CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DEMON

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There was no way I was letting them go. Not after the storm passed, not ever. I strode down the hallway, boots thudding softly against the worn wood floor, holding the clothing I’d found for Sofia and Greek. My chest was tight as I reached the bathroom door, the scent of soap and steam mingling with them .

Their scents drifted through the air like a siren’s call, rich and intoxicating. It wasn’t just Greek’s sweetness or Sofia’s enticing citrus – it was the combination of both that had my heart pounding and my cock throbbing in a way that made my jaw clench. As I crouched to place the clothes on the floor, a faint groan rumbled through the door. Greek .

My body betrayed me instantly, heat pooling low in my abdomen, my cock swelling and straining against the confines of my jeans. I leaned closer, unable to stop myself, ears straining for any more sounds, no matter how wrong I knew it was to eavesdrop on their private moment. But this was my home, damn it. And they were mine, too.

Another groan met my ears, soft, needy, and arousing as hell. The sound shot through me like a live wire, leaving me trembling. I bit back a curse as wetness dampened my boxers, the humiliating evidence of my arousal making me jerk back from the door like I’d been burned by it. Stumbling back, I tore myself away from their intoxicating pull and practically bolted through the house.

I snatched up my keys and then my shades, shoving them over my eyes. Distance . That was what I needed. Distance between me and them before I did something insane like break that damn door down to get to them. When I finally made it to the front porch, the cold air hit my face, sharp and biting.

I squinted. Even with my shades on, the sunlight felt too bright. I inhaled deeply, desperate to clear my head, but it didn’t work. Their scents clung to me, woven into the fabric of the cabin, into my senses, into my goddamn soul. I could still hear Greek groans and imagine their naked bodies in my mind as if they were standing right in front of me. What was my Little Fox doing to our Little Rabbit to make him groan like that?

What would she like me to do to her while she pleased him to have them both groaning? My fists clenched at my sides as I fought the primal need roaring through me. I couldn’t stay here. Not in the state I was in. I needed something to do, some way to take control of myself before I triggered a rut, which was the last thing I needed right now.

I raced down the steps and stormed around the house until I reached the shed. I unlocked the chains and strode inside, staring around me. Grabbing the large container of scent-blocking powder from the shelf, I walked the perimeter of my property and poured another thick line of it around the perimeter.

The fine granules sifted through the opening of the box as I concentrated on pouring more of it near the house. I couldn’t risk anyone catching a whiff of them, not with scents like theirs. They’d attract trouble faster than blood in swamp water. And though I knew I could defend this property and protect them, I didn’t want to risk it.

Once I’d finished, I returned the container to the shed. I stood there for a moment, lost in thought. They should be done showering by now, should be dressed in my clothing. My clothing . Another growl rumbled through me. I still wasn’t fully in control. Time and distance. I needed more time and more distance from them.

I let my eyes wander to my truck. It looked like an old and weathered machine, but everything under the hood was new. I’d practically built it myself. My truck stared back at me like it was the answer to my problems. Maybe it was. With them here, I’d need more supplies for the cabin.

I needed more food, some clothes for them, something soft for Greek, and something fun for Sofia to keep her from getting bored. What did she even like? She seemed the type who’d be bored stiff during a storm if she didn’t have something to keep her occupied. And I wasn’t the most entertaining alpha in the world.

If they hadn’t shown up, I would’ve sat on my porch and watched the storm from one of my chairs while drinking a cold beer. If I didn’t find a way to keep them happy during the storm, they’d want to leave after it passed. My gut twisted at the thought of them leaving. That thought was like claws scraping against my lungs, stealing my breath.

The cabin felt alive for the first time since I’d holed up here, their scents clinging to the air like they belonged, like they’d always been a part of this place. My place. Our place. Greek’s shy little smiles, Sofia’s ridiculous, teasing comments – I hated how much I liked all of it. People didn’t normally smile at me.

Instead, they ran in the other direction when they saw me. Yet, the handsome little omega had gifted me with a shy smile that tugged at my heart. And people definitely didn’t tease me. They were too afraid to do so. Yet beautiful Sofia had. And it didn’t piss me off. Instead, it made me smile. No! It made me laugh. The sound had erupted from me before I could stop it.

I hadn’t laughed since... Fuck! I don’t know when I last laughed. Laughter wasn’t a part of my life. Never had been. I’d never had a reason to even smile. Until them. After one day in my cabin, not even a full day, they’d already turned my life upside down. They chased away the cold that had lived in these walls for years, the kind that the fireplace couldn’t reach.

