CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

SOFIA

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I hated being stuck in the basement. I wanted to be out there, fighting beside my alpha. But I also wanted Greek safe. So, here was where I needed to be. Greek paced back and forth, his silver-blond hair catching the faint light. His hands trembled, his fingers twitching at his sides, but his face was a pale mask of fear and guilt.

My heart was a drumbeat of worry. Demon’s pain had slammed through our bond moments ago—a visceral punch of agony that sent Greek stumbling into my arms. Then, just as suddenly, it vanished. He’d shut us out.

“Why would he do that?” Greek whispered, his voice raw, eyes darting to the basement door as if expecting Demon to burst through it any second. “Why would he—”

“To protect us,” I cut in, my voice sharp, though not at him. The words burned on my tongue, bitter and acidic. “Some alphas close the bond to keep their mates from feeling their pain.”

Greek turned his wide eyes to me, desperation carving lines into his delicate features. “But what if—what if he—”

“Stop,” I snapped, harsher than I intended. His breath hitched, and I softened my tone. “He’s coming back, Greek. He swore it.”

I wanted to believe my own words, but my gut twisted. I hated the waiting, the helplessness, the hollow silence that felt like a countdown. My fingers drummed against my thigh as I watched Greek pace, the movement fueling my own restlessness. Demon was out there alone. Bleeding. Fighting. And we were hiding.

I stood abruptly, my boots scraping against the floor. “We’re going up.”

Greek stopped mid-step, turning to me with wide, tear-glazed eyes. “But he told us to stay—”

“I don’t give a damn,” I snapped, the words sparking like flint on steel. “I’m not sitting down here wringing my hands while he fights for us.”

Damn it, Demon, why did you close the bond?

Greek hesitated, his lip trembling, but he nodded, his hand slipping into mine as we moved toward the basement stairs.

“I’m sorry for snapping,” I whispered as we walked hand in hand.

“I’m sorry for not being strong enough.”

“You’re strong. You just need to believe in yourself,” I told him.

The moment we reached the top, I felt it. A presence that didn’t belong. The cabin smelled wrong. A sickly sourness laced with venom and malice.

“She’s here,” Greek whispered, voice trembling.

Natalie! My instincts roared, my hackles rising as I pushed Greek behind me. Damn it. In my haste, I’d left my gun. What the fuck was wrong with me? And then I saw her. The woman who’d tormented my omega for years. That raggedy bitch! Natalie.

She stood in the middle of the living room, her posture predatory, her lips curled into a mocking smirk. Her dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders, but her eyes, those eyes were cold and calculating, glinting with satisfaction as they landed on Greek.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” she drawled, her voice syrupy sweet with malice. “Did you really think you could keep him from us forever?”

I stepped forward, keeping Greek behind me. My pulse thundered in my ears, rage heating my blood. “You’re not getting near him,” I said, my voice low, lethal.

Natalie laughed, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re nothing but a beta playing house with someone else’s property. Do you even know what you’re protecting?”

I knew exactly who and what I was. If she wanted me to falter, she’d have to do better than that.

“What I know,” I said, stepping closer. “Is that I’ll rip your throat out before I let you touch him.”

Her smirk wavered, her eyes narrowing. “You really think you can take me?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. My body answered for me. The scent hit me first—sharp, dark, and wild. It poured from my skin, thicker and heavier than ever before. Alpha mode.

She sniffed the air, her brow furrowing. “What... are you?”

“I’m the person who’s going to kill you for hurting my omega,” I snarled, my voice a growl that didn’t feel entirely human.

Natalie’s smirk vanished, her body tensing as she lunged at me. The world exploded into chaos. She was fast, her nails slashing through the air, but I was faster. I ducked under her swing, driving my shoulder into her stomach and sending her sprawling against the couch. She recovered quickly, her face twisted in rage as she launched herself at me again.

Our bodies collided, a mess of flying fists. Her nails raked across my arm, burning as blood welled from the shallow gashes. I didn’t care. Pain was nothing but fuel . That was what my cousin Lukas had taught me when we sparred.

