CHAPTER THREE

DEMON

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Night had fallen. It was time to hunt.

I sat on the edge of my bed, pulling on my boots and yanking the laces tight until they bit into my palms. It was time to go out and check my traps. Whoever had been helping themselves to the animals I caught was about to meet their end. For weeks now, someone had been sneaking onto my land, taking animals from my traps before I could get to them.

Not tonight. Tonight, I’d find this thief and tear them apart. I didn’t care if they were lost, starving, or begging for mercy. What was mine was mine. I didn’t share. Ever . The signs on my property weren’t for decoration. Enter and die brutally. I meant every damn word. I didn’t bother grabbing gloves or weapons.

I wanted to put my hands on whoever had been crossing my lines, wanted to feel the life drain from them as I showed them exactly what happened to those who trespassed on my territory. I wanted them to stare into my eyes as I ended them for stealing what was mine. Stepping out onto the creaky porch, I closed the door firmly behind me, not bothering to lock it.

The cold night air hit me as I zipped my jacket. Fall was giving way to winter. I could feel it in the air. But even though December was approaching, it was still hurricane season here in the south. And Mother Nature was sending a final storm our way to end the season with a bang.

A storm was coming. And then winter would set in. I needed to be ready for both things. My freezer was nearly stocked. A few more catches were all I needed to ride out the cold months. But thanks to this damn thief, I was behind. A growl rose up in my throat as I scanned the dark tree line.

Everything was still. Silent. There was no sign of anyone hiding in the shadows. At night, I could see every detail in the forest, each shape and shadow. During the day... That was a different story. Sunlight was too damn bright for me, like an endless glare that turned the world into a painful blur.

Thanks to whatever chemical my stepmother had poured into my eyes when I was young, I’d been stuck with damaged retinas. As a kid, she’d hated when I’d laid out in the field, staring up at the sun, wishing I was miles away from my father and his pack. Now, I could no longer stare at the sky during the day.

She’d seen to that, making sure her last lesson would haunt me every time I stepped outside. Why? Because she hated me. Everyone hated me. Even my own parents, so why shouldn’t an outsider hate me also? That day, I’d talked back to my stepmother, questioning her authority over me. A mistake I’d pay for every day I had left, it seemed.

I clenched my jaw, the memory crawling up like an old scar that wouldn’t stay closed. That was all in the past. And the past was dead to me, just like she was. Tonight, I had real problems to deal with, like the fact that my traps kept coming up empty, thanks to someone who thought they could get the best of me on my own damn land.

I’d tried tracking them. My eyes might be trash during the day, but my nose? That was sharp enough to catch a trace of them, barely. The scent they left was faint, citrusy with a hint of spice, something that lingered just enough to taunt me after they were gone.

I started toward the line of traps. Then, the wind shifted, blowing a scent straight into me that knocked me off my feet. Literally . I dropped to my knees as the scent struck me, shocking me to my core.

“What the fuck is that?” I growled, on my hands and knees.

It was warm and sweet and had hit me like a punch to the gut. Pushing myself to my feet, I inhaled deeply as the sweet scent washed over me. Orange blossoms and honey . My mouth watered, throat going dry. This wasn’t the scent of the thief. No, this was something else. Something that flowed through me, twisting low in my belly, sparking a hunger I’d never felt before.

This was... This was... an omega . A growl rumbled up from deep within, low and raw. I clenched my fists and forced myself to remain still to keep from tearing through the forest right then and there. Every instinct was roaring at me to find this omega, to chase down that scent and claim it as mine.

But I wasn’t some half-wild alpha chasing after his next rut. I had to think logically and not with my knot. Why the hell was an omega out here in the middle of nowhere, and at night, no less? This wasn’t exactly a place for anyone to wander into, especially not someone carrying a scent like that.

I wasn’t the only threat in these parts. Gators and other creatures of the night were a problem. Then, there were the rogues who were brave enough to ignore my signs. It was rare for me to get a rogue on my property, but it wasn’t unheard of. I’d fed over a dozen rogue remains to the gators in the swamps in the year that I’d been here.

What I’d never encountered here or anywhere I’d stayed since escaping my father’s pack was an omega. I avoided them, going out of my way to steer clear. And now, one was close enough for me to scent. Coincidence? Or was someone trying to bait me? The wind shifted again, and that sweet scent slammed into me, stirring something deep and primal.

My cock stirred, knot throbbing at the thought of following that scent, at the idea of what I’d find at the end of it. I gritted my teeth, forcing the urge down. No. I didn’t need this. Whatever was going on here was none of my concern. The last thing I needed was to get involved with an omega.

