Chapter 7 Brodie
brODIE
Ihop into my truck parked out front, forcing myself to wave goodbye to Sophie with casual indifference. But inside? Inside, I’m a goddamn inferno.
My Alpha is clawing at me, demanding I turn back, take her into my arms, and claim what every instinct screams is mine. Her scent still lingers on me—soft and enticing, like a warm breeze that refuses to fade, no matter how much distance I put between me and her.
As I turn down the drive onto the highway, Twilight Harbor rises before me, its quaint charm comforting and suffocating at the same time. I never thought this place would be able to tether me for long, let alone tempt me to stay put.
But now that I’ve found Sophie? Fiery, determined, and so completely unexpected—she’s all I can think about. In the last five minutes, I’ve come up with at least ten excuses to throw at Lily for why I’m not leaving tomorrow as planned.
It’s been two years since I walked away from Ethan and Tyler, telling myself I wasn’t ready to settle, to be part of a pack the way they wanted. I was too afraid to admit how terrifying what they wanted had seemed to me.
Still, they didn’t push me. Tyler, especially, always made space for my restlessness. But I’ve been wandering too long. Maybe I needed the time or was too stubborn to admit I was lost.
Either way, I’m tired. Tired of pretending the road is enough. Tired of ignoring the pull that’s been there all along.
And now, there’s Sophie.
My hands tighten on the wheel as her laugh echoes in my mind, her smile bright enough to chase off shadows I didn’t even know I was carrying within me. And damn, if she doesn’t smell like pure temptation.
Every time I’m around her, that sweet, creamy vanilla smell wraps around me, soft and grounding, yet with an enticing edge.
There’s a wild, untamed note behind the sweetness that leaves me restless and wanting more.
More than once, I found myself instantly hard due to her smell as she showed me around the house.
Yet at the same time, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and protect her from anything and everyone.
I’ve never felt so intense about an Omega. I don’t know what this means—for her, Ethan, and Tyler—but I don’t want to keep running. Not when there’s something worth staying for.
Pulling into the Young family compound, memories of Me, Ethan, and Lily swamp me. They were the only reason I stayed before.
The walk back to the guesthouse gives me plenty of time to think—or overthink. Sophie Everhart. The name alone stirs something in me, but it’s more than that. The way she lit up when she talked about the inn, her plans, her dreams—it’s like watching a spark catch fire.
“I’m fucking screwed,” I utter under my breath while passing through the gate into the backyard. The guesthouse looms ahead, but I veer off toward Lily’s place instead.
I’m not in the mood to sit still. As I round the corner, I spot her in the garden, surrounded by neat rows of herbs. She’s crouched down, her sharp green eyes focused on a stubborn weed.
“Still at it, huh?” I say, squatting down next to her.
Lily glances up, her face breaking into a grin. “Look who’s graced me with his presence. Figured you’d be gone most of the of the night.”
“What? I can’t check in? I wanted to see if you’ve scared off any neighbors yet.” I stand, extending my hand to her.
“Please. This town knows better than to mess with me.” She stands, her nine month pregnant belly leading the way, brushing dirt off her hands onto her thighs and dusting off her belly. “So, what’s the real reason you’re here? You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“Come on, Brodie! The one that says you’re making plans.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Not much gets past you, does it?”
“Not a damn thing,” she replies, crossing her arms. “You forget I’ve known you since you were way shorter than me?” she says while looking up at me, her head barely reaching my shoulder.
I laugh, seeing as I haven’t been shorter than Lily since I was ten. I grow more serious, deciding there’s no reason to beat around the bush.
“Sophie Everhart is what’s up. I went by the inn tonight for curiosity’s sake.”
Lily freezes, her easy smile faltering for a fraction of a second before she recovers. “You met Sophie?” she asks, her tone carefully neutral.
I nod. “At the inn. She’s…I can see now why Ethan’s been fired up about her all these years.”
“Yeah.” Lily’s voice is softer now, tinged with something I can’t quite place.
“What’s the story with you two?” I ask, stepping closer. I offer to help her, but she shoos me away.
Lily hesitates, her gaze flicking to the herb garden before landing back on me. “We were close. Best friends, actually. But when she left, she didn’t just leave Ethan. She left everyone.”
I let that sink in. “You mad at her for it?”
“Mad? Well, I was, but now…” she shrugs. “I’m hurt probably more than anything. But I’m sure she had her reasons. And besides, it was a long time ago.”