I landed a punch to her jaw, the impact sending a satisfying crack through the room. She stumbled but recovered, slamming me into the wall with enough force to knock the air from my lungs.

“Is this all you’ve got?” she sneered, blood dripping from her split lip.

I grinned, my teeth bared. “Not even close.”

I drove my knee into her gut, doubling her over before grabbing her hair and slamming her face into the edge of the end table. She howled, blood splattering across the wood.

“You think you can take what’s mine?” I snarled, slamming her again. “You think you can steal him away from me and our alpha?”

Her eyes were wild, her breaths ragged as she fought to regain control. But I didn’t let her. I wouldn’t let her. I went to slam her head into the table again, but she elbowed me in the ribs, knocking the wind from me and making me loosen my grip on her.

I slid my hand into the waistband of my pants as she lunged again, her nails aimed for my throat, but I caught her wrist, twisting her arm until she screamed.

“This is for Greek,” I hissed, driving my knife into her chest. Not once. Not twice. Three times. Just like my cousin and his bond mates taught me.

Her scream cut off abruptly, her body going limp as I held the knife in her chest, refusing to lift it until I was sure she was dead. Her blood soaked my hands. I let her fall, her body crumpling to the floor.

My chest heaved, my heart racing as I turned to Greek. He was on his knees, tears streaming down his face, his hands covering his mouth. I rushed to him, pulling him into my arms as he sobbed against my chest.

“I’m sorry,” he choked out, his words muffled against my skin. “I’m so sorry—”

“Stop,” I said, my voice cracking. “This isn’t your fault.” I held him tightly, my own tears mixing with his. “I’d do it again,” I whispered. “A thousand times. For you, Greek. Always for you. This is what mates do for each other,” I told him.

Greek and I was safe. But could the same be said for our alpha?

***

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DEMON

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Blood still dripped from my fingers as I stepped into the cabin. The metallic tang clung to the air, mixing with the sharper, bitter scent of death. Sofia and Greek were crouched together by Natalie’s crumpled body. I recognized her from Greek’s description. Her scent was sour. Yet, I hadn’t picked up on it while I’d been outside.

That didn’t sit well with me. Neither did the fact that she’d made it inside. That was on me. She never should’ve made it past me. But I was glad to see my hellcat’s knife buried deep in the woman’s chest. Greek was trembling, tears streaking down his pale cheeks.

Sofia’s gaze snapped to mine as I walked further into the room, my boots heavy against the wood. I tossed Nathan’s severed head onto the floor, letting it roll to a stop near Natalie’s lifeless form. The wet thud echoed in the tense silence.

“They’ll never hurt you again,” I growled, my voice rough and low.

Greek stared at the head, his lips parted in a silent gasp, his breath hitching. Sofia’s eyes darted to mine, fire burning in her gaze.

“If you ever close your bond off from us again, I’ll skin you alive, alpha,” she snarled.

Guilt hummed through me. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t wanted...” But before I could say more, it hit me.

That scent. I should’ve smelled it sooner before it was this close. What the hell was going on? That unforgettable scent slid through the air like a serrated blade, sharp and familiar, dredging up memories I’d spent years burying. Cedar smoke laced with iron and decay. My brother.

Lucius .

A growl tore from my throat as I spun toward the door, the snarl ripping through my chest like a war cry.

“Well, well.” His voice oozed mockery, each syllable twisting like a knife. He stood in the doorway, tall and menacing, his dark eyes glittering with malice. “I’ve been hunting you for years, brother, and here you are. Playing house with a pretty omega and an alpha bitch.”

Sofia bristled beside me, her fists clenched, but I held up a hand, keeping her back. I hadn’t even seen her approach my side.

“Imagine my surprise,” Lucius drawled. “When I learned the omega I was searching for was in your possession. I let Natalie and Nathan live after destroying their pack only because they promised to lead me to him. And now, not only do I get the omega, I get you too! I feel like a snotty-nosed kid on Christmas morning.”

“Outside, brother,” I snarled, the single word drenched in venom. I didn’t want Greek to hear what this bastard had to say.

