CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

DEMON

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When I stirred awake, the world felt different, calmer, quieter. My body was sore, aching in ways I hadn’t expected it to be. Even my jaw was sore. But there was a reason for the pain. I smiled, recalling the way I’d tongued Sofia down, drinking her sweet nectar straight from the source as she rode my face.

Sometime during the rut, I’d ordered Greek to sit on my chest and fuck my mouth while Sofia sucked my cock. They’d both obeyed my orders like the good little bond mates they were. Together, they’d seen me through my rut, making my first sexual encounter memorable. More than memorable. Special .

I closed my eyes, barely believing this was my life. I’d always dreamed of a rut like the one the three of us had shared. Yet, I’d never imagined that dream would come true. Dreams didn’t come true for people like me. Yet, I was currently living my dream. That scared and excited me. I was afraid that if I smiled too much or too hard, all of this would disappear.

My cuffs had snapped open while I slept, leaving my arms next to my head in a weird position. They were now numb. I started to lift them but paused, becoming aware of the warmth pressed against me on either side. My chest tightened as I glanced down. Curled up against me, their bodies flush with mine, were Sofia and Greek. The keepers of my heart, my body, and my soul.

Sofia was draped over my right side, her soft, bare skin against me, her hair spilling across my chest like a fiery curtain. On my left, Greek lay tucked close, his head resting against my shoulder, his steady breaths warming my skin. I shifted slightly, my muscles groaning in protest, and Sofia stirred. Her lashes fluttered, and she blinked up at me, her lips parting in a soft smile.

“Morning, big guy,” she murmured, her voice husky with sleep.

“Sorry,” I muttered, my voice rough as gravel. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

She stretched, her arms arching above her head, and I caught a glimpse of her bare breasts. Her skin gleamed in the dim light, her curves impossibly soft and tempting. I felt my breath hitch, my body responding instinctively to the sight of her.

Her smirk told me she’d noticed. “Enjoying the view?” she teased. “You’ll enjoy this view even better.” She turned and began crawling away from me, her ass swaying from side to side as she moved.

“Careful, Little Fox,” I growled. “I’m no longer cuffed. I can spank you now.”

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she glanced back at me. “And I can bend it over for you so you can spank me as much as you want, alpha,” she purred.

My cock throbbed at my Little Fox’s words. A growl rumbled through me as I continued watching her. She moved with an effortless grace, climbing out of bed and padding across the room to where a bottle of water and a bowl of fruit sat on a side table.

I watched her, mesmerized, as she unscrewed the cap from the bottle and grabbed an apple. The curve of her back, the sway of her hips, it was all too much, and yet I couldn’t look away. When she returned, she sat back down beside me, her knee brushing my side.

“Drink,” she said, holding the water bottle to my lips.

“My hands are free now,” I told her.

“I know. But they’re probably numb or tingling like crazy as they wake up. Let me take care of you, alpha.”

Sofia . This beautiful beta had not only stolen from my traps, but she’d also stolen my heart and soul. If she tried to leave me now, I didn’t think I’d survive it.

“Say ahhh,” she told me.

I opened my mouth, letting her pour the cool liquid in. It slid down my throat, soothing the dryness there, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes for a moment, savoring it. When I opened them again, she was smiling at me, the apple held out.

“Eat,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You’ve been through an intense rut. You need to regain your strength. I’ll make breakfast for us in a bit.”

I took the apple, my fingers brushing against hers, and brought it to my mouth. As I bit into it, my gaze never left her. The crisp sweetness of the fruit filled my mouth, but it was nothing compared to the sight of her, sitting there so naked, so utterly beautiful. Wait . Did she say she was going to make breakfast?

“Can you cook?” I asked.

Her eyes flicked away, and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. “I mean... I’ve made food before,” she hedged.

“Did it come out right?” I asked.

She cocked her head to the side, giving me a side-eye. “What’s your definition of right ?”

I chuckled, the sound low and warm, and shook my head. “I’ll make breakfast,” I told her. She started to protest. “I want to do it,” I told her. “I happen to like cooking.”

“But you’re tired.”

“Yeah, but in a good way. Plus, my alpha wants to cook for you and Greek. He wants to do everything for you.” Forever.

She blushed. “Well, I’m not one to turn down a free meal.”

“Good.” I frowned, noticing the sheen of sweat on her forehead. But the room was cool. I leaned closer, pressing my palm to her forehead. “Are you feeling feverish?” I asked, my voice softening as I searched her face.

She hesitated, her lips parting as she met my gaze. “Yes,” she admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

I pulled my hand back, my brow furrowing. “Then rest,” I said firmly. “Both of you. I’ll bring you down some cold medicine.”

