Chapter 19 Tyler
TYLER
The rhythmic thwack of the knife meeting the cutting board is oddly soothing as I chop the vegetables. The kitchen smells of simmering tomatoes, garlic, and herbs—Sophie’s doing.
She stands beside me at the stove, her delicate hands stirring a pot of sauce, her humming a soft counterpoint to the bubbling sounds around us. There’s something so domestic about this moment, so grounding, that it makes me feel…at ease. And that’s rare for me.
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye. Her hair is tucked behind one ear, and a small smile plays on her lips as she focuses on the pot. The glow from the overhead light casts a warm halo around her, making her look almost ethereal.
Mine, my Alpha murmurs, restless beneath my skin. It’s a ridiculous thought. She isn’t mine. Not yet, anyway.
The sound of a knock at the door pulls me from my reverie. Sophie wipes her hands on a dishtowel and heads for the door. I watch her go, the gentle sway of her hips drawing my eyes like a magnet.
When the door opens, Ethan steps inside, his broad frame filling the entryway. His face is as stoic as ever, but there’s a flicker of something softer in his expression as his eyes land on Sophie.
“Smells good in here,” he says, his voice low.
Before Sophie can respond, Brodie appears behind him, a lopsided grin on his face. “You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you?” he teases, stepping inside like he owns the place.
Sophie laughs, the sound warm and welcoming. “Come in. Make yourselves comfortable. Dinner’s almost ready.”
I lean back against the counter, watching the dynamic unfold. Ethan moves into the living room, his presence still commanding even when he’s not speaking. Brodie follows, his easy charm lighting up the space like he belongs there.
The way they settle in so naturally like they’re already part of her world…it’s both comforting and unsettling.
When Sophie returns to the kitchen, I focus on the task at hand, trying not to let my thoughts spiral. The comfort of working beside her eases the tension in my chest.
“Favorite childhood meal?” Sophie asks casually, her voice cutting through the quiet.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Didn’t really have much of that growing up.”
Her curiosity piqued, she tilts her head, her eyes soft but probing. “Why not? You seem like the kind of guy who’d appreciate good food.”
I hesitate, the knife pausing mid-chop. I don’t like talking about my past—never have. But something about Sophie makes me want to. “Let’s just say my mom wasn’t much of a cook, and my dad…not a chance he did anything more than toss a ramen pack at me.”
Her hand stills on the spoon, and she turns to face me fully. “Tyler…”
I shrug, trying to keep my tone light. “It’s fine. I got through it.”
But Sophie doesn’t let it go. She steps closer, her gaze locking onto mine. “No, it’s not okay.”
I force a smile, trying to shake off the weight of the moment. “It’s the past. Besides, I’m here now. And…I feel like I actually belong somewhere.”
Her fingers press into my arm, grounding me in a way I didn’t know I needed. “You belong here, Tyler. With me. With us.”
Her words settle over me like a warm blanket, and I feel my chest tighten in a way that’s both comforting and terrifying. She means it—I can see it in her eyes.
Before I can respond, Brodie’s voice cuts through the moment. “Hope you didn’t ruin the sauce, Hawk,” he teases, leaning against the doorframe with that damn grin of his.
I smirk, shaking my head. “Not a chance. I know my way around a kitchen.”
Sophie laughs, the sound lighter now, and the tension in the room shifts to something easier.
As the three of us move into the dining area, the smell of roasted vegetables and warm bread fills the air. Ethan joins us, his presence grounding as always, though his eyes flicker to Sophie more often than not.
The want of her shifts just beneath the surface, possessive, unspoken but undeniable. And as we gather around the table, I can’t help but wonder what the night will bring—and how long we can keep ignoring the growing pull between us all.
We settle around the table, the aroma of the dinner Sophie and I prepared filling the room. Brodie sprawls in one chair, his usual relaxed confidence radiating, while Ethan sits more rigidly, his eyes sharp and focused.
Sophie moves around the table, placing dishes and pouring drinks, her scent wrapping around all of us like a warm blanket.
I can’t help but watch her, the way she moves, the gentle concentration in her expression. I vaguely listen to Brodie and Ethan talking about something.