Lucius cocked his head, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. “Let’s settle this here. I’ll make it quick—kill you, fuck your alpha, then kill her too. Finally, I’ll drag your precious little omega back to my pack. They’ll love breaking him.”

I roared, the sound tearing from deep within, primal and feral. My vision tunneled, narrowing on the bastard who had haunted my life for too long. I lunged low, aiming for his ribs, but Lucius anticipated it, sidestepping with a fluidity that only made my rage burn hotter. His fist came up, catching my jaw with a sharp crack that sent my head snapping back.

“You’ve gotten soft,” he sneered, circling me like a predator sizing up wounded prey.

“You’ve gotten cocky,” I snarled, feinting left before landing a solid punch to his stomach.

He grunted, stumbling back, but recovered quickly, his lips pulling into a snarl. The fight was raw, brutal. No finesse, no rules—just years of hate and pain exploding in a storm of fists and blood.

Lucius was fast, his movements precise and calculated, but I was relentless. Plus, I had people I loved to protect. There was no greater motivation than that. Every strike he landed fueled my fury. Every taunt sharpened my focus.

“You think killing Father made you strong?” he spat, slamming his shoulder into my chest. I staggered back, my breath hitching as the air rushed from my lungs.

“It made me free,” I snarled, ducking under his next swing and driving my fist into his ribs.

Lucius laughed, the sound bitter and grating. “You call this freedom? Hiding in a cabin with your little playthings? You’re a joke, Demon.”

I didn’t answer. Words wouldn’t end this. He lunged, his knife flashing in the moonlight, but I caught his wrist, twisting it until the blade clattered to the ground. His knee came up, slamming into my side, and I felt the sharp crack of a rib giving way. Pain flared, but I didn’t falter. I drove my elbow into his jaw, the impact jarring us both. Blood spattered as he stumbled, his hand flying to his face.

“You think you can lead?” I growled, my voice low and guttural. “You’re weak. A coward hiding behind a pack that doesn’t even want you.”

Lucius’s snarl was pure rage as he lunged again, his fists a flurry of motion. We collided, grappling, each trying to gain the upper hand.

His teeth bared as he hissed, “They’ll accept me when I bring them your head.”

I caught his wrist again, forcing him back as we struggled. My strength was waning, but I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

And then Greek’s voice rang out, “Demon!”

I glanced over, and something glinted in the light. A knife. He tossed it, the blade spinning through the air, and I caught it without hesitation. Lucius saw it too late. With a roar, I plunged the blade into his chest, the steel sinking deep. His eyes widened, shock and fury flickering across his face as he stumbled back, clutching at the hilt.

“You’ll never touch them,” I growled, my voice trembling with rage and exhaustion. “Never.”

Lucius dropped to his knees, his breath ragged. He tried to speak, but the words died on his lips. And then he fell, his body crumpling to the floor. I stood there, my chest heaving, blood dripping from my knuckles. The world felt silent, the weight of the fight pressing down on me.

“It’s over,” I said, my voice rough, barely more than a whisper.

My mates rushed to me. I groaned as I held them close, my body battered. Apparently, Nathan’s brass knuckles had been spiked. They’d done a little more damage than I’d thought. My mates rushed to check my wounds.

This was the first time I’d ever had anyone care for me after a fight. Though I allowed them to help and bandage me up, I remained alert in case anyone else showed up. Once I was bandaged, I searched the bodies, gathering up their phones. It was in Natalie’s pocket that I found a needle.

Scent muter. It’s why their scents had been so faint, too faint to smell from afar. That angered me even more. But I told myself it was over. My mates were safe. I was safe. Our enemies were dead. That was all that mattered. Sofia and Greek came to stand before me, their eyes on mine.

“The property value of our cabin has dropped drastically. I think this is a sign that we need to start over,” Sofia said. “Somewhere new. Somewhere safe. No more hiding in cabins. Let’s live out loud. Let’s live in full.”

I nodded. With my past now behind me, I was more than ready to embrace the future with my bond mates. First, I needed to shower. All three of us did. We’d shower, we’d clean house and get rid of bodies, then we’d move on from this place.

We’d find a new home and start our forever together.

Happy. Safe. And Loved.