CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SOFIA

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I dropped the knife onto the counter, rushing to Demon with Greek at my side.

“You’re back!” I exclaimed, unable to hide my excitement.

Demon’s eyes widened briefly before he grunted, clearly overwhelmed by our excitement. I took a step back. Greek followed my lead. However, when I caught sight of some of the items in his bags, my curiosity got the better of me.

“What’s in the bags?” I asked, stepping closer again.

“Have a seat,” Demon muttered, shaking his head as he set the bags down. “I’ll show you in a minute.”

I pulled out a chair from the kitchen table.

“Not in here,” Demon told me. “In the living room.”

“You don’t want us to see what you brought?” I asked, not missing the blush that crept up his neck and face. What had our alpha brought us?

“Living room, now!” he growled.

He was really going to keep us in suspense. Bad alpha! Pouting, I returned to the couch with Greek, though our anticipation hung heavy in the air. Demon’s scent carried a hint of warmth now, mirroring the excitement that radiated from both of us. Whatever he’d brought, I knew it would be worth the wait.

Sitting next to Greek on the couch, I couldn’t help but feel like a kid waiting to tear into presents on Christmas morning. It wasn’t just the anticipation of whatever Demon had brought back. It was the rare warmth of sharing this moment with someone else. My gaze slid to Greek. I wondered if he’d ever celebrated a Christmas surrounded by people who actually cared about him. Something told me he hadn’t.

If we made it through this storm and everything else that loomed on the horizon, I’d make sure Greek had a real Christmas one day. Him and Demon both. A big one, with flashing holiday lights, oversized matching ugly Christmas sweaters, enough food to put us all in a food coma, and lots of gifts. Gifts for my little rabbit and my big bear.

“What do you think he brought?” Greek asked.

I smiled as I watched Greek, his excitement practically radiating off him. His omega side was peeking through, something I hadn’t seen much of from him. Other than his stunning beauty and his sweet-tasting slick, there weren’t many stereotypical omega traits about Greek. But this? This was definitely one of them. Omegas loved gifts, and Greek couldn’t tear his gaze away from the kitchen, where we could hear Demon unpacking the bags he’d brought in.

“I’m sure he’s got food and water, enough to get us through the storm,” I said, though I knew that wasn’t what had Greek practically vibrating in place. “And I think I saw a blanket in one of the bags.”

Greek’s gaze snapped to me, his scent growing sweeter, his eyes lighting up with pure joy. “I think I did, too. It was the color of your hair,” he whispered.

Why the hell did those words make my throat tighten and bring tears to my eyes? It was such a simple observation, but it hit me hard. Whether or not Demon had done it intentionally, it was thoughtful. That small gesture made me mentally thank him, even as I tried to push down the surge of emotion threatening to bubble over.

From the kitchen, Demon’s gruff voice called out, “Did you two choose a room?”

“Yes,” I yelled back without hesitation. “We’re sleeping in your room, big guy.”

The quiet that followed was louder than any response he could’ve given. Greek’s foot began tapping against the floor, his movements twitchy and uncertain. I reached over, resting my hand on his knee, hoping to help calm him. But the heat that flared in his eyes when he looked at me had my own pulse skipping a beat.

My skin prickled where we touched, and I thought about pulling my hand away. I thought better of it, wanting him to grow used to my touch while also wanting to grow used to touching him. But the heat in his gaze was scorching me. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck.

Demon’s voice broke through the tension. “Both of you are sleeping in there... together?” His question was simple, but I could hear the undertone, the unspoken thoughts hidden in his words. I’d always been good at reading between the lines.

“Yes, big guy,” I called out, my hand still resting on Greek’s knee, his intense gaze still locked on me. “Both rooms were nice. But yours held your scent, and how can we resist being close to your scent.”

Another pause. Another heavy silence. I squeezed Greek’s leg, feeling a slight tremor run through him. He shivered under my touch, and I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or something else entirely.

“Say something,” I murmured to him, keeping my voice low. “We’re seducing the alpha, remember?”

Greek gave a small nod, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. After a brief pause, he called out, “Your room smells safe, like you, alpha.”

The way he looked to me for approval afterward made my chest ache, and I couldn’t help but grin. I lifted my hand from his knee, giving him a thumbs-up like we were partners in crime. It wasn’t a sexy line – not the kind of thing designed to make Demon come stalking into the room and take us both against the nearest surface.

But those words were enticing in their own way, subtle and sweet, exactly the kind of thing to get under an alpha’s skin. Judging by the growl that rumbled from the kitchen, it had worked. Heat bloomed in my cheeks, and when I glanced at Greek, I saw he was just as flushed. Demon’s reaction had clearly affected us both.