My eyes flicked to Greek, who was still curled up on the other side of me, though I could see the faint stirrings of wakefulness in his expression. He stirred, then stretched, his cock brushing against my leg. I tried not to stare at it, but that was impossible. I’d never been around many male omegas, but I hadn’t expected them to be so well-endowed.

I’d choked on his cock, gagging as he’d fucked my mouth during my rut. I wanted to do it again. But first, I needed to feed them and get some medicine in Sofia. I couldn’t have her being sick. Greek sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

I noticed that two of his bandages had fallen away. The wounds had healed, thanks to his accelerated omega healing. All he’d needed was for them to be cleaned and medicated. But his old pack had made sure that hadn’t happened.

One day, I would hunt them down and kill them for what they’d done to my omega. For now, I’d take care of him and Sofia and show them how a real alpha treated the members of his bond.

“Everyone is up,” Greek whispered, voice hoarse, probably from all the times he’d cried out in pleasure last night.

“Our alpha is about to go make breakfast for us,” Sofia told him, beaming.

“He is?” Greek whispered. “Shouldn’t we be doing that for him?”

I placed my hand against the handsome omega’s cheek, resting it there, adoring the way he leaned into my touch.

“I want to make breakfast for you two. I want to...” I paused, looking to Sofia, who snuggled closer and rested her head on my shoulder. I leaned down and kissed her forehead before saying, “I want to thank both of you for making my first time special.”

Greek’s eyes softened. “Demon,” he whispered that one word that said so much.

“I’m serious,” I told them. “Thank you.”

I felt Sofia kiss my shoulder. “It was our pleasure.”

I swallowed, working up the courage to say what I needed to say next. “I... after the storm passes... I hope you’ll both stay here with me.”

Greek smiled brightly, his gaze dropping to Sofia. I followed his gaze to find Sofia smiling up at me.

“Really?” she whispered. “You want both of us?”

“More than want,” I told her. “I need you two. I don’t think... I’d be able to continue living without you.”

“Same, big guy, same,” Sofia said.

Greek kissed my palm and whispered, “Same.”

“Does that mean...” I swallowed again. “You’ll accept my mating mark.”

Greek touched his hand to his throat. “I’m not... a registered omega.”

“I don’t care about that. I want you, Greek.”

His stormy eyes swimming with tears, he nodded. “I’ll gladly accept your bite, alpha.”

Happiness, unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, surged through me. I claimed Greek’s lips in a fiery kiss that left us both panting when we broke apart. I faced my Little Fox, the wildflower of our home.

“Will you accept my bite?” I asked.

“Only if I get to bite you back. And before you say it, I know beta’s bites don’t last. They heal. But I want to bite you both as often as possible to keep my marks on you forever.”

Damn, this little spitfire was everything I’d been missing in my life. I claimed her lips in a kiss that made a growl bubble up within me. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel like a monster. I felt... like a man. Their man. Their alpha.

***

The sizzle of bacon filled the air, punctuated by the clink of the spatula against the cast iron skillet. I stood at the stove, my gloved hand gripping the handle of the pan as I flipped the strips, their edges curling and crisping under the heat. The smoky scent mingled with the faint sweetness of maple syrup from the pancakes I’d finished a few minutes earlier, creating a mix that somehow felt warm and... homey.

Unable to wait until the bacon was ready, Greek and Sofia were already at the table, eating pancakes and eggs while playing a board game, a game that was now sticky because of the two of them. Behind me, laughter echoed from the small dining table.

“Greek, you’re moving my piece again!” Sofia’s voice rang out, laced with mock outrage.

“I’m not! It’s just... you put it in the wrong place!” Greek countered, though his tone betrayed the grin I could hear in his words. “Maybe if you actually read the rules, Little Fox.”

“Rules are for amateurs. I’m a pro,” our fox countered.

Of course, she’d think that way. Our beta probably hadn’t followed a rule in her life. I smirked, glancing over my shoulder at them. Greek was leaning forward, his brows drawn together in concentration as he pointed to the board. Sofia was glaring at him, her fiery hair catching the sunlight streaming through the window. Her lips quirked into a smile she couldn’t hold back.

“I didn’t put that there,” she lied.

“She cheats!” Greek yelled.

“I do not cheat! I... improvise,” she said, flipping her hair back with a dramatic flair.

“Improvising isn’t a strategy in this game!” Greek declared, pointing at the rulebook like it was a sacred text. “It’s literally written here.”

I let out a low chuckle and returned my attention to the stove. The pan hissed as I tipped it, letting the grease collect in the corner before spooning it into the jar by the stove. A small part of me hated to interrupt the moment, but it was my turn, and I’d be damned if I let Sofia win.

“Hold on,” I said, placing the pan off the burner and wiping my hands on the dishtowel slung over my shoulder. “I know you’re both scheming over there.”

