Page 6 of Fear

"Who—?"

Her voice was soft, hesitant, and yet it ignited something violent inside him. The sound of it sent a thrill down his spine, making his wolf push harder against his skin.

He exhaled sharply, trying to rein in the sudden, overwhelming urge to pull her to him, to scent her, to mark her so every single man in this club knew she was his.

"Mine," he growled, his voice lower than he intended.

A ripple of awareness went through the gathered men, some smirking, others exchanging knowing glances. They knew better than to interfere. A shifter finding his mate was absolute. And Goliath was already teetering on the edge of losing control.

Sofia’s brows pulled together, confusion flashing in her eyes. "Excuse me?"

Goliath forced himself to take a step back, just enough to ease the tension crackling between them. "You’re safe here. But you stick with the women. No man touches you. Not unless they want to lose a limb."

The threat was clear. And from the way the men subtly backed off, they knew he meant every damn word.

Sofia, however, only looked more confused. And for the first time in his life, Goliath felt something foreign settle in his chest. Patience.

She didn’t understand yet. But she would. Because she was his, and he was never letting her go.

The women seemed to sense the shift in the air, exchanging knowing looks before stepping in. Dakota and Siena gently guided Sofia away, shielding her from the intensity of the men’s stares. As they ushered her inside, Alaska nudged her playfully, her voice light despite the tension.

"Didn’t expect that, did you?" Alaska teased, winking at Sofia. "Big bad Goliath looking like he’s been struck by lightning."

Sofia blinked, still overwhelmed, glancing back over her shoulder. Goliath hadn’t moved, his golden eyes tracking her every step, his hands clenched into fists as if holding himself back. There was something so raw, so fierce about him that it sent her stomach into knots.

"He’s… intense," Sofia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alaska chuckled, looping her arm through Sofia’s. "That’s putting it lightly, babe. But don’t worry, we’ll explain everything soon. First, let’s get you cleaned up."

Once inside, Sofia was led down a dimly lit hallway to a room that had clearly been prepared for her. The bed was freshly made, soft blankets stacked neatly, and a few sets of clothes were laid out on the chair in the corner. It was more than she could have asked for. More than she deserved.

Sofia turned, suddenly feeling the weight of everything. "I don’t know how to thank you all. I… I don’t even know if I belong here."

"You do," Dakota said firmly. "You’re family now."

Sofia swallowed past the lump in her throat. These women—these strangers—were treating her with more kindness than she had felt in years. It was overwhelming. She had spent these last couple of days running, fearing every new face, that the genuine warmth in their eyes was almost too much.

"Let’s get you taken care of," Siena said as she moved toward the adjoining bathroom. "I’m running you a bath. You need it."

Another woman, Onyx, handed her a bottle of water. "Drink this. You look like you’re about to pass out."

Alaska sat on the bed beside her, watching her with quiet concern. "You want to talk about it?"

Sofia hesitated. "I… I don’t know where to start."

"Start at the beginning," Dakota said softly, sitting across from her. "We’re here to listen."

As the women gathered around, giving her their undivided attention, Sofia realized something. They weren’t just offering her safety. They were offering her sisterhood. And for the first time since her sister was killed, she wasn’t alone.

But even in the warmth of their care, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were holding something back. There was something unspoken between them, a quiet exchange of glances as if they knew something she didn’t.

"There’s something you’re not telling me," Sofia finally said, narrowing her gaze.

Alaska sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. "We’ll explain everything soon, Sof. Just trust us, okay?"

Sofia exhaled, nodding slowly. She had no choice but to trust them, because whatever was coming next—she had a feeling it was going to change everything.

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