Cursed Love (The Vallaverse)

13. Hunter

Hunter

I’m staring at the closed door like it’s a wall between me and the only thing that matters. My fists clench at my sides, the ache in my chest bleeding into the pit of my stomach as I breathe in the thick, sweet scent that’s seeping through the cracks. Blueberry and honey. Warm, rich, and absolutely fucking intoxicating.

She took my room. My room. She’s wrapped up in my scent, rolling around in it, soaking it in while she cries and suffers, and I’m stuck out here. My jaw tightens, a low growl slipping from my throat before I can stop it. She’s in pain and I can’t do anything about it. Can’t touch her. Can’t help her. And it’s driving me insane.

I press a hand against the doorframe, trying to anchor myself, to shove back the beast that’s clawing its way to the surface. My instincts are screaming at me to go in there, to tear the door off its hinges and gather her up, to soothe her the way she needs. To knot her. To claim her.

But she doesn’t know us yet. She’s scared, trembling, crying, and the last thing she needs is for me to barge in there and make it worse. But fuck, it’s hard. Hard to stand here and listen to her soft cries, to know she’s so close yet completely out of reach.

If I had it my way, I’d have taken her right there in the parking lot. She was so soft, so pliant in Moses’ arms, her body trembling with need. She didn’t even realize how much she was calling to us, how badly we’ve wanted her from the moment we caught her scent. I would’ve dropped to my knees for her, pressed my face between her thighs, and tasted every sweet drop of slick she—

“Hunter.”

Amel’s voice cuts through the haze, pulling me back from the edge. He steps in front of me, blocking my view of the door, his gaze steady as he looks up at me. “Come to the living room,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Now.”

I grit my teeth, my jaw clenching as I glare at him. The last thing I want to do is leave this spot, to walk away from her when she’s right there. My beast roars inside me, furious at the idea of abandoning her, even for a second. “I’m not leaving her.”

“She locked the door,” Amel says calmly, trying to soften my instincts. “She needs space. She needs time. And if you stay here, staring at that door like you’re about to break it down, you’re going to scare her.”

It’s one of the few times we truly listen to Amel—when our instincts are riding us hard and only our little Alpha can bring us back from the edge. He’s not small in any part but our larger frames swallow him so easily. A small grin plays on my lips, Amel laughing as he shakes his head, dragging me into the living room. Moses is already sitting, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, but I can see the tension in his jaw, the tightness in his shoulders. He’s holding it together, barely.

Amel sits on the coffee table in front of us, his elbows resting on his knees as he looks between us. He’s calm but I can see it in his eyes—the same restless energy that’s coursing through me. The same need to do something. To fix this. To claim her. How he isn’t busting out of his pants at this moment, the need to claim her overriding everything else is beyond me. I could reach down and a few strokes later be coming with her sweet name on my lips. That blueberry scent is going to be the fucking death of me.

The soft whimpers from behind the closed door echo through the house, faint but impossible to ignore. My stomach twists every time I hear them and it takes everything in me not to get up and go to her. The only reason I don’t is because I know I would terrify her.

“She’s terrified,” Amel starts. “I don’t know everything she’s been through, but it’s clear she hasn’t had an easy life.”

Moses shifts beside me, his hands gripping the edge of the couch. “What do you mean?” There’s a growl to the edge of his voice, my brother working against his instincts.

Amel runs a hand through his hair, letting out a slow breath. “There are bruises around her neck and shoulders. Faint, but they’re there. From an Alpha named Damien, I’m guessing. He’s the Alpha who had his claws in her tonight.”

I don’t need to know him to hate him. The thought of anyone putting their hands on her, of hurting her, makes my blood boil. My fists clench, my knuckles going white as I force myself to stay seated.

“She’s scared of being hurt,” Amel continues. “That much is obvious. And with how she’s shut herself away from us instead of letting us help her, I’m almost certain something happened during one of her heats. Something that left a mark.”

My stomach twists at the implication, the anger burning hotter in my chest. I grit my teeth, trying to hold back the growl that’s building in my throat. Someone hurt her. Someone hurt our Omega.

Amel’s dark eyes land on me. “Don’t,” he says firmly, like he can see the rage bubbling just beneath my skin. “We’re not going to lose our heads over this. Not now. Right now she needs us, more than anything. I have no idea what that looks like but it doesn’t start with ripping Damien apart. It might end that way but tonight, it’s about Koa.”

