Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon

Chase POV

The silence in the car was deafening as I drove, my mind reeling from the events that had just unfolded. Every few seconds, my eyes flicked to the rearview mirror where Knox lay in the backseat, unconscious and looking more battered than I'd ever seen him. Havoc

apparently wasn't willing to surface to heal his human. Not that I blamed him.

Although deep down I knew it was because the magic Astaroth had woven was potent, leaving Knox in a state where even Havoc seemed to have retreated into the shadows. I understood too well-Astaroth's presence was a chilling reminder of my own pain, the memories of agony that still echoed in my bones from when I, too, had been at the mercy of his cruel urges.

As the ride stretched on, and the silence grew, the weight of my failures pressed heavily on my chest. I hated that I had frozen at the sight of Havoc in full wrath. I hated that fear had crippled me, preventing me from protecting Lottie-the one person who had come to mean more to me than anyone else. The shame was overwhelming, casting a long shadow over my sense of worthiness as her protector, as her brother.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my other hand absently touching my lip, which quivered with pent-up emotion. I refused to let the tears fall, but the horrific images that haunted me-visions of Lottie lifeless, the twins never getting a chance to breathe this world's air, all because I had stood there, frozen-were too much. The imaginary sounds of chaos and destruction rang in my ears, and despite my resolve, tears began streaming down my cheeks, each one a silent testament to my profound regret and shame.

"That would have been the outcome had I not stepped in," Astaroth's voice suddenly shattered the haunting silence, pulling me from the depths of my despair. My hands clenched the steering wheel so tightly it was a wonder it didn't snap as my vision blurred momentarily, forcing me to swerve to avoid a tree.

"What the fuck, man, I am driving!" I gasped out, my heart pounding against my ribs like a frantic drum.

"Come on, I wouldn't have let you die. I made your sister a promise," Astaroth chuckled, dismissing my palpable fear as though it were nothing more than a child's nightmare.

Unable to contain my frustration, I pounded the steering wheel repeatedly, each strike accompanied by a raw, primal scream. The feeling of being toyed with by this demon, of being just a pawn in his game, fueled my anger to new heights.

"It's not a game, Chase. It is serious, and I am pissed off. And you remember what happens when I am pissed off, yes?" Astaroth growled, his voice low and menacing.

I knew all too well what he meant. The memories of his wrath were etched into my very soul, reminders of pain so profound they could break the spirit of any creature. His words weren't just a warning; they were a stark reminder of the power he wielded-not just over our enemies but over us as well.

The realization that I was still so vulnerable that I had failed to protect those I loved most when they needed me was almost too much to bear. Each minute we drove in silence was filled with the echoes of my own doubts and the heavy weight of what could have been. Astaroth's presence, so close yet so far from human, was a constant reminder of the dark bargains we'd struck to keep our loved ones safe-a deal that now felt like a noose tightening around my neck.

"Are you sparrow brothers always so gloomy." Astaroth sighed like he was watching the latest season of America Got Talent and found it to be less than impressive.

"Mostly." I snorted a blend of anger and effort to remain composed, colouring my response. Every word with Astaroth felt like walking on eggshells, and each sentence was carefully measured to avoid provoking something worse than his usual irksome demeanour. The last thing I needed was to give him any reason to unleash whatever twisted punishment he enjoyed concocting.

"Though so." He muttered as he kicked back in the passenger seat, his feet casually resting on the dashboard as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"That's dangerous, you know. It could kill you," I remarked dryly, glancing at his casual posture.

"I'm immortal, buddy. Unless you're planning on ripping out my heart, I'm all good. A little fender bender won't even scratch me." He laughed, a sound devoid of humour. His arrogance was palpable, but I wasn't in the mood to entertain his O boasting. Ignoring him, I kept my focus on driving and periodically

checked on Knox, who was still out

cold in the backseat.

"So, I was just chatting with your bro-skies," Astaroth suddenly announced a smirk in his voice that made me wince, wondering exactly what inflammatory words he'd exchanged with them.

"I just reminded them that I don't like being let down by my staff," he continued, his tone casual yet threaded with an undercurrent of threat.

"Staff? You put it like that to Adam?" I chuckled, imagining Adam's reaction. Knowing my brother, the suggestion that he was anyone's subordinate would have sent him skyrocketing off his high horse. "Well, no, I didn't put it quite like that. But if you were my staff, I would have fired you and fed you to Havoc's twin brother," Astaroth mused. I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Who was Havoc's twin?

Did he mean Kane? That didn't add up.

"I hired you idiots to keep her safe while she wasn't with her mates. And lord knows they would have died for her, protected her with their lives. I expected the same from you. And tonight, I find her throwing herself in front of a fucking hellhound?" Astaroth's voice grew louder, his irritation mounting into palpable anger by the end of his rant.

"We can't wrap her in bubble wrap and lock her in her room," I grunted back, frustration seeping into my tone. "She's 'the most stubborn woman I've ever met. She knows her own mind and won't be told what to do, not even by us." I laughed, but it was hollow, filled more with

resignation than amusement.

"Well, you need to find a way because otherwise, this shit is going to get a hell of a lot worse for you, my friend. What I did to you before will look like a walk in the park," he warned darkly, and I believed him. His threats were never empty. Nodding slightly, I turned my attention back to the road just as the large metal gates of Knox's pack territory creaked open. Astaroth sighed heavily as lights began to illuminate us.

"I don't see why they had to bring her here. They could have taken her home, and you drop this lump of shit off," Astaroth muttered under his breath.

"Because we don't trust you. We do things together... or not at all," I replied firmly but politely.

"Well, if anything happens to her, you'll die together, too," he warned his voice a chilling whisper that lingered in the air as he vanished just as the car door opened.

"Another promise, I am sure." I groaned as Alpha Leigh approached, his eyes wide and filled with pain upon seeing his son in such a state.

"What happened?" he rushed out, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Your son is a cunt; that's what happened," I snarled, unable to contain my disdain as I stepped out of the car and walked off toward Liam's car as it pulled up, leaving Leigh to deal with his errant son.