I leaned closer to Greek, my lips quirking into a smirk. “You hear that?” I whispered, my voice teasing but soft enough that only he could hear. “That’s the sound of us winning.”

Greek bit his lip, his wide eyes darting to the kitchen like Demon might stomp into the room at any moment. “What now?” he murmured.

I rested my head on his shoulder, loving the way he melted against me, his tension easing just a little.

“Now, we wait. But trust me, Little Rabbit. Big Bear doesn’t stand a chance against the two of us.”

***

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DEMON

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The rain was coming down harder now, tapping against the roof like a drumbeat as I unloaded the bags. Sofia and Greek’s voices carried faintly from the living room, light and easy, like they’d known each other forever. I didn’t listen too closely. Whatever they were talking about wasn’t for me. Not yet, anyway.

I unpacked the bags methodically, my hands working while my thoughts kept circling back to them. The canned goods were now in the cabinet and lined up neatly. I put the box of snacks on the counter where they could see them. As for the fruit basket, I set it in the center of the kitchen table.

That table... I couldn’t remember the last time I’d sat down to eat there. It had always just been me. I’d either eaten while standing at the counter or while reading in the living room. Food had just been sustenance. There was nothing special about eating alone. Now, I wanted something different.

I wanted to see Sofia’s sly smile over a meal as she teased me and Greek. I wanted Greek to laugh at something stupid we said. I wanted to sit with them and share a meal like... like a family. I stared at the table, its scuffed surface and worn edges, and something in my chest twisted.

It wasn’t good enough. None of this was. Not for them. They needed better than this cabin, with its bare walls and mismatched furniture. It worked for me. But for them? It felt wrong. Dragging a hand through my hair, I looked around the kitchen. It would take more than a few trips to the general store to make this place what it should be for them. A home.

My cabin had never been that. It was a shelter, a place to hide out in long term, nothing more. Their voices drifted in again, soft and warm. They weren’t just getting along. They were happy together. And when they looked at me earlier, I hadn’t seen fear in their eyes. There’d been something else. Curiosity. Interest.

They weren’t afraid of me. How the hell did that happen? Everyone feared me. I pushed those thoughts away and picked up the bag with the trinkets. I didn’t want them to see those yet. It was stupid to buy something so small when there were more practical things they needed. But I’d wanted to get them something that wasn’t about survival.

Something that might make them smile. Before I could talk myself out of it, I carried the bag to the hallway and tucked it away in the closet, hiding it behind a stack of old supplies. They’d see them when the time was right. If I chickened out, maybe never. Back in the kitchen, I paused. The rain was picking up, the sound of it on the roof louder now.

The shutters were down, the locks secured. No one was getting in. I’d poured enough scent blockers earlier to mask us. They were safe. I grabbed the blankets and pillows and headed for my bedroom, the room they wanted to sleep in. My king-sized bed was bare of anything that might make it look inviting.

I stared at the bed, wondering if I should strip it down and put the new blankets on. But my scent was in those sheets, faint but there. They said it made them feel safe. I rubbed the back of my neck, trying not to get too excited over those words. Even so, I didn’t want to wash my scent away.

I wanted them to feel safe here, with me. I wanted my scent to stay with them, cling to them, so they’d never forget this cabin wasn’t just a place to ride out a storm, it could be theirs. I could be theirs. That thought sent a low growl rumbling through my chest. My scent. On them. Me scent marking them . I didn’t want to think about how badly I needed that.

Instead, I laid the new pillows on top of the ones already there. The colors—red, beige, and blue—looked great together. I draped the blankets over the bed, leaving the extras in the middle for them to decide what to do with them.

I stepped back, arms crossed, and stared at the bed like it might tell me what the hell I was supposed to do next. My bed looked like someone had dumped a truck of pillows and blankets onto it. Did I get too much stuff? Not enough? Was this what they wanted? I had no idea. And the not knowing was eating me alive.

I wasn’t used to this kind of thing. I didn’t worry about how a bed looked or whether a damn pillow was soft enough, pretty enough. But for them? It mattered. There were magazines about this stuff. When I made an order again, I’d ask for some. I’d study this shit like it was a test to determine whether I lived or died.

I’d keep trying to get it right for them. The only thing left to do was place the few clothing items I’d brought for them in the dresser. I cleaned out two drawers, one for each of them. I placed my clothing in my closet on the top shelf. Then I filled those two drawers with the items I’d gotten for them.

I’d take them shopping after the storm for better things, things that fit their preferences. The sound of Sofia’s laugh carried down the hall, and I couldn’t resist following the sound, wanting to be a part of their world. When I stepped into the living room, I stopped dead in my tracks. Sofia was curled up against Greek, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

She spoke softly, her voice a gentle murmur. Greek was listening intently, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he glanced down at her. The way he looked at her, with warmth and quiet awe, made it obvious that he was already falling for her. And who could blame him? Sofia had this way of slipping past every defense you thought you had and planting herself there.

