Page 12 of Knotted By the Demon

He’dhelped, nothurt,the wounded omega. His actions were more attractive, more potent than his looks, his scent, or how big I’d imagined his cock was. Seriously, it would be tragic if that bear had a mini sausage in his pants. Why was I even thinking about that right now? I needed to focus on the omega.

The urge to reach out and protect him was almost overwhelming. I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt toward him, a soft, tender feeling that defied logic. He looked so vulnerable, so painfully beautiful, and something in me wanted to erase every bruise, every scar, to see his face free of the pain that clung to him like a shadow.

I sighed, letting my head fall back against the cushions, my eyes drifting toward the door. I was a bundle of feelings and emotions. This was unlike me. Maybe it was the fact that I’d been kidnapped. It was heightening my squirrel brain tendencies, skittering my thoughts all over the place.

It was also sending my emotions into overdrive. I took a deep breath and quickly realized I probably shouldn’t have done that. The alpha’s scent lingered, filling the room, and I had to admit, it didn’t feel entirely... wrong.

It unsettled me, irritated me, but there was something about it that made me feel safer than I wanted to admit. And that was the part that made my skin crawl. I didn’t want to feel safe here, didn’t want to find comfort in the presence of a rogue who had no business being anything but dangerous.

I didn’t want to be thinking about the way he’d looked at me, his eyes glancing at me every so often, as if he couldn’t help himself, as if I was just as irresistible as the omega across from me. I didn’t want to acknowledge that a part of me was curious about the rogue alpha who’d kidnapped me.

“Don’t let him get to you, Sofia,” I muttered to myself as if saying it out loud might break whatever strange spell had taken hold of me.

The omega shifted again, drawing my attention back to him, and all the anger, the frustration, faded into worry. I watched him, helpless to do anything else, my heart tightening as I imagined the pain he’d endured. Whoever he was, whatever he’d been through, I knew one thing: I would be his protector now. Even if it meant facing down the big strange alpha by myself.

“Hold on,” I whispered softly, my gaze lingering on the omega’s bruised face. “I’ll get us out of here. Somehow.”

CHAPTER SIX

SOFIA

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Time crept by, and the alpha didn’t return. As I lay bound to the couch, I let my thoughts drift to what I would be doing if I was back home. I’d probably be attending some soiree with my parents for one of their various charities. Or sparring with my older cousin, Lukas, who indulged me in mock combat whenever we saw each other.

For a long time, I lay there thinking about my family. I missed them. But I didn’t want to return a failure. I didn’t want to return not knowing what to do with my life. The omega’s quiet, shuddering breaths soon pulled my focus. His chest rose and fell in uneven gasps, each inhale sharp and shallow, as though he was fighting a battle even in sleep.

Was he having a nightmare now? My heart clenched, feeling his pain as if it were my own. What kind of monster could’ve left him this broken? Suddenly, his eyes fluttered, a faint shimmer of silver peeking out from beneath his long lashes, his gaze hazy, disoriented.

“Hey,” I whispered softly, instinctively lowering my voice to keep it gentle. “You’re safe right now. You’re okay.”

I tried to push as much warmth as I could into those words, willing him to feel the truth of them. The last thing he neededwas to wake up to more fear. His lips parted, dry and cracked, as he attempted to speak, though the words came out as no more than a faint, broken whisper.

“H-hurts...It... hurts,” he murmured, each word a struggle.

My chest tightened, and I wished more than anything that I could free my hands to reach out, to offer him some comfort.

“I know,” I whispered. “But you’re not alone anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

He stared up at the ceiling and I couldn’t tell if he was truly awake or talking in his sleep.

“They... they wouldn’t stop. I tried to be good, but... it wasn’t enough.”

The words tumbled out of him, broken and raw, and I felt a surge of protective anger rise in me. Whoever had done this to him didn’t deserve to call themselves alphas. They were cowards and deserved death.

“You don’t have to be good for anyone, not anymore,” I told him, forcing steel into my voice, hoping he’d hear my sincerity. “You’re free now, and no one’s going to hurt you here. Not as long as I have a say.”

His eyes met mine again, and I saw a flicker of something fragile, hope, maybe. It was faint, but it was there, like a tiny flame fighting to stay lit against a storm.

For a moment, he looked like he was drifting off again, but then he whispered, “Are... are you an angel?”

The question took me by surprise, but I forced a small, reassuring smile. “Not even close,” I murmured, my voice catching. “Just someone who cares.”

A faint tremor ran through him as he tried to reach for me, but he wasn’t feeling strong enough to lift his hands. “Beautiful angel... please... don’t leave me,” he whispered, but it felt like a plea from the depths of his soul.

At that moment, every instinct within me screamedMINE. This fragile omega was mine. I didn’t care that I was a beta. I didn’t care that he was an omega. He was mine. And I would never let anyone hurt him again. I’d die to protect this man. I would stand with him in the darkness until he was ready to step into the light.

“I’m not leaving you,” I promised, my voice soft and resolute. “I’ll be right here, and nothing’s going to hurt you.” The vow felt like it was carving itself into my heart as I said it. “Not as long as I’m breathing.”

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