?—

Hailey’s fingers twitch against the chair arm. Once. Twice.

I freeze, tracking the movement. Not random tremors. Deliberate.

Her lips move soundlessly.

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