My Alpha is restless, wanting to stake a claim, to shout for all to hear that she’s ours, but I shove it down. Tonight’s not the time for that—not yet.
“So,” Sophie says, sitting down at last. Her smile is warm but tinged with nerves as her gaze flicks between the three of us. “Thank you guys for coming.”
Her nervousness is cute.
“I couldn’t do any of this without you. I didn’t know I needed help until you all bullied your way in here.
” She laughs. The sound is warm and welcoming.
“ I guess I just wanted to say thank you. I know I’m not always the easiest to be around, and I do a lot of stuff the hard way.
But you’ve all been here for me when I needed you most.”
I don’t miss the blush that flushes her cheeks. And suddenly, my mind is in her pants.
But her words also hit deep, settling in a place I hadn’t realized was aching. I glance at Ethan, whose jaw flexes ever so slightly, his sharp eyes flicking toward Sophie like he’s holding back something.
Then there’s Brodie, who nods with that easy, knowing smile—like he already understands exactly what’s happening here, between all of us.
“We make a good team,” Brodie says, his voice low, certain. “And we’re not going anywhere.”
“Speak for yourself,” I tease, leaning back in my chair with a smirk. “I’m only here for the food. And maybe the sex.” And like that, the tension lifts, and we all laugh.
Sophie’s laugh is soft but full, and fuck, if it isn’t my favorite sound.
The tension that’s been crackling in the room since Ethan and Brodie walked in eases just a little, replaced by something warmer.
Familiar. Like we’re not just trying to navigate this thing between us—we’re living it, breathing it.
And damn if it doesn’t feel good.
As we eat, the conversation flows naturally, though there’s an undercurrent of something unspoken—an awareness we’re all skirting around.
Brodie talks about the repairs still needed at the inn, and Sophie shares her plans for the next steps. Ethan listens quietly, his gaze occasionally drifting to Sophie, his expression unreadable.
At one point, Sophie asks Ethan a question about the orchard, and for a moment, his face softens as he talks about the apple trees, the soil, and the seasons. It’s a rare glimpse of him at ease, and I can see the way Sophie leans in slightly, her attention fully on him.
Brodie catches my eye and smirks like he’s reading my thoughts. “Ethan,” he says, cutting in, “Glad to see you smiling. Been way too damn long.”
Ethan shrugs, his gaze flicking to Sophie. “Feels…right,” he says after a moment, his voice low but honest.
The words hang in the air, heavier than they should be, and Sophie shifts in her seat, her cheeks flushing.
When dinner wraps up, Sophie insists on clearing the table, but I wave her off. “You cooked. Let us handle this.”
She hesitates but eventually nods, retreating to the living room while the three of us tackle the dishes.
“Fuck. I’m going to level with you guys. All I can think about is her,” Brodie says finally, breaking the quiet.
Ethan doesn’t respond, but the look he gives Brodie says enough.
“I know what you mean. I wake up hard as a fucking rock every morning,” I say, my voice quiet. “She’s just so fucking right for us.”
The words slip out before I can stop them, and I feel both Ethan and Brodie’s eyes on me. I expect a jab from Brodie or a gruff remark from Ethan, but neither of them says a word.
We finish the dishes in silence, the weight of unspoken emotions pressing down on all of us.
When we return to the living room, Sophie is curled up on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her and a book in her lap. She looks up as we enter, her smile soft but tired.
“You didn’t have to do all that,” she says, her voice warm.
Brodie shrugs, his grin easy. “I sure didn’t. Shouldn’t I get a reward?”
Sophie laughs and stretches up to kiss him lightly on the cheek.
Ethan moves to the armchair across from her, his gaze steady but inscrutable. “You’ve got a lot on your plate. Let us take some of the load.”
Her eyes soften as she looks at him, and for a moment, it’s like the rest of us aren’t even in the room. I can see the heat in Ethan’s eyes.
I clear my throat, breaking the moment. “So, what’s next on the to-do list, boss?”
Sophie laughs, the tension easing again. “Sleep,” she says simply. “I think we’ve all earned it.”
We linger a little longer, the conversation light but comfortable, before finally calling it a night.
As I head out to my cottage, sleep is the last thing on my mind.