Chapter 25 Sophie
SOPHIE
Warmth. It surrounds me like a cocoon, the kind of heat that sinks deep into my bones, anchoring me to the present. My body feels heavy, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me, but there’s no fear, no chill, no lingering edge of the cold that had nearly swallowed me whole.
Instead, there’s only the steady rise and fall of a chest against my back, the solid, grounding presence of Brodie wrapped around me, his scent wrapping around, protected and cared for.
My Omega purrs with the joy of it. The slow rhythm of his breath ghosts over the back of my neck, and even in sleep, his arms remain a protective barrier, keeping me tucked against him like he’s afraid I’ll slip away again.
I don’t want to move. I should, but I don’t. I feel safe. The storm outside has settled, but I know the one inside me is still raging, swirling with emotions I haven’t even begun to sort through.
Brodie’s warmth seeps into me, soothing the parts of me that have been fraying at the edges since I returned to Twilight Harbor.
My Omega hums in contentment, recognizing the safety of being near him, but the moment my mind fully wakes, the memories come rushing in—the storm, the cold, the overwhelming need, the way they had found me, how close I had come to being lost.
Slowly, carefully, I ease out of Brodie’s hold, mindful not to wake him. He stirs slightly, a soft noise rumbling from his chest, but he doesn’t wake.
My heart clenches at the sight of him like this—unguarded, peaceful, so different from the sharp-edged, confident Alpha he always presents to the world.
Before I can stop myself, I reach for the blanket at the end of the couch and carefully pull it over his shoulders, tucking it around him. I grab some pillows and another blanket and slowly ease them around his body.
He deserves the rest. He had carried me through the snow, fought to keep me warm, and stayed up through the night to ensure I was okay. He deserves this moment of stillness. He shifts toward me, snuggling into my makeshift nest.
Forcing myself to step away. I rise to my feet, my body protesting the movement. Everything aches, but it’s dull, nothing like the unbearable heat from before. The haze is gone. My thoughts are clear, no longer fogged by the desperate pull of my Omega instincts.
The reality of that settles over me like a shock of cold water. The heat had been burning through me, and now? It’s just…gone. Had the cold somehow shocked my body out of it? Had my injuries overridden my cycle?
I don’t know, but whatever the reason, it leaves a strange emptiness in its place, something I can’t quite put a name to.
I shake the thoughts away as I make my way upstairs, longing for a hot shower. Ten minutes later, my hair is wrapped in a towel, and I'm pulling on fresh clothes.
The simple act of pulling on clean leggings and an oversized sweater helps ground me, though the scent of the Alphas still clings to my skin. Their presence is everywhere, in the inn, in me.
Even though the heat is gone, my body still remembers their touch, their scent, and the way they surrounded me. My fingers tremble as I run a brush through my hair, and a deep breath leaves me as I force myself to push forward.
There’s no use dwelling on what I can’t change. My Omega is responding to all the Alphas, and I’m going to have a heat whether I’m ready or not.
The scent of coffee drifts through the air, and before I even realize it, I’m following it.
Stepping into the kitchen, I stop short when I see Ethan leaning against the counter, a steaming mug in one hand, another sitting on the table beside him. Waiting for me.
His gaze locks onto mine the moment I enter, scanning me like he’s committing every inch of me to memory, like he’s measuring the damage and making sure I’m still standing. The intensity of it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Morning,” I say softly, wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic, letting the heat anchor me. “Thanks for the coffee.”
He doesn’t answer right away. His jaw clenches, his grip tightening on his own mug like he’s trying to hold something back. Then, finally, his voice comes, rough, low, filled with something unspoken.
“You scared me, Sophie.”
The words make me feel guilty, and also hopeful.
I open my mouth, ready to offer some kind of apology or excuse, but before I can, he moves.
His arms surround me before I even register what’s happening, pulling me against his chest, holding me so tightly that it steals the breath from my lungs.