I run her name across my tongue a few times. It’s as sweet as it sounds, strong and soft all at once. It’s perfect. Her cries cut through the house, soft and broken, but they’re like knives slicing into my chest. Every sound she makes is a blow I can’t block, a weight pressing harder and harder until my beast is clawing to the surface, snarling to do something— anything. I’ve never felt this way before, not with Amel or any other I’ve taken into my bed.

With her, I can’t just sit here and ignore her cries, her pleas for help. Amel is calling for me but I can’t understand the words. They’re drowned out by her, by the desperate whimpers seeping through the walls, the faint gasps of breath as she fights whatever hell she’s stuck in. She’s in my room. My room. My bed, my scent, my space. It’s doing something to me, something raw and primal that I can’t explain, can’t fight. My chest feels tight, my muscles coiled, my hands shaking at my sides as I stare at the door separating us.

Before I know it, I’m gripping the doorknob too tightly, twisting it farther than it should go. The wood groans, splinters cracking under the pressure, and then the door bursts open. Her scent hits me first, thick and sweet, like blueberries drenched in honey. It’s everywhere, filling the air, sinking into my skin, wrapping around me until I can barely breathe. My beast roars inside me, a deep, guttural sound that echoes in my chest, but it’s nothing compared to the sound of her.

Her cries. Sweet, broken, desperate cries that make my blood ignite and my heart ache all at once.

She’s curled up on the bed, buried under my blankets, her small body trembling as she clutches the fabric to her chest. Her face is flushed, her lips parted as she sucks in shaky breaths, and her eyes—Gods, her eyes. Wide and tear-streaked, they lock onto me with a mix of fear and something else. Need. Pure, unadulterated need.

She freezes, her breath hitching as I step inside, my shoulders heaving as I try to steady myself. The beast is too close, its instincts flooding my system, demanding I take her, claim her, fix whatever’s hurting her. “Koa,” I murmur, my voice rough and strained as I force myself to stop at the edge of the bed. “It’s okay. I’ve got you now.”

She doesn’t move, doesn’t speak, just stares at me like she’s trying to decide if I’m her salvation or her destruction. My hands flex at my sides, my fingers itching to touch her, to pull her into my arms and hold her until she stops shaking. Until she feels safe.

Her scent swirls around me again, and I let out another low growl, my body trembling with the effort to keep myself in check. “Koa,” I say again, softer this time, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Let me help you.”

Her lips part, a small, shaky sound slipping out, and my chest tightens at the sight of her tears glistening in the dim light. I take another step closer, lowering myself onto the edge of the bed. Her wide eyes follow me, her body still trembling, but she doesn’t move away.

“Baby girl, you need a knot. Let me—”

She reaches for me, her elegant fingers wrapping around my arm as she tries to drag me onto the bed. Her body is slick with sweat, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. Her curls stick to her forehead, damp with sweat, and her doe eyes are wide, pleading for me to help her. She looks so small like this, so vulnerable.

“Baby girl,” I murmur, brushing her hair back from her face. “I’ve got you. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Her hands clutch at my shirt, her nails digging in like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go. “Promise,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “Promise me.”

Horror flashes through my expression before I fix my face. The fact that she needs to ask that guts me but this isn’t the time or place to address it. “I promise,” I say, pressing my lips to her forehead. She tastes like salt and heat, and I can feel the way her body trembles against mine. She’s burning up, lost in the throes of a heat spike, and I know she needs relief. But more than that, she needs to feel safe.

I slide the dress off her shoulders, careful not to startle her. The fabric clings to her skin, soaked through with her slick, and the scent of her is overwhelming—sweet and heady and desperate. My mouth waters, but I force myself to focus on her. When I move to position her on all fours, she shakes her head violently, panic flashing in her eyes. “No,” she gasps, clutching at me again. “I need… I need to see you.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. She needs to see me. Needs to know it’s me touching her, caring for her. Not some faceless alpha taking what they want from her.

“Okay,” I say softly, shifting so I’m facing her fully. My hands cradle her face, thumbs brushing away the tears that spill down her cheeks. “You can see me. I’m right here.”

She nods shakily, her breath hitching as I guide her onto her back. Her legs part instinctively, and the sight of her—flushed and trembling and so damn beautiful—makes my chest ache. But I keep my movements slow, deliberate, letting her track every touch.

“I’m gonna take care of you,” I whisper against her ear as my fingers trail down her stomach. “Gonna make you feel good.”

She whimpers when my fingers finally brush against her panties, her entire body sagging with relief. Her hips arch into my touch, the sound leaving her lips a sound of pure need.

“Valla,” she breathes and hearing my designation on her lips like that—like a prayer—undoes me.

