CHAPTER ELEVEN

GREEK

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My omega had decided. We wanted to be a bond with Sofia and Demon. All it had taken was for Sofia to smile beautifully at me and encourage me. And for our alpha to be willing to feed me, clothe me, and smile at me the way he was doing right now. I wasn’t hard to please. And this alpha was pleasing me in ways I’d never been pleased before.

It was just a laugh. Just a smile.

Laughter shouldn’t be so life-changing. A smile shouldn’t fill my heart with this much joy. A smile shouldn’t make me want to remain here forever. But Demon’s smile did. He was ruggedly handsome when he was all stoic and growly. However, when he smiled, when he laughed, this alpha was drop-dead gorgeous!

Demon’s laughter was a revelation. It wasn’t just the sound, low and rich, like thunder softened into music. It was the way his face transformed. The corners of his piercing blue eyes crinkled, the tension that usually hardened his expression melting away. His mouth, so often set in a grim line, curved into something wicked and beautiful.

That smile, it wasn’t just handsome; it was devastating. Demon's laughter was like nothing I had ever seen before. It wasn’t the rough growl or clipped grunt I’d come to expect from him. It was unexpected and devastatingly beautiful. The sound rolled from his chest, rich and deep, carrying warmth that seemed to echo in the room long after the last note faded.

It caught me off guard, stealing the air from my lungs, making me feel like I’d just seen the sunrise for the first time. I couldn’t stop staring, my heart thudding hard enough to make me dizzy. Demon’s smile made me want to bottle the moment, to keep it safe and close, to bring it out again and again whenever the shadows of my past crept too close.

The crinkles at the corners of his piercing blue eyes softened the intensity that normally defined his face. That rugged, stoic mask he always wore was gone, replaced by something raw, something real. The curve of his lips, wicked and slightly uneven, was as intoxicating as the smoky, earthy scent that clung to him.

I wanted to reach out and trace that smile, feel the way it tilted at just the right angle to make my chest ache in ways I didn’t understand. I wanted to be the reason he smiled like that. Every day. Forever. My omega purred in agreement, a warmth spreading through me that made my knees weak.

Demon wasn’t just handsome; he was breathtaking. I’d thought his growly demeanor was captivating, that his raw power was what drew me to him. But this? This laughter, this softness? It made him irresistible. He wasn’t just an alpha who could protect us. He was someone I wanted to make happy, someone I wanted to cherish and be cherished by in return.

My omega stirred, a warm pulse that rippled through me, insistent and undeniable. My omega wanted to be closer to Demon, to touch him, to breathe him in. The alpha’s laughter softened into a smirk, the lingering trace of amusement dancing across his features, but my gaze remained glued to the way his lips moved, to the play of light in his eyes.

Laughter looked good on him, and now that I’d seen it, I craved it like air. I wanted to work together with Sofia to make him laugh again and again, to be part of a world where this alpha wasn’t just growls and tension but this softer, lighter version of himself. Demon shook his head slightly, seeming just as surprised by the laughter that had burst from him as we were.

But his smile didn’t fade. If anything, it grew wider, brighter. His teeth flashed, perfect and straight, and it did something dangerous to my already scattered thoughts. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look away before I embarrassed myself further. My gaze dropped to the floor, but my traitorous eyes darted back up almost instantly.

I was utterly unable to resist the pull of that face, that laugh, that man. The way his shoulders relaxed, the tension melting away as if her joke had erased some invisible weight he’d been carrying or helped ease the tension in the room. I swear Sofia was a miracle worker. A beautiful, sweet-smelling miracle worker.

“Wow,” Sofia whispered, her voice laced with awe. “I didn’t know you had a laugh like that, big guy. If I’d known, I would’ve come onto your property and tried to fight you sooner.”

His smile turned into a wicked smirk, still watching her with that amused twinkle in his eyes. “It’s funny that you think you almost beat me up.”

“Oh, I did. You had to karate chop me, which is technically cheating, in order to stop me from taking you down.”

“Not true,” he told her. “I did that to keep you from hurting yourself and making me drop the omega... Greek.”

She shook her head. “I saw the fear in your eyes, big guy.”

“That was irritation, Little Fox.”

“Fox?” She said, smirking. “Is that because I called you a big bear of an alpha?”

Bear. Fox . How cute. I wanted one. I wanted a nickname.

