CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

SOFIA

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Greek’s soft, even breathing filled the room, his body curled tightly in the nest, completely spent from the storm of his heat. His heat scent still lingered faintly in the air, but it was different now, muted, a subtle scent, much different from the potent fragrance from earlier.

But my body was still alight, my blood humming with an energy I didn’t entirely understand. Alpha mode . That’s what Greek had called it, and he wasn’t wrong. I was in alpha mode. I felt it in every fiber of my being. I felt the strength, the sharp edge of dominance begging to be tested. And I wanted to test it on him . On Demon.

I crawled around the edge of our nest, not wanting to wake our sleeping omega. My body moved with predatory ease as I approached where Demon lay, his broad frame stretched out on the other side of Greek. He was awake. Unable to sleep, just like I was. He watched me approach, his piercing blue eyes tracking my every movement, the rise and fall of his chest growing heavier as I neared.

“You watching me, big guy?” I teased, my voice low, carrying a challenge.

“Always,” he rumbled, his tone dark and gravelly, his hands flexing at his sides like he was barely holding himself back. “You look like you’re about to start some trouble, Little Alpha.”

I smirked, the heat in his gaze sending a thrill through me. “Maybe I am, Big Alpha.”

I crawled closer, letting my hands slide over his hard, muscled chest. His skin was warm under my palms, his scent filling my senses, addictive and intoxicating. He exhaled a shuddering breath as I straddled him, pressing my hips down just enough to feel the heat of his cock against my wetness.

“I have a question,” I murmured, leaning closer until our noses nearly touched, my hard nipples pressed against his solid chest.

“Ask it,” he growled, his voice tight, his hands gripping the sheets like he was using every ounce of restraint not to flip me over and take control.

“Do you want to feel my lock?” The words fell from my lips like a dare, a challenge I wasn’t sure he’d take.

His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. “I want it,” he said, his voice rough with need. “I want it so fucking badly.”

“Then take it,” I murmured, catching his bottom lip between my teeth before crushing my mouth to his.

His kiss was fire, scorching and consuming, our tongues clashing as we fought for dominance. He growled against my lips, his hands flying to my hips, gripping me hard enough to leave marks as he ground his hips upward, pressing his cock against the wet heat of my core. I ground against him hard, pressing my pussy against his rock-hard cock, smearing my juices across his length.

I broke the kiss, panting as I stared down at him, my hair falling around us like a curtain. “You think you can handle this, big guy?” I taunted, rolling my hips slowly, teasing him with just enough friction to drive him mad.

“I can handle anything you throw at me,” he snarled, his grip on my hips tightening. “But can you handle me?” He bucked against me, making me growl.

“Let’s find out.”

Before he could respond, I grabbed his wrists, pinning them above his head. He growled low in his throat, his muscles flexing beneath me, but he didn’t fight me. Instead, he let me take control, his blue eyes blazing as he watched me with a hunger that made my core tighten.

“You’re letting me win,” I accused, grinding down harder, feeling his cock twitch beneath me.

“Only because I want to see what you’ll do,” he shot back, his lips curling into a smirk. “Show me what you’ve got, Little Alpha.”

The challenge sent a surge of heat through me, and I leaned down, capturing his lips in another fierce kiss as I reached between us, wrapping my hand around his thick cock. He groaned into my mouth as I stroked him, his precum slicking my palm as I guided him to my entrance.

The stretch was exquisite, the fullness stealing my breath as I sank down on him, inch by inch, until I was seated fully, his cock buried deep inside me. He growled, his head falling back against the pillow, his hands flexing above his head where I still held them.

“Fuck, Sofia,” he bit out, his voice strained. “You feel—”

“Perfect?” I finished for him, rolling my hips slowly, savoring the way he filled me, stretched me, claimed me.

“Better than perfect,” he groaned, his hips bucking involuntarily. “So much better.”

I set the pace, taking my time as I rode him, my hands still pinning his wrists. He growled and cursed beneath me, his muscles flexing with the effort of holding himself back. His restraint only fueled me, made me want to push him, to break him, to see him come undone beneath me.

And I knew it was coming because I could feel my pussy quivering around his cock, my body ready to control him, dominate him, lock him.

“Demon,” I whispered, leaning down until my lips brushed his ear. “Do you feel it?”

“What?” he rasped, his breath hot against my skin.

“My lock.”

