Chapter 12 Sophie #2
“You okay?” he asks finally, his voice softer now, laced with a concern that tugs at something deep inside me.
I hesitate, the weight of my swirling emotions pressing down on me.
And then, almost without thinking, the words spill out.
“I don’t know what’s happening to me,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s like...I can’t think straight. My body feels like it’s not my own, and every time I’m around any of you—” I break off, my cheeks burning, unable to finish the sentence.
Brodie’s expression shifts, his brows furrowing slightly as he leans in to rub his nose along the column of my neck. He inhales deeply.
“Sophie,” he says, his voice firm, “Are you…Are you in heat?”
The question catches me off guard, and my first instinct is to deny it, but the words stick in my throat. Because deep down, I know he’s right. The heat, the need, the way my body reacts to him, to Ethan, to Tyler—it all makes sense now, even if I don’t want to admit it.
“I don’t know,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “Maybe. I’ve never—”
Brodie’s entire body goes rigid the moment the realization hits him. His nostrils flare wide, sucking in a sharp breath, and the shift in him is immediate—raw, unrestrained, unmistakably Alpha.
The muscles in his arms flex as his hands clench at his sides, like he’s fighting the primal urge clawing at his control. His amber eyes darken, pupils dilating as he takes another deep inhale, his jaw going tight.
“Fuck,” he rasps, barely more than a growl.
The sound vibrates through me, deep and guttural, sending a shudder down my spine. My Omega whines in response, reacting instinctively to his sudden change, my body heating further.
The air around us crackles, thick with tension, with need. I can feel his restraint unraveling, his Alpha instincts crashing over him like a tidal wave.
His hands twitch, like he wants to grab me but is holding himself back. His breath is heavier now, his chest rising and falling like he’s trying to steady himself. But it’s useless—my scent has him locked in place, trapped in the pull of my heat, and we both know it.
“Sophie,” he grits out, voice rough, almost desperate. “You—” He swallows hard, his eyes locked on me with a hunger that makes my stomach flip. “You smell so fucking good.”
I suck in a shaky breath, my thighs clenching together, slick soaking my underwear as his words make my skin burn hotter. I know I should be afraid of how fast this is happening, of how intense it is. But I’m not.
Brodie makes a strangled sound, his control slipping further. His hands move before he can stop them, gripping my hips, fingers digging in like he’s anchoring himself, like he needs to feel me everywhere.
“You’re in heat,” he says again, but this time it’s not calm. It’s rough, possessive like it’s breaking him apart to just sit here and not act.
I whimper, because I can feel it too—the way I need him, need something, anything to soothe the ache building inside me. My Omega is screaming for an Alpha, for him.
Brodie’s breath shudders as I shift in his grip, pressing closer. His control is slipping—fast. And I don’t know if I want him to stop.
The heat is unbearable, a restless, crawling sensation just beneath my skin. My body feels flushed, feverish, the cool night air doing nothing to ease the pressure building deep inside me. I shift uncomfortably on the dock, desperate for relief from something I don’t fully understand.
“I’ve been so hot all day,” I murmur, more to myself than him, my voice coming out breathy, almost shaky. “I feel like I can’t cool down.”
Brodie shifts beside me, his knee brushing mine. The contact is subtle but searing, a brand against my overheated skin. My breath stutters. Everything about him feels solid, unchanging, safe—but the way he’s looking at me right now? It’s anything but safe.
“Sweet girl,” he says, voice thick, rough around the edges.
I glance at him, startled, but his gaze is locked on me—steady, knowing, and laced with something dark and consuming. My Omega whines at the intensity, at the way his Alpha scent flares, thickening in the air between us.
I need to move away, to clear my head, but instead, I find myself leaning in, my body betraying me, craving the grounding presence of him.
“Alpha” I whisper, but I don’t know if it’s a warning or a plea.
His nostrils flare, his whole body going rigid as my scent finally hits him full force. I see the exact moment his restraint cracks. His pupils dilate, his chest rises and falls with ragged breaths, and his fingers twitch like he’s fighting the instinct to grab me.
But he doesn’t fight it for long.
A growl rumbles deep in his throat, vibrating through me as he reaches out, one strong hand cupping my face, his palm hot against my flushed skin. His grip isn’t gentle—it’s claiming, possessive. It’s all Alpha.
My breath catches, and I melt into his touch before I can stop myself.
“You smell…” His voice is gravely, barely more than a rasp. “Fuck. You smell like pure fucking sex.”
The words send a violent shudder through me. My thighs press together instinctively, slick pooling between them as my Omega keens, desperate, starving.
His thumb strokes over my cheek, slow and deliberate, but his whole body is tense, his control fraying right in front of me. His other hand comes up to my waist, fingers digging into my hip like he’s holding himself back.
“You’re beautiful like this,” he murmurs, his voice husky and laced with something dangerous.
I barely have a second to process it before he’s on me.
His lips crash against mine, hot and needy, his breath coming out in a growl as he drinks me in like he’s been starving for this moment.
His body presses into mine, a wall of strength and heat, pinning me to the dock as he claims my mouth, his fingers gripping my waist so tightly it sends a thrill through me.
I gasp against his lips, and he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine with an urgency that makes my head spin. My hands fly to his chest, meaning to push him back, to breathe, but the second I touch him, my resolve snaps.
He’s so warm, solid muscle beneath my fingertips, and instead of pushing him away, I’m clutching at him, my nails digging into his shirt as I arch closer and grind myself against his rigid length.
Brodie lets out a low, rumbling sound, something between a groan and a growl, and fuck, it sends another rush of heat between my legs.
My whole body feels like it’s burning from the inside out, aching for him in a way that makes no sense, that I should be terrified of—but I’m not.
I can’t stop.
I don’t want to stop.
His grip tightens on my waist, and then suddenly, I’m moving, his hands lifting me effortlessly until I’m straddling his lap. The second I settle against him, feeling the hard, thick press of his arousal against me, I whimper.
Brodie snaps.
His mouth leaves mine, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down my jaw, my neck, over my pulse points, where he lingers, his breath heavy as his teeth graze my skin.
“Mine,” he rasps against my throat, voice thick with Alpha need.
A shiver ripples through me, my body responding before my mind can catch up. My legs tighten around his waist, my hands fisting in his hair, and I tilt my head back, offering.
I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I feel the sharp inhale of his breath, his entire body going still beneath me.
“Sophie,” he growls, voice strained.
I whimper again, rolling my hips against him, desperate, needy. “Alpha, please—”
A snarl tears from his throat, his chest heaves, his eyes wild as he stares at me like I’m the only thing in the world.
And I realize with a hazy, aching sort of clarity—Brodie isn’t holding himself back anymore.