“No,” Demon countered. “It’s because you’re sly, like a fox. You’ve been stealing from my traps for a while now, and I’ve finally caught you.”

Oh, wait. These two had history.

“You wouldn’t have caught me if I hadn’t stopped to help Greek,” Sofia countered.

“I’d planned to hunt you down last night, Little Fox. The only reason I didn’t was because I found Greek, unconscious and wounded, hiding in the bushes like a little rabbit. And I knew if I didn’t help him, he’d die.”

Little Rabbit. That was me. That was my nickname. And I loved it. A cute fox. A shy rabbit. And a growly bear. They had to see how perfect this was, didn’t they? It couldn’t just be me and my omega’s wild imagination. Right?

“You wouldn’t have caught me,” Sofia replied snarkily.

“Says the fox who has already been caught,” he smirked.

Her eyes widened, and her lips parted, mouth forming a perfect O as she realized she was indeed standing in a cozy, warm bear trap. I wanted to add something to the conversation, to tease them both or make them laugh. But my throat felt too tight. My chest felt too full. I was caught in the web of my own emotions, tangled up in feelings I hadn’t let myself dream of having.

No. I had let myself dream. I’d dreamed of this, exactly this. I was happy. Neither of them was talking to me, and still, I was... happy. Their presence made me happy. This environment, with playful banter, cute nicknames, and laughter, made me happy. I... I truly hadn’t known this type of environment still existed in this cruel world.

Demon turned his gaze to me then, and I froze, pinned under the weight of his attention. His smile softened just a little, but it didn’t vanish. My heart did something strange, fluttering like it was trying to escape my ribcage and join his.

“You okay, Greek?” His voice was softer than I expected, almost gentle.

I nodded quickly, unsure if I could trust my voice. Okay? No. I wasn’t okay. I was falling, spiraling, and I didn’t know how to stop it. My omega didn’t want to stop. My omega wanted him—wanted us—to belong to him.

“I think you broke him, Demon,” Sofia said, grinning as she looked between us. “Your smile was too much for his poor omega heart to handle.”

Her words brought heat to my cheeks, but Demon’s chuckle brought something else entirely. That sound, low and rich, was like a warm hand brushing against my skin. I wanted to bask in it, to wrap myself in it, to hear it every day for the rest of my life.

Demon tilted his head slightly, his blue eyes narrowing as though he were trying to read my thoughts. I fought the urge to squirm under his gaze, but I couldn’t fight the small smile that tugged at my lips. He’d laughed, and it had been because of us. Because of Sofia, yes, but I’d been here to witness it, to feel it.

Clearing my throat, I found my voice. “I’m... I was just shocked to be around laughter. Where I’m from... I didn’t experience much of that.”

Ugh! Why had I said that? Now, I was just bringing down the mood. I should’ve let Sofia talk. She always knew what to say. Now, they were both staring at me like I was a charity case, a victim who needed to be protected and coddled. And I didn’t want them to look at me like that. I wanted to feel normal.

“Same for me,” Demon said, his smile fading though its warmth seemed to linger in the air. “I’ve never laughed like that before,” he admitted.

“Ever?” Sofia asked.

He nodded. Now, I hated myself even more because the light was leaving his eyes, and his lips were forming a thin line once again.

Sofia took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Since we’re stuck in this cabin to ride out the coming storm, I’m making a few rules for us.”

“You’re making them?” Demon added.

“Yup.”

“In my cabin?” he queried.

“That’s what I said.”

“I have no say in the matter?” he continued.

“Oh, right,” she muttered, tapping her chin. “I don’t want to seem like a dictator. So, let’s vote.”

“Voting isn’t what I meant,” he started, but our fox spoke over him.

“Who all is in favor of me making the rules for how things go while we’re together in the cabin? Raise your hand.”

Sofia raised her hand. My gaze darted to Demon, who was now staring at me. So far, Sofia hadn’t steered us wrong. And Demon seemed to be like me, prone to getting lost in his own head, in his own fears. Sofia was a breath of fresh air, a wild rose, a sly fox. She was the reason there was laughter in this cabin.

I would follow her rules any day. So, I slowly raised my hand. A low growl rumbled through Demon’s chest, exciting my omega, prompting me to raise both of my hands. Sofia burst out laughing, the sound so sweet that even Demon smirked. I looked her way, and she was now raising both hands, too. I laughed. A real laugh. A throaty laugh. A happy laugh.

Hands still raised, Sofia faced Demon. “I guess that puts me in charge, alpha?”