The idea of that being gone? Of them being gone? Yeah, it twisted something deep inside me, something I wasn’t ready to name. I could make them stay. Force it, even. But I didn’t want that. Not with them. I wanted them to want this. To want me. But I wasn’t a fool. I knew there was nothing appealing about me.

I was an alpha who didn’t give in to his base instincts. I’d learned to ignore them, to quiet them. I’d broken the beast within me, and he no longer knew how to follow his natural instincts, instincts that would help him care for an omega. I could fight. I could kill. I could protect. But the other things that came with being an alpha were foreign to me.

That’s why I’d been labeled as a rogue years ago. Though, that truly didn’t describe me either. I wasn’t a danger to anyone unless they made me be. I wasn’t a rogue. I was just broken. And I’d been fine with that... until them. And until them, I hadn’t cared about purring properly to calm an upset omega or worried about smiling in a way that would charm a lovely beta.

Even I knew purring and smiling would only get me so far. They’d need more incentives to stay. And I didn’t have anything more to give. Somehow, I had to show them that being stuck here because of some storm could become so much more than just a means of survival. If they wanted, this could become their home. I ... could become their home.

I just had to figure out something to help them see that. I began pacing in the shed, my thoughts chaotic. Maybe gifts would help. Normal alphas often wooed omegas with courting gifts. Could I court them both? Would a beta even want to be courted? The idea lodged itself in my heart, an ember catching fire.

I ran a hand over my face, my heartbeat unsteady as I realized what I was thinking. I wanted to court them. Not just Greek, but Sofia too. The sly fox who’d filled my house with mischief and warmth. The fragile rabbit who looked at me like I was something more than I knew I was. Like I was worthy.

There was no turning back now that the thought had taken root and the embers had started a fire inside me. With that thought anchoring me, I headed back into the house, creating a mental list of things I needed to purchase. I’d get supplies, plus gifts, to make them want to stay.

Before leaving, I needed to make sure they were safe while I was gone. The storm shutters would keep out intruders. I’d make sure Sofia and Greek knew how to open them in case of an emergency, though the thought of them needing to open them while I was gone terrified me.

As I stepped into the hall, keys in hand, the bathroom door creaked open. My breath stalled in my chest, and my boots froze mid-step. Greek and Sofia emerged, hand in hand, clad in nothing but towels. Steam followed them like a lover’s caress, their scents thick in the air, wrapping around me and making it impossible to think.

They were both wrapped in towels, my towels, towels that had touched my body and were now touching theirs. Sofia’s towel didn’t hide the swell of her breasts or her long, shapely legs. And Greek’s towel hung low on his waist, and his cock was tenting the towel, calling to me. My body reacted instantly, heat flaring as my cock throbbed painfully against my jeans.

The keys slipped from my fingers, clattering to the floor. I took a stumbling step back, my pulse hammering. Greek’s blond-silver hair clung to his neck and shoulders, water droplets trailing down his chest. And Sofia, her towel hung low on her breasts, revealing just enough to drive me insane. Her damp hair framed her face, and her smile was pure trouble.

“Where are the clothes you promised us, alpha?” she asked, her voice light and teasing.

Forming words was impossible. My mouth wouldn’t work. Unable to speak, the only thing I could do was nod to the pile of clothing on the floor behind her. She looked back, her gaze flicking to the floor.

When she looked back at me, her lips quirked up, and she said, “Oh, silly me. I didn’t even see them.”

Releasing Greek’s hand, she turned and strode toward the clothing. She bent down to pick up the items I’d left them. When she did so, my world tilted. Her towel stretched over the curve of her ass, the damp fabric clinging to her skin. The edge of the towel rose just enough to reveal a sliver of her bare ass cheeks, pale and perfect, a taunt and an invitation all at once.

My breath caught, a low growl vibrating in my chest as I fought to tear my gaze away, but I couldn’t. She bent lower, oblivious to what she was doing to me, or maybe not. The towel rode higher, giving me a glimpse of soft, glistening skin. My heart slammed against my ribs, every muscle in my body locking up like I’d been struck by lightning. And then I saw it.

The apex of her thighs, a fleeting, forbidden view of her bare pussy, slick with water from the shower and arousal from what she and Greek had been doing behind closed doors. My throat went dry, and I nearly choked on the groan that threatened to escape.

My cock throbbed so hard it was painful, pressing against the confines of my jeans like it was trying to break free and close the distance between us. I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms, desperate to keep myself rooted in place.

