Chapter 37 Sophie
SOPHIE
Iwoke this morning sated and sore in the most delicious way possible. Now looking around the inn’s kitchen, the idea of spending a day cleaning up sounds like pure torture.
I look over and see Brodie surveying the mess we’ve all managed to create in the last few days with a defeated look on his face.
Tools are scattered across the counters, coffee cups litter every available surface, and the faint scent of sawdust clings to the air. The guys are relentless when it comes to working on the inn when properly motivated, and my face heats up remembering why they were so motivated.
“That’s it,” I announce, crossing my arms. “we all need a break.”
Ethan looks up from the blueprint he’s been studying at the table, brow raised. “A break?” he repeats, like the word is foreign to him.
“Yes,” I say firmly. “You’ve been working nonstop, and I am officially declaring a mandatory pastry run.”
Tyler grins from where he’s washing dishes in the sink. “Pastries, huh? And where exactly are we supposed to get these magical pastries?”
I roll my eyes. “Dizzy D’s. In high school, I used to sneak off campus just to grab one of their giant, buttery, sinfully sugary cinnamon rolls.”
Brodie chuckles. “So, you’re saying we should pile into a car, drive into town, and eat our weight in cinnamon rolls? That’s the plan?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Exactly.”
Ethan sighs, but I catch the ghost of a smirk on his lips. “Fine. But I’m driving.”
It doesn’t take long before we’re all crammed into Ethan’s SUV, rolling down the now-clear roads into town. The sun is bright against the melting snow, the air crisp but carrying the promise of spring.
I sit sandwiched in the backseat between Tyler and Brodie, their warmth pressing in on either side of me. Neither of them wanted to ride shotgun.
Tyler’s hand is on my thigh, his fingers tracing absentminded patterns against my leggings. Brodie’s fingers brush against my wrist, his grip light but possessive. I shift slightly, feeling the weight of their attention settle over me.
“Haven’t you two had enough yet?” I tease, glancing between them.
Brodie leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Not even close.”
Tyler smirks, moving his hand higher up my thigh. “You should know by now, sweetheart. We’ll never get enough of you.”
Heat rushes to my core, my Omega preening under their attention, but before I can say something witty back, the car rolls to a stop in front of the bakery.
The moment we step out of the car, the familiar scent of sugar and fresh bread fills my senses, making my stomach rumble in anticipation. I inhale deeply, letting the warmth of nostalgia settle in my chest.
It’s been years since I’ve been here, but everything is exactly the same—the little café tucked into the corner of the street, the bell above the door that jingles softly when it opens, the way the air inside is thick with cinnamon and vanilla.
Ethan catches my hand before I step inside, his grip firm but gentle. “We’ll just be two doors down,” he reminds me, his sharp blue eyes scanning the quiet street, ever the protector. “If anything feels off, you call.”
Brodie and Tyler both hesitate, their instincts bristling at the idea of leaving me alone, but I roll my eyes, shoving at Brodie’s chest lightly.
“I think I can handle ordering some pastries without supervision,” I tease, though I know exactly what’s going through their minds.
They don’t like me out of their sight, even in broad daylight.
And I’d be lying if it didn’t fill me with warmth.
Tyler scoffs, crossing his arms. “I don’t know, Sophie; we’ve seen what sugar does to you.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Go,” I nudge them toward the shop they spotted down the street. “Surprise me with whatever you’re planning. I’ll grab our order and see you in a few.”
Brodie leans in, brushing his lips against my temple. “We’ll be quick, pretty girl.”
Ethan lingers a beat longer, his hand grazing the small of my back before he follows the others. I watch them disappear into the store, their broad forms cutting an imposing figure even from a distance. Their absence makes the world feel suddenly bigger, a little too open.
Shaking off the unease creeping at the edges of my mind, I turn and push open the café door, the bell chiming as I step inside. A rush of warmth greets me, and the smell of delicious things baking and roasted coffee instantly soothes some of the tension in my shoulders.
I breathe in deep, letting the nostalgia wrap around me. This place has always felt like home—the faded wooden floors, the old chalkboard menu hanging above the counter, the case of oversized cinnamon rolls staring back at me like an old friend.
The woman behind the counter gives me a warm smile as I order, my voice laced with quiet excitement. “Five of the biggest cinnamon rolls you have and four coffees, please.”
The barista chuckles, grabbing a to-go box. “Sounds good.”
I glance around the café as I wait, taking in the quiet murmur of conversation, the clinking of mugs, and the hum of an espresso machine. A strange sense of contentment washes over me, a feeling of rightness, of belonging.
But then—
There’s a shift in the air.
The scent hits me before I even see them—strong, musky, and tinged with something sharp and bitter. The hair on the back of my neck rises, my hackles going up instinctively. My fingers tighten around the edge of the counter as I recognize it.
Alphas.
Not my Alphas.
The scent is invasive, pressing, and demanding. My stomach knots, my pulse stuttering in my throat. I keep my chin up, my breathing even, but my body is already reacting, every Omega instinct inside me warning—danger. Telling me to run.