“Outvoted in my own home.” Shaking his head, he said, “Showers first. Then you can come up with your rules.”

“Oh, right. Shower. I’ll let Greek go first so we can get him clothed. I’ll go after him.”

Demon only nodded.

Sofia moved closer to me and whispered, “Thanks for voting for me. Since you did, I’ll make you my right-hand man.”

I just wanted to be her man. But I’d accept this. For now. I smiled down at her, wishing I could stand here and count the cute freckles on her face. Maybe later. If she’d let me. As Demon turned to lead us toward the bathroom, I made a silent vow – I would try my best to keep us all from going our separate ways after the storm.

My omega wanted this. Wanted him. Wanted her. Wanted us. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel afraid to want something. Demon led us to a short hallway and opened one of the doors.

“This is the bathroom,” he told us.

“My bandages,” I said. “Should I remove them?”

“They’re waterproof,” Demon told me. “Sometimes I have to go out in the rain and work. If I’m wounded, it’s good to have waterproof bandages.”

Made sense. Demon nodded to the bathroom door. I peeked inside and gasped. Demon’s bathroom was huge, the biggest bathroom I’d ever seen, which wasn’t saying much. It was decorated, if that was what you could call the fact that it had a color theme, in earth tones – dark browns, blacks, and a deep gray. There was no tub in the room.

Hanging from the wall was a large mirror framed in what looked like reclaimed barn wood. Everything felt warm, rustic. I’m pretty sure it came like this. But then my eyes landed on the shower stall. It was smaller than I’d anticipated, nestled in the far corner, boxed in by plexiglass panels.

Though you could see in and out of the clear glass, the enclosed space still caused me to feel panicky. My throat tightened as I stared at it, my breath hitching. No. I wasn’t doing this. I wasn’t about to have a panic attack. It’s just a shower. It’s not a punishment. It’s not the shed. It’s not them.

But the memories clawed their way to the surface, jagged and raw. My pack’s alphas had always taken pleasure in locking me away in their tiny shed – a wooden prison with no windows, no light, no escape. Just suffocating darkness and the scurry of unseen creepy crawlies slithering over my flesh.

They’d leave me there for days, long enough that I’d lost track of time, forced to sit in my own filth, hungry, shivering, waiting for the next inevitable beating. My chest heaved as I tried to push the thoughts down, but the sight of the small stall brought everything rushing back. It didn’t matter that the enclosure was sheer, that I could see into the room beyond.

I’d be trapped again. Confined. Closed off. My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my breathing even. I couldn’t let them see this. Not Demon. Not Sofia. They’d think I was weak, broken. And I was, but I didn’t want them to know just how much. I swallowed hard, but my throat felt too tight like I couldn’t get enough air.

“You okay?” Sofia’s voice was soft, concerned, pulling me from the edge.

I forced a nod, my gaze still fixed on the shower stall like it might leap out and swallow me whole. “Yeah,” I croaked, though my voice betrayed the lie.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t press me. Instead, she reached out and touched my arm. “It’s just a shower, Greek,” she said gently as if sensing the storm brewing inside me. “You’re safe here.”

Safe . The word echoed in my mind, a concept that felt foreign and fragile. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe I could step into that stall, let the water wash over me, and come out feeling clean, renewed. But the thought of closing the door, of being surrounded by walls in such a small space... I couldn’t do it.

It was ridiculous, irrational, this fear of mine – especially in this situation. Still, I couldn’t shove it down. I couldn’t force it back into the dark recesses of my mind. I couldn’t force myself to step forward to enter the shower stall. I just couldn’t. I felt him before I heard him. Demon approached me from behind, which should’ve made me recoil.

Instead, my eyes drifted shut as I felt the heat of his body grow closer. A low rumble filled the air. This alpha, this sweet alpha, was purring for me, trying to calm me down. We remained that way for a few minutes, with Demon purring for me while Sofia gently rubbed my arm, their scents enclosing me in a safe space. I swallowed, took a deep breath, and slowly opened my eyes. My gaze met Sofia’s.

“Which part of the bathroom is the problem?” she asked.

“I...” My voice cracked, and I hated it. “I’ve never used a shower before,” I admitted, hoping the truth would hide the deeper fear beneath.

“Showers are like dancing in the rain,” Sofia told me. “You’ll like it.”