She was testing every ounce of my control, control I was dangerously close to losing. Sofia straightened with the clothes in hand, still oblivious—or entirely aware—of the havoc she’d just caused. When she turned back to me, her eyes sparkled with mischief, and her smile was a weapon aimed straight at my chest.

“You okay, big guy?” she asked, her tone innocent, but her scent carried a hint of teasing sweetness that made me want to drag her against me and find out just how soft her skin really was.

A growl tore from my throat, raw and uncontrollable, the sound vibrating through the air before I could stop it.

I cleared my throat, my voice rough as I said, “Get dressed.”

Her grin widened, and she winked, leaning closer to Greek and whispering something in his ear. Greek’s face turned a brilliant shade of red, his scent spiking with a mix of embarrassment and shy excitement. I didn’t wait for whatever teasing remark Sofia had lined up next. I snatched my keys off the floor, my jaw tight as I forced myself to look away. My voice was strained when I spoke.

“I’m going to the store. I’ll close the shutters while I’m gone. Don’t open them unless it’s an emergency.”

Greek and Sofia exchanged a glance, their expressions too innocent to be real.

“Promise me,” I added, the tone rough, almost pleading. “Promise you won’t open the shutters while I’m gone.” Don’t let anyone in, and please don’t leave me. Promise me.

“We promise,” Sofia replied in that sweet voice of hers, though the glint in her eyes made me suspicious.

My Little Fox was up to something. Her smile widened. My chest ached, not wanting to leave them. My gaze drifted to Greek, who gifted me with a shy smile. Could an alpha have a heart attack from being smiled at by the people he craved? I felt I was on the verge of finding out.

I turned on my heel, unable to handle the overwhelming pull of their presence any longer. Their scents followed me like ghosts as I left the house, haunting me, ensuring I didn’t forget them. How could I forget them when they were my wildest dreams and greatest longings brought to life?

I went to work pulling down the shutters over the doors and windows, locking them inside. If something happened and they needed to flee the cabin, the shutters could still be opened from the inside. Once I was done, I strode down the steps of my porch and looked back at my home.

I inhaled deeply. The scent blockers were doing their job, masking the scents of those inside my home. Part of me wanted to stay. I feared someone venturing onto my territory while I was gone. Though that was unlikely, it was still a fear. Another part of me knew there were essentials I’d be unable to get once the storm hit, so I needed to get them now.

I wouldn’t be gone long. Nothing would happen while I was gone. I hoped. I prayed. I continued staring at the cabin. If I didn’t walk away now, I never would. I took a step back, eyes still glued to the front door. They were safe in there. Nothing and no one could hurt them. I took another step back.

Sighing at how damn ridiculous I was being, I turned and headed to my truck. Sliding into the vehicle, the first thing I did was open the glove compartment and get out a bottle of blocker spray. I sprayed myself, knowing their scents still clung to me. Then, I sprayed the truck before tossing the spray back into the glove compartment.

Keeping my scent masked had become a means of survival over the years. Without blockers, I would’ve been caught years ago and forced to pay for my crimes before the pack that had turned me into the broken alpha I am today. Those who wanted me dead hadn’t caught up with me yet.

That was only because I never stayed in one spot too long. And now, I was dangerously close to them, only because sometimes hiding in plain sight was the best move sometimes. But now I had Greek and Sofia with me. I shuddered to think of what would happen to them if my enemies found me now.

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. Nothing would happen because my old pack wouldn’t find me. They wouldn’t find us. I’d make damn sure of that. Or maybe I should take the fight to my old pack and stop running from them. Fear had never been my reason for fleeing.

I didn’t want to kill my brother. That was the only reason I tried to stay off the grid and off his radar. I knew if he found me, he’d end me with no hesitation. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to do the same to him. We weren’t close. Never had been. Never would be. But he was the only family I had left.

Killing him didn’t sit well with me. That was before Sofia and Greek trespassed into my life. For them, I’d kill any threat that came my way. Even Lucius Thorn, my baby brother. The brother who wanted me dead because I’d murdered our father. I turned the radio up and let it play as I drove, hoping it would drown out the memories trying to surface.

A news update on the storm came across the air. The storm was now a category-three hurricane but was projected to drop to a category-two before coming ashore. It had slowed down. Our area was currently under a tornado watch, and the first bands of the storm would come onto land in about two hours. Plenty of time for me to shop and make it home.

Home . A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. My cabin, indeed, felt like a home now. I’d do whatever it took to keep it feeling that way. I’d kill whoever I needed to kill to keep it feeling that way.