I wanted to talk to them, but I didn’t want to interrupt their moment. So, I stood there, watching them until they both looked my way. Their eyes lit up when they saw me, and I barely resisted the primal urge to close the distance between us, to drop to my knees before them, and beg them to be my bond mates and accept my mating mark.

I swallowed down that desperate need and forced myself to step further into the room. “The bedroom’s ready if you want to relax in there,” I told them, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.

Sofia’s gaze flicked to Greek, her grin widening before they both got up and rushed over to me. I shoved my hands into my pockets to keep from opening my arms, hoping they’d step into my embrace. I’d never hugged anyone in my life, not as a child, not as an adult. But I wanted to hug and be hugged by them.

I froze as they stopped directly in front of me, so close that their scents were wreaking havoc on me and my self-control. My hands stayed buried in my pockets because if I pulled them out, I might do something stupid. Something like wrapping them up in an embrace neither of them had asked for.

“Lead the way, big guy,” Sofia said.

I looked down at her, finally taking in the sight of her in my clothes. The oversized t-shirt hung awkwardly off her, and she’d tied the hem into a knot to make it fit better. It didn’t help much. The pants, folded at the waist and rolled at the ankles, still looked like she was drowning in them.

Her attempt to make my clothing fit her better was comical yet adorable as fuck. She looked fucking perfect. My gaze shifted to Greek. He wasn’t faring much better. My shirt hung too loose on his shoulders, and the pants were rolled and folded like hers.

Still, they were barely staying on. I loved the sight of him in my things. I almost didn’t want to tell them about the clothing I’d purchased for them. I liked seeing them in my things, wrapped up in my scent.

“Are you admiring our fashion?” Sofia’s voice broke through my thoughts.

She planted a hand on her hip, cocking it in a way that was both playful and undeniably charming. She struck a pose like she was modeling for a photo shoot, her grin daring me to laugh. It was impossible not to smile. She could light up the darkest room without even trying.

“Show off your outfit,” she urged Greek, nudging him with her elbow.

Greek hesitated, his face flushing pink, but he complied, turning in a slow circle so I could get a full view. The way the clothes hung off him, clinging awkwardly in some places and sliding off in others, was enough to make anyone else look silly. But Greek? He made it look endearing.

Sofia struck another pose as Greek turned in a circle again. These two! I couldn’t stop it. A laugh burst from me before I could hold it back. Greek faced me, his blush deepening, but his smile stayed.

“Do you like it?” he asked, his voice soft, hesitant.

“I love it,” I confessed, the words slipping out before I had the chance to overthink them. “I want to see the two of you in more of my clothes.”

The instant those words left my mouth, I realized how they’d sound. But it was too late to take them back. A small gasp escaped Greek, and Sofia’s grin stretched impossibly wider.

“Oh, big guy,” she cooed, her tone teasing but her eyes holding something warm. “You say the sweetest things.”

Heat crept up my neck, and I cursed myself for being so obvious. Facing away from them to hide just how happy her words made me, I muttered, “Follow me,” before heading toward the bedroom.

If I stayed in the living room any longer, I’d embarrass myself even more. As I walked, I could hear their soft laughter behind me. This was how I’d always imagined a home would feel. I just never had the courage to imagine my home could be this way.

My nerves were shot as I watched them approach the bed. Sofia’s excitement was immediate, her words spilling out as she scanned everything I’d laid out. She didn’t hold back, commenting on the colors, the softness of the blankets, and how the pillows were the perfect mix of cozy and cute.

Greek, though, he moved slower, more cautious. His steps were hesitant, his gaze flicking over the bed like he was trying to figure out if it was safe to get closer. His silence made my nervousness grow. With his back to me, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Did he hate it? Did I screw this up?

My eyes tracked his every move, the way his fingers brushed one of the blankets like he was testing it. His hands moved to another. My stomach churned. Should I have gotten something different? Maybe fewer pillows? Or more? Hell, maybe the colors were all wrong. I probably should’ve skipped the blue ones.

They matched my eyes, but was that too much? Did it feel like I was forcing myself on them? I hated how unsure I felt. This was becoming too damn familiar lately, this knot of nerves and second-guessing. It wasn’t me. I didn’t do this. I was an alpha. I acted first and dealt with the fallout later. But with them, I couldn’t shake the doubt.

Greek reached for one of the pillows, his hand brushing over it lightly. I wanted to say something, but my throat felt dry. Sofia kept chattering away, completely oblivious to how tense I was. Maybe that was for the best. I stood there, hands jammed in my pockets, trying to figure out if I’d done enough or if I’d just made a fool of myself.