But whoever they were, they’d come too close to my land. Too close for me to ignore. That scent would draw alphas this way, and they wouldn’t give a damn about my signs. They’d come onto my land seeking that scent. I couldn’t have that. I took a slow breath, pushing down the hunger the omega was stirring within me, and set off.

There’d be no turning back until I found whoever was foolish enough to wander into my territory and force them to leave. I didn’t care where they went. They couldn’t stay here unless they wanted to become gator chow. I moved through the trees like a predator stalking prey, senses sharp as I honed in on that smell.

Only, this was no ordinary prey. This scent was calling to something deep inside me, something that left me unsettled. I didn’t like feeling unsettled. My boots crunched against fallen leaves, each step pulling me closer to the sweet-smelling intruder. I really needed to check my traps, ensuring the wolves hadn’t gotten to my catch.

The thief wasn’t the only creature wanting to steal from me. I wasn’t about to waste a day’s work on a mysterious omega who’d appeared out of the blue. But this scent demanded my attention, a calling I couldn’t ignore, even if my intention was just to force them off my property. Finally, as I stepped into a small clearing, I saw him.

He was lying there in the bushes, curled up under the foliage. A shock of pale blond hair spilled over his shoulder, streaked with dirt and matted against his forehead. His face was turned away, but I could see the bruises on his arms, dark patches staining skin that looked too thin, too fragile.

Even from a distance, I could tell he was young, maybe in his early twenties. His frame was slight but muscled, though worn down to the bone – like he’d been fighting for his life and nearly losing for a long time. My beast, the alpha inside me, pushed me to move forward. I paused, scanning the area, my instincts reminding me that this could be a trap.

There were no signs of movement, no hint of whoever might have left him here. But the silence felt wrong, charged, as if the trees themselves were holding their breath, waiting to see what I would do next. I circled the area slowly, eyes trained on the shadows, searching for any hidden threats.

In towns I’d passed through, I’d heard of rogues using omegas to lure out other alphas, only to kill and rob them. If that was their plan for me, they’d soon learn that I wasn’t the average alpha. I circled the area twice, checking the perimeter. Satisfied the area was clear, I turned my attention back to him . I approached slowly.

It had been years since I’d been near an omega. They were all weak, fragile. This one looked almost as battered as the ones in my father’s pack, though not as bad as the omega in my father’s bond. I take that back. Up close, he looked even worse. Dirt smeared his skin, mingling with fresh cuts and fading bruises that painted a story of violence and captivity.

I’d seen omegas in bad shape back in my father’s pack. But this... this was something different. Whoever had done this to him was a special kind of cruel. He was an omega. He should be healing faster. But he was filthy and malnourished, and that hindered healing for both alphas and omegas.

Had his captors kept him in filth on purpose to prevent his healing like my father had done one of his bonded omegas? Anger simmered beneath my skin, a barely controlled heat that made my jaw clench. How could anyone do this to him? Omegas were supposed to be treasured and protected.

Yet, this world treated them like pets, worse than pets most of the time. My father had treated his hunting dog better than he’d treated his bonded omegas. Though I never planned to take an omega for myself, I would never harm one. Even if I’d wanted to, the beast within me wouldn’t allow it.

I knelt down to get a closer look at him. My hand moved before I realized it, brushing a strand of hair from his face. His skin was cold to the touch, too cold. How the hell was he still alive? I laid a hand on his chest, feeling the faint, erratic beat of his heart, weak but still fighting. Something inside me twisted, an uncomfortable pull that I hadn’t felt in... ever... maybe.

I was used to solitude, used to silence, used to keeping my distance from anyone who might drag me into their world. But this omega needed help. If I left him here, he’d die. If I tossed him off my property, something far worse than death would befall him.

I couldn’t have that on my conscience. As of now, he was still alive. Though his breathing was ragged, he was clinging to life. I sighed. I couldn’t be the reason he finally succumbed to death. Another sigh escaped me. He looked just like a little bunny hiding in the bushes, trying to avoid becoming some rabid wolf’s dinner.

“Let’s go, Little Rabbit,” I muttered, even though I knew he couldn’t hear me.

As I moved to lift him, his blue barrette fell from his hair, and his eyes fluttered open, barely focusing. I froze. Silver . His eyes were silver, dull, and cloudy but striking enough to hold me in place. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to, which I didn’t.

For a brief second, those silver eyes sharpened, locking onto mine. In that moment, I saw the depths of his pain, his fear, his exhaustion. His scent, though still sweet, now had a burnt sting to it, like burnt candy.

Then his lips parted, and he whispered, “Kill me, please.”

The words sent a shiver down my spine, colder than the night air. I’d heard pleas before, but never like this. Never from someone who sounded so hollow, so completely broken. And yet, there was a flicker of something else there, too, buried beneath the pain. Hope . A twisted, fading hope that someone would end his suffering.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him, lifting him with a gentleness I didn’t know I possessed. He whimpered, causing a dozen emotions to zip through me like a lightning strike. The strongest of all was the desire to protect this little omega who was in so much pain that he’d rather die than live.