I knew I would. The shower wasn’t the problem. The space was. The showers back at the compound had been open. Some pack members used curtains for privacy. But no doors that shut you into the shower space. Sofia said I’d like it. I wanted to laugh at how impossible that felt right now.

But I didn’t. Instead, I nodded again, not wanting to be a disappointment to her and Demon. Plus, I desperately needed to bathe, and there was no tub in this bathroom. Swallowing, I took another deep breath, willing my legs to move, to step further into the bathroom, closer to that damn stall. My feet felt like they were weighed down, my body sluggish and resistant. But I moved anyway, even as my heart raced faster with every step.

From behind me, Sofia said, “If you need anything, just call out. I’ll be right outside, okay? And Demon is going to find something for you to wear.”

Her words were kind, but they felt like a trap. I couldn’t call for her. I couldn’t admit to being so broken that I couldn’t handle something as simple as a shower. Demon didn’t say anything, but I felt his gaze on me. Could he see every crack I was trying to hide?

“Thanks,” I mumbled, not looking at either of them as I stepped closer to the stall.

The closer I got, the smaller it seemed, like the walls were pressing in before I even entered. My stomach churned, my palms clammy. It’s just a shower , I told myself again. It’s not the shed. You’re not there anymore. You’re here. With them. They’re not like the others.

But even as I tried to force the logic into my mind, my hands shook when I reached for the door. My fingers brushed the smooth handle, and for a second, I was back at the compound, back with that cruel pack and the alphas who wanted me to be a part of their bond. I yanked my hand back, my breathing coming faster now. I couldn’t do this.

I stared at the door, my chest heaving, my vision blurring at the edges. I wanted to scream, to cry, to break something, just to release the pressure building inside me. But all I could do was stand there, frozen, trapped in my own mind.

Behind me, I heard Sofia’s soft voice again, tinged with worry. “Greek?”

I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. My throat felt too tight to answer. My omega whimpered, clawing at the walls I’d built to keep myself together. I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, desperate to keep the panic from spilling over, to keep myself from falling apart in front of them. But I was already cracking.

“Would it help if I showered with you?” Sofia asked.

I spun around to face her, my face frozen in an expression of shock. “You... you’d come inside with me?”

She smiled. “Of course, silly. Would that make things better?”

I nodded, unable to find the words, fearing if I spoke, the tears would fall. It was taking all of my energy to hold them back.

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper, feeling weak but unable to turn down her offer.

“You’re welcome, Little Rabbit.” She winked at me before facing Demon. “Can you bring clothing for both of us and sit them outside the door.”

“They’ll be too big,” Demon told her. “Is that okay?”

“That’ll be perfect. Don’t bring anything that has that scent blocker smell on it.”

“Why?” Demon asked.

“We need your scent, big guy. It makes us feel... safe.” She glanced at me, and I knew she meant that it made me feel safe, made my omega feel safe. I gave a slight nod. There was that purr again, rumbling through Demon’s chest, easing some of the tension and fear from my body.

“Okay,” he said. “Take care of him,” he told Sofia, though his intense gaze was on me.

“Don’t worry. I’ll watch over him. Stay close in case I need to call you,” she said.

He nodded before turning and leaving the room, but not before casting a look back at us. The look in his eyes said he wanted to stay. He left the room, gently closing the door behind him. Sofia turned to me.

“Tell me what I can do to make you more comfortable, Greek.”

I fiddled with the hem of my boxers. Comfortable . I didn’t know what I needed to be more comfortable. How could I not know what I needed? Her . I needed her here. She was already here. So... what now? I swallowed.

“Is it the stall?” she asked.

I didn’t want to answer. It was embarrassing. But she was here with me. She was here for me. I had to answer.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Is it all small spaces?”

I shook my head. “Only when I’m closed into those small spaces.”

“Like closets, pantries...”

“And sheds,” I added.

Anger flashed in her eyes. I almost recoiled until she said...

“One day, when you feel I’m worthy of hearing it, you’re going to tell me your story and tell me who hurt you. And then I’m going to find those fuckers and gut them like fish. But for now, I’m going to get into that stall. You join me when you’re ready. And if you’re not ready, I’ll give you a sponge bath. You never have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. None of us do. Now, close your eyes if my nakedness is a problem for you.”

I watched in awe as she began to undress. This woman... this beautiful beta with a heart so big that it made me feel small when she was near, had just stolen my heart and my soul. I was hers. And I prayed she never let me go.