He froze, his body going rigid as my sex clenched around him, the instinctive grip of my body taking hold, locking us together. His head snapped up, his eyes wide as he stared at me, his pupils blown with lust and something more—wonder, awe, disbelief.

“Fuck,” he breathed, his voice trembling. “Sofia...”

I moved, rolling my hips as the lock held him tight, milking him, drawing a strangled cry from his lips. His knot teased my wet lips as I ground against him. His hands finally broke free of my grip, flying to my hips as he thrust up into me, his movements frantic, desperate.

“Don’t stop,” he begged, his voice raw. “Please, Sofia, don’t fucking stop. Keep my cock locked down tight. Don’t let go.”

I didn’t. I couldn’t. The heat between us was a storm, wild and uncontrollable, and I rode it to its breaking point. His growls turned to moans, his head thrown back as he surrendered completely, his body shaking beneath me as he spilled inside me, filling me with his essence.

I collapsed against him, my body trembling as the lock released, my scent changing, softening, shifting back to what it had been before. Demon’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as his chest heaved, his lips pressing against my forehead.

“You’re back, Little Fox,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

“I know. I can scent the difference. That was one wild ride, though.” I yawned.

“When Little Alpha comes out again, I’m first in line to be locked,” he told me.

I smiled against his chest. “Yes, sir. And next time, I want your knot inside me. I think I can take it, big guy.”

“My Little Fox can have whatever she wants from me,” Demon muttered, sounding just as sleepy as I felt.

I nodded, exhaustion sweeping over me as I curled against him, my head resting on his chest. For the first time in days, the fire inside me was gone, replaced by a deep, unshakable contentment. And in Demon’s arms, I finally felt at peace.

***

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DEMON

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The sharp, acrid scent of the blockers filled the air as I poured the granules around the perimeter of the cabin. I’d rather be tucked into bed with my bond mates. But this was necessary—always necessary. The storm had washed away my last batch. So, this was needed. The woods were quiet tonight. Too quiet.

I finished the last stretch of the boundary. As I recapped the container, a faint scent caught my attention—something that didn’t belong. My breath stilled, muscles tensing as I tilted my head, inhaling deeply. Smoke and pine. Familiar, but not. Too sharp. Too foreign. And worse, too recent. An alpha had been here.

I snarled low in my throat, my grip tightening on the container until my knuckles turned white. The scent was faint, almost faded, which meant the bastard was long gone. But he’d been here. On my fucking land. While my fucking mates rested inside my cabin. This motherfucker had to die.

The beast inside me roared, clawing at the edges of my control. My bond mates. My territory. This trespass wasn’t just an insult—it was a threat. I bolted toward the cabin, my boots pounding against the ground in a rhythm that matched the drumbeat of my rage. When I reached the porch, I paused, inhaling sharply as my hand gripped the edge of the doorframe.

The mingled scents of Sofia and Greek hit me like a balm—honey and citrus, sweet and spicy, intertwined with the earthy safety of home. They were inside, safe, untouched. For now. I shoved open the door, stepping inside with as much calm as I could muster despite the fire raging through me.

I searched the entire cabin, making sure we were still alone. Though I knew we were, my alpha needed to be sure. Once I was, I locked the house down, checking every window to make sure the cabin was secure. The cabin was dark except for the faint glow of the moon streaming through the windows.

I stalked to Greek’s nest, where both halves of my heart were tangled together, fast asleep. Sofia’s fiery hair fanned out across the blankets, one arm draped protectively over Greek’s larger frame. His face was tucked against her chest, his breathing slow and even. The sight should have calmed me. It didn’t.

I lingered for a moment, my eyes drinking them in, reassuring myself they were untouched. Safe. But my nerves refused to settle. The phantom scent of the other alpha lingered in my head like a fucking splinter I couldn’t get rid of. I couldn’t let my guard down. Not until I knew who he was and why he’d dared to step onto my land.

No, fuck all of that. I didn’t need to know who he was or why he was there. I just needed him dead. Silently, I made my way to the basement, my mind already on the arsenal stashed behind the hidden door. A faint click echoed as I unlocked the concealed panel, the hinges whispering as it swung open to reveal my horde of weapons.

The cool metal of my guns glinted under the dim light. I was a hunter of animals and people when they encroached on my territory. But I couldn’t go out to hunt this alpha without leaving my mates vulnerable. If he returned, I would end him. And if he brought others, I would perform a massacre.