I paused when a low rumble sounded. My gaze snapped to the tree line, searching for another intruder. It took me a few seconds to realize the sound was coming from me. I was... I was purring for this omega, something I’d never done before. It was a deep and instinctual sound meant to soothe and calm. A gift from an alpha to his omega.

And this little rabbit was reacting to my purr perfectly. His body relaxed slightly. His head rested against my chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The scent of honey and something floral surrounded me, making my mouth water, raising my protective instincts to levels they’d never seen before.

“Fuck!” I muttered a curse under my breath, adjusting my grip and setting off back toward my cabin.

Whether I wanted this or not, I had an omega to tend to. He wasn’t dying tonight. Not on my watch. Tomorrow, I’d lead him to the edge of my property, even give him some cash and some of my scent masking spray, and tell him where the nearest safe haven clinic was in these parts.

That was all I could do for him. He was lucky I was willing to do that much. Normally, I’d kill intruders and let the gators clean up the mess. The thought of gators sinking their sharp teeth into the man in my arms clutched at my heart. I ignored the pain. I couldn’t get involved with an omega. I just couldn’t.

I was halfway to my cabin when another aroma drifted toward me, a tangy citrus note blending with cinnamon, cutting through the sweetness of the omega’s fragrance. I stopped, nostrils flaring as I breathed in the new scent. My already hard cock throbbed, knot pulsing. This smell was just as enticing, just as tempting as the person in my arms.

It wasn’t an omega scent, though. And the smell was too strong to be a beta. Yet, too bright and vibrant to be an alpha. Also, this scent wasn’t foreign to me. I’d caught traces of it before, lingering near my traps on days when I’d found the animals released. But it hadn’t been this strong, this... delectable.

I froze. The thief! That’s who that fucking scent belonged to. And they were here now, or else the smell wouldn’t be so crisp. This motherfucker! A low growl rumbled from my chest, and I resumed walking, my pace brisk. I didn’t need this right now. I didn’t need to deal with another stranger, especially not one who thought they could steal from me.

But as I neared the source of the scent, I spotted a figure stepping out from behind a tree, heading directly toward me. It was a female, slender but curvy in all the right places. That was the first thing I noticed about her. The second thing I noticed was her hair – a mass of red curls that tumbled around her shoulders like a halo of fire.

She was smaller than I’d expected for someone with the audacity to mess with my traps. She strode forward with a confidence that was equal parts reckless and admirable. Her hazel eyes met mine, fierce and unwavering, and I felt something strange surge through me, a thrill, a pulse of adrenaline, a surge of excitement.

This woman was trouble, the kind I tried to avoid. Yet, I found myself striding toward the beta, carrying an omega in my arms. The woman continued forward also, her eyes fixed on my omega, lips pressed into a determined line.

She was muttering something under her breath, her gaze sharp and accusing, as if she’d already made up her mind about me. The last thing I needed was a self-righteous beta getting in my way. A beta with a scent much stronger than most betas.

“Put him down,” she demanded, looking ready to go to war for the stranger in my arms. “Look at him. What did you do to him, you brute?”

She really thought I was the one who’d hurt him. She widened her stance, her sweet scent taking on a sour edge. Lemons . When she was mad, this little beta smelled of lemons. Interesting . This little beta wasn’t here to talk. She was here to fight. To fight me . Someone who was over twice her size. An alpha. A rogue. A killer.

Yet, she was trying to go up against me. Either she was insane, or she was extremely brave. I was leaning toward insane. I cocked my head, almost amused despite myself. Did this little beta think she could take me on? Her eyes narrowed, her jaw set, her posture screaming a challenge.

Yeah, she really did think she could take me. The scent of jasmine and citrus wrapped around me, making my heart race and stoking a low, dangerous heat within me. I’d spent years on my own, never needing anyone, never wanting anyone.

And yet, within the span of a single evening, I’d found an omega who made my chest ache and a beta whose defiance made my pulse race. For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming, if my imagination had conjured up this evening. It wasn’t time for a rut. I shouldn’t be imagining things like this. This had to be real.

“Did you hear me, alpha?” she sneered that last word like it was sour on her tongue.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to. Her gaze narrowed, frustration flashing in her eyes, and she took another step forward. The wind blew, lifting strands of her flaming red hair, making her look like an avenging angel come to save the precious omega and defeat the big bad demon.

Beautiful and full of fight, that’s what she was, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She squared her shoulders, clenched her fists, and then charged without warning. Oh, shit! This little beta was truly going to attack me.

How fucking... cute !