I nod slowly. “She mentioned things were complicated.”
“They always were with Sophie,” Lily says, her smile returning. “She had an impulsive streak that could leave your head spinning. But she’s got a good heart.”
She stops and looks at me, and I feel exposed. Lily has always been able to see through my bullshit. “Be good to her. And don’t leave the boys out of this one,” she says with a cute, dirty finger prodding the center of my chest.
“Who said I’m getting involved?”
Lily raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Your face. And your scent.”
Before I can retort, my phone buzzes.
Sophie: Hey! It’s me, Sophie. Got your number from Tyler.
Sophie: Hope that’s not weird.
Sophie: Want to come back and have dinner?
Sophie: I mean to talk about reno plans? Tyler said you’d want to...
Sophie: Sorry, you probably have stuff going on.
Sophie: Hahaha, I mean, if you don’t you can come over, though.
I text her back, putting her out of her misery.
Brodie: I’ll be there in a bit. Lol
I can practically hear her nervousness in her texts, making me chuckle. I can also picture the flush that is probably all over her face.
I look up to see Lily unabashedly reading over my shoulder. “Go,” she says, waving me off with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “You’ve got nothing better to do, and I’m not about to listen to you brood all night.”
“I don’t brood,” I protest.
“Sure you don’t,” she replies, returning to her garden, laughing.
Sophie’s already in the dining area, spreading sketches and notes across the table. Her cheeks are flushed, and her hair’s pulled back in a messy bun. She looks…real, grounded. Like she belongs here.
When she looks up and sees me walking through the door, her whole face fucking shines. I’d do anything for her if she only smiled at me like that forever.
“Brodie, you made it!”
Tyler’s leaning on the table, looking at some magazines and an old blueprint, his quirky, lopsided smile firmly in place. I’ve missed him.
“Look who finally showed up,” he says, nodding in my direction.
“Miss me, Hawk?” I shoot back, clapping him on the shoulder and pulling him into the hug I should have given him when I first saw him a few hours ago.
“Like a toothache,” he jokes, earning a laugh from Sophie. But he can’t hide the longing from me.
Her laugh—light, unguarded—hits me square in the chest. I force myself to focus on the papers she’s laying out instead of how her scent is subtly wrapping around me, pulling me closer.
“All right,” Sophie says, her voice bright, “here’s what I’ve been thinking.”
She launches into an animated explanation, her hands slicing through the air as she talks, her energy contagious.
“I want to keep the historic charm intact while making it functional. Look at this—” Sophie grabs her phone from the table and thrusts it toward me, her enthusiasm practically radiating off her.
“This is what I want in this room. Picture exposed beams, reclaimed wood tables, and these really cool old fixtures I found at the antique shop. It will make the entire room feel warm and cozy, like you’ve just stepped into an old teahouse.”
Her eyes light up as she speaks. Just beneath the surface, there’s a raw, unfiltered passion that can’t be manufactured. It feels achingly real. It’s not just captivating; it’s consuming.
My Alpha stirs, restless and possessive, urging me closer, whispering that she should be mine, ours.
The thought is intoxicating, as is the need to claim her, to wrap myself around her until she’s as much a part of me as I am of her.
It’s primal, undeniable, and completely uncharted territory for me.
What is happening to me? The thought claws at me as my gaze traces the curve of her jaw, the way her lips move with every word.
The image of her riding my cock, moaning as I fill her comes to mind so fast I have to adjust myself. But I don’t just want her— I want to tangle myself so completely in her life that there’s no way to tell where she ends and I begin.
“You’re sure about those beams?” Tyler interrupts, looking down at her phone, a frown tugging at his lips. “Exposed beams are a classic, but they’re also a pain in the ass if they’re not done right. You want charm, not splinters falling into someone’s soup.”
Sophie rolls her eyes but grins, her voice laced with mock annoyance. “I’m aware, Captain Practical. That’s why I plan to consult an expert before anything gets ripped out. And no, that doesn’t mean you get to swing a sledgehammer without supervision.”
Tyler chuckles, the sound low and warm. “You wound me, woman. I’m more than capable of being gentle...when necessary.”
He looks at her with such heat that I’m surprised she doesn’t combust. I don’t think she even noticed, but I did.
I can’t help but smile, watching the back-and-forth. Sophie doesn’t just hold her own against Tyler’s teasing; she gives as good as she gets. Her cheeks flush, but her confidence doesn’t waver. It’s… impressive.