I checked each weapon, inspecting the chambers, ensuring every clip was full and every safety mechanism was ready to engage. The thought of them upstairs, oblivious to the threat that had come too close, made my chest ache in ways I didn’t have words for. I wouldn’t let anything touch them. Not while I still drew breath.

I carried a few of the weapons upstairs, the quiet hum of the cabin amplifying the weight of each step. The kitchen table became my staging area. I laid them out carefully, arranging the firearms in a neat, lethal display. When they woke, we’d have a talk. They needed to know what to do, where to go, and how to protect themselves if it came to that.

The thought of Sofia with a gun in her hands didn’t unnerve me. She’d proven she could handle herself. Greek, though... My jaw clenched. I’d protect him with everything I had, but he needed to know what to do if I wasn’t fast enough. The idea of teaching him how to wield a weapon twisted something in me—his hands were made for softer things, for gentleness.

Not for this. Sofia also. She was made to be cherished. But I knew she’d refused to sit this out if it came to that. Especially if my Little Fox was in alpha mode. I sat down, the chair creaking under my weight, and let my fingers drum against the table, my gaze locked on the weapons.

The adrenaline hadn’t worn off, the beast in me still pacing, restless and unsatisfied. The soft creak of a floorboard made me glance up. Sofia stood in the doorway, her hair a wild halo around her face, her eyes sharp and searching. She looked at the table, then at me, and her expression hardened.

“Who do we need to kill?” she asked, her voice low and edged with sleep.

That’s my little hellcat. Always ready to go to war, just like the day she’d first met me. I wouldn’t lie to her. I never wanted to lie to my mates.

“An alpha was here. His scent was faint, but it was there. He’s gone now, but I don’t know if he’ll come back.”

Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dangerous sparking in her gaze. She stepped closer, her movements controlled. “What do you need us to do?”

I gestured at the table. “Can you handle one of these?”

Her lips twitched, and her chin lifted. “My dad taught me to shoot when I was twelve.”

“Then why didn’t you hunt your own animals instead of stealing from my traps?” I asked.

“I didn’t want you to hear the gun go off. Or rather, anyone in the area. If you’d heard a gun, you would’ve come looking for the shooter. I had to work smarter, not harder. I was a woman alone. I didn’t need rogues sniffing near my cabin.”

“Good point.” I stared down at the weapons as she picked one up and checked the clip and safety. Yeah, she knew her way around a gun.

“I’ll be honest,” she said. “I also didn’t hunt because I’m not a good hunter. I don’t really like it. But I’m a good fighter. And if it’s in self-defense, I don’t mind killing.”

That answer settled something in me, though it didn’t ease the tension entirely. I turned to Greek, who had appeared in the doorway behind her, his hair mussed and his eyes wide. He looked between us, his gaze landing on the weapons before flicking nervously back to me.

“I-I’ve never...” He hesitated, his hands fidgeting at his sides. “I don’t think I can.”

I stood and crossed to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to, Little Rabbit. But you need to know what to do if something happens. I’ll keep you safe. Both of you.”

He nodded, his wide eyes softening with trust. Sofia stepped closer, her hand finding mine, her grip firm and reassuring.

“Tell us the plan,” she said. “We’re with you.”

And just like that, a little of my worry dissipated. Not all of it. But a little. I led them both back to the nest. Together, they curled up in bed while I sat on the edge of the mattress.

“Join us, alpha,” Greek whispered.

I wanted to. But I was still too antsy.

“Soon, love. I’ll join you soon.”

He and Sofia lay there, neither of them closing their eyes. Both of them staring off into space. Like me, they couldn’t sleep knowing an alpha had come this close to our property. Maybe it was just a traveler passing by. I sure hoped so. My thoughts strayed to the alphas who’d held my omega captive.

“Greek, don’t get alarmed. But I want you to describe the alphas who held you captive to me. Tell me how they looked, every detail of their face.”

“You think it was them?” he said, voice trembling.

Guilt hummed through me. I never wanted to worry him unnecessarily. But I needed to know.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Greek swallowed and then described Natalie and Nathan to me. He told me how they looked and about their scents. Nathan smelled of eggs, rotten and musky. Natalie smelled sour, like vinegar but with a hint of cinnamon, which only made her scent worse, according to Greek.

“But it can’t be them. I don’t think they’d be able to track me here. When I escaped, I train-hopped and rode for miles before jumping off on your property. If they were searching for me, they’d search locally. Not this far.”

He was right. Unless.... Shit ! Unless they’d placed a tracker in my omega. Fuck!