I turn slowly, my heart thudding as my gaze lands on them—a pack of Alphas coming into the café, their presence heavy and unmistakable. My blood runs cold when I see the one in the middle.
Adam.
The memories hit me like a punch to the gut, dragging me back to a time I’d rather forget. Back in high school, Adam had been the golden boy—handsome, charming when he wanted to be, but cruel in a way that only those who thought they were untouchable could be.
He was an Alpha born to lead, spoiled by the way the world bent over backward for him. And he wanted me.
Not in the way my Alphas want me now, with tenderness and reverence. No, Adam had wanted to own me, to break me down until I saw myself the way he did—small, weak, something to be controlled.
He pushed, he cornered, he made sure I never forgot that he was an Alpha and I was an Omega.
But there had always been one thing standing in his way.
Ethan. Even before we were together.
And Adam hated me for it.
And now, Ethan isn’t here to stop him.
I swallow hard, fighting the instinct to shrink back. I won’t. I can’t. Not in front of them.
“Look what we have here,” Adam drawls, walking up to me like he’s been waiting for me. “Didn’t expect to see you back in town, Sophie.”
I force my expression to remain neutral, my voice steady. “Didn’t expect to see you anywhere I cared to be.”
The words come out strong, but my stomach churns.
Adam chuckles, stepping closer, his scent wrapping around me.
Adam’s fingers brush my wrist, his grip firm and possessive, sending a shiver of revulsion through me. “You always were too stubborn for your own good,” he murmurs, his voice dripping with mock affection. His thumb strokes over my pulse, a slow, deliberate move that makes my skin crawl.
I yank back my arm, trying to break free, get some space, but another hand clamps around my waist from behind. A new Alpha, taller, broader, smelling of sharp musk and arrogance, presses close, his breath hot against my ear.
“Fuck, you smell good,” he murmurs, inhaling deeply. His grip tightens when I try to move. “Unclaimed, too? Now that’s a goddamn shame. No wonder your boys don’t let you out of their sight. You’re asking for trouble smelling like this.”
Laughter rumbles between them, dark and knowing, their amusement twisting my stomach.
I jerk away again, my body thrumming with unease, but Adam doesn’t let go. His packmates close in, the heat of their bodies overwhelming, their combined scents wrapping around me, cloying and sickening.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Adam croons, tucking a stray strand behind my ear like he has the right to touch me. My skin crawls. “Don’t act so scared. We’re just saying hello.”
“Don’t touch me,” I snap, voice shaking but firm.
Adam smirks, like my defiance entertains him. “There’s that bite,” he murmurs approvingly. “Always thought you’d make a good little Omega if someone taught you how to behave properly.”
A sharp breath slips from my lips.
“Hey,” says the barista, voice edged with unease, “we don’t need any trouble here. Let the lady go.” It took a lot for a Beta to stand up to Adam.
Adam barely spares him a glance. Instead, his grip tightens on my wrist, fingers pressing into my skin like a warning. “I’d keep your nose out of what doesn’t concern you,” he barks, his voice sharp, commanding. The Beta drops his head, looking uncomfortable.
The sound sends a shockwave through me, my body reacting before my mind can catch up.
A cold wave of anxiety crashes over me, my muscles locking, my breath hitching.
It’s instinct, pure and primal—an Omega responding to an Alpha’s dominance, even when every rational part of me is screaming to fight it.
This isn’t just posturing anymore.
This is a show of force—a power play. And I am the prize.
I swallow hard, trying to keep my expression neutral, but I can feel the weight of his pack’s stares pressing down on me. The smug amusement in their eyes, the way they watch me like they’re waiting for me to submit.
No. Just No.
I jerk against Adam’s grip, trying to pull free, but he holds firm, his smirk deepening. “There you are. That’s right, keep trying to get away. You know how much I like the chase,” he muses, his voice low, almost teasing. “I always liked that about you, Sophie. You make things...interesting.”
A fresh wave of nausea churns in my stomach at how he makes us sound like we ever had something together.
Where are Ethan, Brodie, and Tyler?
They should be back by now.
The scents of my aggressors mix together, pressing in on me, foreign and suffocating. My stomach turns, bile rising in my throat as Adam leans in like he’s going to kiss me. And the thought sends panic through every inch of me.
Adam tilts his head and inhales, drinking in my scent, his smirk widening like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. “Unbonded Omegas don’t stay unclaimed for long, sweetheart,” he says, voice smooth and knowing. “Someone’s bound to take what your Alphas haven’t.”
Something inside me shatters.
Fear claws at my ribs, fast and cold and unforgiving. I swallow hard, but the lump in my throat won’t budge. I hate that he sees it. That they all do.
I am vulnerable. Open. Easy prey.
The thought is a poison seeping into the cracks of my foundation, threatening to break me apart. I feel wetness in my eyes. And curse myself for letting Adam see me cry.
Then, a low, menacing growl cuts through the thick air, rattling through my bones.
The scent of home and safety crashes into the café like a storm rolling in.
Brodie. Ethan. Tyler.