My fingers instinctively clutch at his shirt, my body frozen with the intensity of it.
His scent, all fresh pine and fresh earth, so achingly familiar, wraps around me, triggering something deep in my Omega instincts that makes my body melt against him.
It’s like the past years of distance between us have ceased to exist.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
His voice is a low growl, his breath warm against my temple, and I know this isn’t just about last night. It’s about everything.
And then—before I can stop it, before I can think—his lips are on mine.
It’s not slow. It’s not careful.
It’s desperate.
Ethan’s scent engulfs me—rich and consuming, making my head spin in the best way. His hands are firm as they slide up my back, pressing me flush against him, his warmth seeping into my skin.
The kiss is deep, relentless, and utterly possessive, his tongue sweeping into my mouth with a desperation that leaves me wanting. Heat pools low in my belly, my Omega instincts keening at the way he holds me—like he’ll never let go, like he’s branding me with every touch.
The scrape of his stubble against my skin sends shivers racing down my spine, and when he tilts my head back, kissing me even deeper, a soft whimper escapes my throat. It’s raw, aching, a promise wrapped in heat and longing, and I know—there’s no turning back from this.
By the time we break apart, I’m breathless, my cheeks flushed, my heart pounding. Ethan still doesn’t let go. His forehead presses to mine, his fingers cupping my jaw, holding me there, grounding me.
“You’re okay?” he murmurs, his voice rough, searching my eyes.
I nod, swallowing hard. “I’m okay.” A soft smile forms on my lips. I step back, clearing my throat. “I want to sit in the sun,” I say quickly. “Do you want to come with me?”
Ethan watches me for a long moment before smirking slightly. His fingers brush against mine, then he grips my hand firmly.
“Lead the way.”
The moment we step outside, I gasp.
The storm may have passed, but the world has been transformed. Snow blankets everything in sight, leaving the landscape untouched and pristine, glistening beneath the early morning light. It’s breathtaking.
Ethan exhales, crossing his arms over his chest. “Looks like we’re not going anywhere for a while.”
Before I can answer, the door creaks open behind us. Tyler and Brodie step out, both looking adorably sleep-disheveled.
Brodie is completely cocooned in a thick blanket, only his face visible, his dark hair a mess, and his amber eyes squinting against the morning light. Tyler, on the other hand, strides onto the porch without a shirt, stretching lazily like a cat.
Before I can say a word, they’re both on me—Brodie groaning as he tucks me into his side beneath the heavy folds of his blanket, Tyler pressing his bare chest against my back, his arms looping around my waist.
Their combined warmth seeps into me, grounding me in the safety of their embrace.
“Too early for this much energy,” Brodie grumbles, his voice thick with sleep, while Tyler just chuckles against my ear. “Yeah? Then why are you out here stealing our girl?”
His voice is soft, but certain, and I don’t miss the way his gaze sweeps over me, searching for any lingering signs of distress.
“Because wherever Sophie goes, I’ll follow.”
Something lightens in my chest, the weight of uncertainty shifting into something softer, something warmer. But the air is still thick with emotion, and I can feel the tension rolling off them—protective, ever-watchful, their instincts still wound tight after everything we’ve been through.
I don’t want that, not right now. I want to see them laugh, to shake off the worry that clings to them, to see their beautiful faces laughing in the sunshine.
So, before I can overthink it, I bend down, scoop up a handful of snow, and launch it straight at Tyler’s chest.
It hits with a satisfying thud, dead center, sending a spray of white powder into the air. For a moment, there’s only stunned silence.
Then Tyler blinks, grins wickedly, and lunges for his own ammunition. “Oh, you’re in for it now, sweetheart.”
Brodie shakes his head with a sigh, but I don’t miss the way his lips twitch as he leaps off the porch, landing barefoot in the snow. Too fast for me to track, a fat snowball crashes into my chest.
Tyler doubles over laughing, Brodie smirks, and Ethan?
Ethan growls.
And then I’m running.