I crossed the room, their gazes snapping up to me as I leaned down to read my card. Greek sat back, arms crossed, his lips twitching with amusement. Sofia, on the other hand, watched me carefully, her eyes narrowing as if she could will me to make the wrong move.

“You’re both terrible at bluffing,” I muttered, grabbing my piece and moving it forward three spaces. “And for the record, I’m going to win this thing.”

“Big words for a man who spends more time cooking than strategizing,” Sofia teased, her smirk wide and challenging.

I leaned closer to her, my hand bracing against the table. “Little Fox, I could beat you at this with one hand tied behind my back and a blindfold on.”

She huffed, rolling her eyes, but the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her. Greek snorted, unable to hide his laugh.

“Demon, if you win, it’s because she’s too busy trying to mess with me to notice you sneaking ahead,” he said, shaking his head. “And by the way, Sofia, moving two spaces when the card says one? That’s definitely cheating.”

“Prove it,” she shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.

I barked out a laugh and turned back to the stove, the sound of their banter following me. It was good, this—this easy flow of laughter and playful accusations. The kind of thing I’d never thought I’d have. The kind of thing I didn’t know I needed. I grabbed a plate and began piling on the bacon. The domesticity of it all struck me, a strange and unexpected sensation settling in my chest as I plated the food. It was... nice. And fuck, I’d never thought I’d describe anything as nice.

“Demon!” Sofia’s voice pulled me back, and I turned just in time to see her pointing at the board. “It’s your turn again. Don’t think I won’t take over your moves for you if you don’t hurry up.”

“I think she’s already done it a time or two when I was reading the instructions,” Greek complained.

“If you didn’t see it happen, it didn’t happen,” Sofia huffed.

I snorted, returning to the table with the plate of bacon, which I set in the center for us all to pull from.

“You two are impossible,” I told them.

Sofia grinned up at me, all smug confidence as I read my next card. I smirked and moved my piece strategically, ignoring her feigned gasp of betrayal as I blocked her path.

“You’re playing dirty!” she accused, her eyes alight with mischief.

“Call it what you want,” I said. “I call it strategy.”

Beside me, Greek’s laughter spilled over.

“The rest of breakfast is served,” I said. “The game can wait. Eat before I win this game and leave you both crying into your pancakes.”

Sofia arched a brow, but her grin softened as she picked up her fork. Greek, already digging into his food, hummed in appreciation, the sound low and pleased.

“This is amazing,” he said between bites, glancing at me with wide, sincere eyes. “You can cook and play a mean game.”

“You’re a damn unicorn, Demon,” Sofia teased, though her gaze lingered on me, warm and unguarded.

I leaned back in my chair, my own plate untouched for the moment as I watched them. Greek’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright as he laughed at something Sofia said. She gestured wildly, her hands almost knocking over the syrup as she argued some ridiculous point about the game. She was looking a little less flushed now that she’d taken her meds.

But Greek, on the other hand, was looking more flushed. And his scent was more pronounced. I think my rut had triggered his heat. After breakfast, I’d tell them my thoughts so we could start preparing for it. This would be the first time I’d seen an omega through a heat. Though I was pretty sure I could handle it with Sofia’s help, there were still lingering doubts in my mind.

The sound of their voices filled the room, wrapping around me like a blanket. For the first time in years, my surroundings didn’t feel empty. It felt alive, filled with warmth and laughter and the kind of messy chaos I didn’t know I’d craved. I’d thought I’d be alone forever. That wherever I laid my head would always be a refuge from the world but never a home.

Now, sitting here with them, I realized how wrong I’d been. My Little Fox. My Little Rabbit. They’d turned everything upside down in the best fucking way possible, and I was grateful for it.

Sofia’s gaze landed on me, “Alpha...”

Fuck , I loved it when she called me alpha.

“Remember our first day together and that rope knot you tied my wrists in?”

Guilt crept over me. Was she still angry about that? Of course, she was. Damn it.

“What kind of knot was that?” she asked. “I was taught by my grandparents how to slip free of knots. I’m embarrassed to say that I couldn’t break free of your knot.”

Her words caused Greek to giggle.

She glared at him. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Little Rabbit.”

Blushing, Greek sipped some of his orange juice.

Sofia faced me again. “Can you teach me how to get free of a knot like that?”

So she wasn’t mad, she was just curious. That, I could handle.

“Yeah, I can do that for you,” I answered.

“When we’re done here?” she insisted.

I chuckled. “Yes, Little Fox. I’ll teach you both as soon as we’re done here.”

Their smiles were too good to be true and way more than I deserved. But I was a greedy alpha, and I wanted all of their smiles. Forever.