I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 53

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**

Every fiber of her being turned to ice. That sound—it was all too familiar, echoing in her mind like a haunting refrain from a nightmare, right before the terror had descended upon her in the depths of the woods.

A jolt of fear raced down her spine, propelling her to inch closer to Torin, as if seeking refuge in his presence. “Sophie, you will do exactly what I say,” he instructed, his voice low and urgent, a stark contrast to the chaos brewing around them.

“I’m not leaving you,” Sophie replied, her breath hitching in her throat, laden with raw fear.

“I’ll be fine. Just do as I say,” he snapped back, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“No,” she shot back defiantly, her heart pounding wildly. Torin didn’t engage further; instead, he began to retreat slowly, positioning her firmly behind him, ensuring she wouldn’t stumble in the dark. “Wh-where are we going?” she managed to ask, hating the tremor that crept into her voice.

“Shh,” he commanded, his eyes scanning their surroundings with a predator’s focus.

In a flurry of movement, he shed his suit coat, turning to offer it to her. Sophie accepted it, her brow furrowed in confusion. Torin then swiftly unbuttoned his shirt, the fabric falling away to reveal the broad expanse of his chest, adorned with tattoos that snaked along his shoulder and down his arm. Her thoughts faltered, momentarily lost in the sight before her. He discarded his shoes and socks next, leaving her bewildered. “Wh-what are you doing?” she stammered, instinctively stepping back from him.

“Why are you taking your clothes off?” she questioned, her voice quivering with uncertainty. She had never felt fear towards Torin before, but now an unsettling dread began to creep in. She instinctively retreated further, and he halted, his gaze locking onto hers.

“Sophie, look at me,” he ordered, his voice firm yet laced with urgency. Her eyes snapped to his, wide with confusion. “I’m doing this as a precaution in case I have to fight.”

“Okay,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. It made sense, kind of. She tried to reason with herself, battling the whirlwind of thoughts. But why? He just wanted to be free to fight, right? Maybe it was one of those martial arts things where fighters went barefoot? At least he still had his pants on. Her internal dialogue was abruptly interrupted by the guttural growls that resonated from both in front and behind them. Panic surged through her, and she instinctively lunged toward Torin, disregarding his state of undress.

Torin spun around, shielding her behind him once more. “Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice strained yet steady.

Sophie nodded, her throat tight, words escaping her.

“I need to fight. Listen carefully. When I say, go behind that big tree,” he instructed, gesturing toward a massive tree to their left, its gnarled trunk a beacon of safety. “Stay there until I tell you to come out. Can you do that?” His eyes bore into hers, demanding an answer.

She hesitated, fear rendering her mute. “Sophie,” he said, his voice sharp, cutting through her panic.

“Y-yes, behind the tree, okay,” she finally managed to breathe out, her heart racing.

Suddenly, more wolves rushed into the fray, attacking those that threatened her and Torin.

Then, like a beacon in the chaos, Liam appeared in front of her. He bent down, scooping her up with a reassuring grip. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” he said, his voice a calming balm amidst the storm of terror. He moved swiftly away from the fight, but Sophie felt the remnants of fear cling to her, closing her eyes tightly, struggling to process the whirlwind of events.

But then, a low growl echoed through the air, halting their escape. Liam swore under his breath, turning slowly to face the impending danger. The massive black wolf was advancing toward them, teeth bared, its presence commanding and terrifying. Sophie felt the fear surge back, a tidal wave of dread washing over her. “It’s okay, Sophie. I won’t let anything happen to you,” Liam assured her, his voice steady despite the threat looming before them.

The wolf growled louder, a primal sound that resonated deep within her. “Sophie, Torin’s wolf doesn’t want anyone close to you right now. I’m going to put you down,” Liam warned.

“What? No!” Sophie shrieked, her grip tightening around him, panic coursing through her veins. The wolf’s growl escalated, a menacing rumble that sent shivers down her spine as it stalked closer.

“I’m sorry, Sophie,” Liam said, and in the next heartbeat, she found herself on her feet, Liam stepping back to create distance.

“Liam,” she cried out, dread pooling in her stomach as the wolf advanced. She felt paralyzed, unable to move, her breath caught in her throat. The sheer power emanating from the beast was overwhelming. It stepped closer, and in that moment, Sophie’s legs betrayed her. Her body simply gave up, collapsing to the ground like a rag doll. Yet before she could hit the earth, someone caught her, but in her daze, she couldn’t even tell who it was.