“I’ve got you,” I say again as I slide the drenched fabric down her thighs and then slowly push my fingers inside her. Her body clenches around me instantly, a broken cry falling from her lips that goes straight to my cock. I watch every flicker of emotion on her face as I work my fingers inside her—the way she bites down on her lower lip to stifle a moan, the way her brow furrows in concentration, the way her breath hitches when I curl my fingers just right. Her hands grip my shoulders, nails digging into my skin like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.

“You’re okay,” I murmur. “You’re safe with me.”

Her eyes lock onto mine, a sliver of trust lurking in those big brown eyes and something in my chest cracks open. I don’t know what it is—maybe the way she looks at me like I’m the only thing holding her together right now—but it makes me want to give her everything. Everything she’s been denied, everything she’s been too afraid to ask for.

Her hips start to move against my hand, tentative at first, then with more urgency. Her slick coats my fingers, the scent of her arousal intoxicating. I can feel her pussy tightening around me, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

“That’s it,” I coax, leaning down to brush my lips against her forehead. “Give this to me, baby girl.”

Her back arches off the bed as she comes, a strangled cry tearing from her throat. Her body trembles beneath mine as I keep my fingers moving gently inside her until the last of the tremors subside. It isn’t long before Koa is squirming for more, little whimpers telling me that my hand won’t be enough.

She claws at my shirt, a little growl of frustration falling from her lips as she tries and fails to undress me. Her nose scrunches up as she picks at the buttons, ripping them off until my shirt falls away. Koa’s movements are testing my control and the moment her tongue darts out to lick my chest, I give in. I can’t fight my beast any longer and it’s not doing her any favors making her wait.

I undo my pants, freeing myself from the confines of my jeans. Koa’s whines grow louder as she rocks her hips against me, searching for relief. She’s lost to the heat spike, no doubt going to crawl back into her shell tomorrow morning when she realizes what happened. But for now, she’s in my arms and I’m going to cherish every last second.

"Shh, baby," I soothe, even though I am just as on edge as she is. Slowly, I slide into her tight heat, slick coating my cock. Her pussy is strangling my cock, her hands moving to my chest as she continues to lick my bare skin. It’s a completely new sensation, Koa lost in trying to lap up my scent. I hold her closer, my hands resting on her thick hips before I start to move.

And the sound I get in response is heavenly. Gods, she’s going to be my undoing. Those little whimpers turn into a mixture of moans and mewls, her teeth grazing across my chest before they lock onto actual skin. A growl tears from my throat, my beast trying to force its way into the driver seat and fuck her like we really want to. My fingers dig into her hips a little harder, one of my hands moving to drag her thigh over my hip, to truly open her up.

"Knot me," she whimpers, the desperation in her voice driving me fucking wild. That's all the invitation I need. Especially when her lips close around my nipple and then suck. I can’t help the way I flip her onto her back, pulling her leg over my shoulder as I thrust into her. Koa howls, those doe eyes flashing with lust.

“Gods, you’re made for me. I’ll give you my knot, baby girl. Fuck, you’re perfect,” the last word comes out with a growl, my entire body shaking with the need to claim her. Soon enough, she’ll be ours. Officially, legally. Tonight, though, I’m going to enjoy this moment. I surge forward, my knot starting to swell as I thrust inside of her one last time.

It’s like a vice grip on my cock as her pussy clamps down, my knot thickening inside of her. Her body begins to shake, a scream tearing from her throat as she comes, my release following soon after. It’s a powerful sensation, my muscles clenching as I fill her. It feels neverending as her pussy milks my knot, locking us together.

Her lids slide close as she buries herself in my chest and I brace myself on top of her before I pull us to lay on our sides. She curls even tighter into me, her body relaxing as I run my hand up and down her side. And that’s when I feel it, a rumbling through my chest, a sound I’ve never heard before. My brows furrow in confusion as I look up to see Amel and Moses at the entrance, Moses wrapped around Amel, one hand on his cock as he slowly rocks his hips forward.

A smile plays on my lips at the erotic sight of my brother fucking our Alpha to the sweet syrupy scent of our Omega. I can’t be mad. I’d be doing the same thing. She’s going to be so fucking addicting.

“You’re purring for her,” Amel grunts out, his face contorted with pleasure as Moses holds him. “It’s an instinctual thing. Most never do it for anyone other than their Omega.”

I look down at the gorgeous bundle in my arms, my knot still firmly seated inside of her and then let myself relax as that sound starts up again. She lets out a little puff of air before a snore hits my ears. That soft smile on her face as she rests against me is something I’m going to want all the fucking time. Right after I beat whoever made this woman fearful enough to shut us out in the first place.