SophiaThe morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue over the room. I blink awake, momentarily disoriented, before a tiny hand reaches out to touch my face.Pushing back my gloomy feelings, the remnants of last night, I turn on my side to watch Rose, who seems to have just woken up."Mommy," Rose whispers, her big, blue eyes—so much like Mikhail's—wide with curiosity and still a bit sleepy. "Wake up, Mommy!"They both share the same eye color; however, unlike Mikhail's, Rose's blue looks bright and lively.I can't help but smile, the heaviness in my chest lifting a little at the sight of her. "Good morning, my little sunshine," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She giggles, her laughter bright and sweet, filling the room with a lightness I desperately need."Mornin'!" she replies with a cheerful bounce, her hair sticking up in all directions. I reach out to smooth it down, but it springs back up stubbornly. She giggles again, swatting at my hand.
MikhailThe restless energy pulses beneath my skin, the wolf inside me pacing back and forth, agitated and anxious. I stare out the window of the room I am currently staying. Even though I should have returned back to my pack now, since I found Sophia, I am not ready to leave yet.I told Russo that I would shift to the nearby motel, but he refused, saying it was better if I stayed here because, in that way, I would be near to her. Luna Leah was also happy to find out that Sophia is alive and I have found her.The rogue attack yesterday… has rattled me.And then Sophia's doubts that those rogues were after my daughter made me see red.I have made so many enemies and could be anyone, but how did they find out about my daughter?But whoever they are... they made the biggest mistake of their lives by trying to hurt my pup. I will give them a slow, painful death once I find out who they are because no one deserves to live when they even think about hurting who is mine.Rose's face comes be
SophiaWatching Mikhail and Rose together stirs a confusing storm of emotions within me. It’s hard to keep my heart from softening at the sight of them playing on the floor, their laughter echoing through the room. I see the way Mikhail looks at her—with a tenderness and protectiveness that makes it clear he’s already in love with our daughter. It’s hard not to be affected by that.I wrap my arms around myself, leaning against the doorway as I watch them. Mikhail has a way with Rose that I didn’t expect. He’s gentle, patient, and he doesn’t seem to mind making a fool of himself for her amusement. I see Rose light up in his presence, and I realize just how much she’s missed having a father figure. It’s something I’ve never been able to give her, something I’ve kept her from—maybe out of fear, maybe out of my own pain.And now… seeing them together like this, I wonder if I made the right choice by keeping them away.Mikhail looks up, catching my eye, and for a moment, everything else fa
Mikhail Watching Rose run around the room with her stuffed wolf in one hand and a cookie in the other, I feel a strange warmth spreading through my chest, something I haven’t felt in a long time. I never imagined this—having a daughter, feeling this kind of love. It’s a kind of love that’s pure, unconditional, and fiercely protective. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once.I glance up and see Sophia standing in the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself. She’s watching us with a look I can’t quite decipher—somewhere between longing and fear. My heart tightens at the sight of her. I want to reach out to her, to tell her how much I regret everything, how sorry I am for the pain I caused. But I know that words won’t be enough. Not now. Maybe not ever.I turn my attention back to Rose, who’s now climbing onto my lap, giggling as she tries to stuff the cookie into my mouth. I pretend to bite it, making her laugh even harder. Her laughter is like music, soothing the ache in my che
MikhailSophia’s threat hangs heavy in the air, and I can feel the gravity of her words settling in my bones.I don’t doubt her for a second.I know she means every word, and honestly, I don’t blame her.If I were in her shoes, I’d feel the same way. Hell, I’d probably feel worse.But as I watch her now, her gaze softening as she looks at Rose, I feel a flicker of hope. It’s small, almost invisible, but it’s there. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for us to find some kind of peace… for Rose’s sake. Maybe, in time, we can rebuild what was lost. Or at least start fresh.I crouch down beside Rose, watching as she carefully places another block on top of her tower.She’s so focused and so determined, and I can’t help but smile. She’s got Sophia’s spirit, her fire.And maybe a bit of my stubbornness, too.“Careful, little wolf,” I say softly, steadying her hand. “You don’t want it to fall.”She looks up at me, her eyes shining with mischief. “If it falls, I build again,” she declares wi
SophiaThe sharp scent of pine and earth fills my lungs as I step into the training arena. The sun is beginning to set, casting long shadows across the open space, and a cool breeze rustles through the trees surrounding the clearing. I roll my shoulders back, feeling the familiar tension settle in my muscles, the anticipation of a good fight building inside me.I love to train because it not only clears my mind, but it also like a bonding session between me and my wolf, which I have missed for so many years. She is also in front, giving me strength, and sometimes also guiding my actions while I am fighting. But I have to keep her reminding that this is just a practice and we don't have to kill our opponent because she is fiery.Somewhere, her personality has rubbed off on me as well. I walk to the center of the clearing, where Alec is already waiting for me in his wolf form. His fur is a rich, dark brown, his eyes sharp and alert. He’s one of the best fighters we have, quick and str
SophiaI stare at Mikhail, his words hanging in the air between us. His gaze is unwavering, filled with a resolve that makes my heart race for all the wrong reasons.I try to keep my face from betraying the chaos inside me, but it’s a losing battle.Why is he doing this?But the important question is, why am I being affected?All these years of hate, and he comes back into my life, and again, my heart starts to betray me?I want to be furious. I want to rip into him, to tell him exactly how much I despise him for what he’s done, for the pain he caused me, for abandoning me when I needed him the most. But standing here now, with him looking at me like that—like I’m the only thing in the world that matters—it’s hard to hold onto that anger. It’s hard to keep my walls up.I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms, the pain a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.“You don’t get to just waltz back into my life and say things like that,” I finally manage
Mikhail The distrust in her eyes cuts deep, a painful reminder of the damage I’ve done.But I deserve it; after how I have broken her heart, I deserve worse than this. I’ve hurt her in ways I can’t even begin to make up for.But there’s a small glimmer of hope buried beneath all the pain. She didn’t completely shut me out. She let me in, just a little, and that’s more than I could have asked for. I can see the cracks in the walls she’s built around herself, and I’m determined to keep chipping away at them, no matter how long it takes.I know I’m responsible for the pain we’re both going through. I made choices that tore us apart, broke her trust, and shattered her heart. I was selfish, blind to the consequences of my actions. But standing here now, watching her, I realize that I’m not the only one suffering. Sophia is hurting too, and it’s because of me.I run a hand through my hair, frustration and regret warring inside me. I wish I could take it all back and erase the mistakes I’ve
MikhailShe’s drenched in blood, but it’s not hers. It drips from her fingers, streaks down her arms, soaks into the floor beneath her feet.She’s trying so damn hard to keep it together, to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. But the second I tighten my arms around her, she breaks.A shudder runs through her body, and then she’s shaking, her walls crashing down as she buries herself against me.“I was so afraid I’d lose you…” Her voice cracks, barely more than a whisper. “I’ve lost myself, but I can’t bear to lose you.”She presses her face into my chest, her sobs muffled against me. I hold her tighter, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other gripping her waist like I can somehow keep her from falling apart.“I’m right here,” I murmur against her hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”Her fingers dig into my back, clutching me like I’m the only thing keeping her together. And maybe, in this moment, I am."This darkness is suffocating," she whispers, her voice barely hol
MikhailSophia doesn’t even glance at Artemis. It’s like she’s not even there. But her eyes? They stay locked on mine, unblinking and intense. There’s no sense of recognition in them, no softness, no warmth. Just something cold and distant.Still, I feel her.Our mate bond doesn’t hum with the warmth it once had, but it’s there, faint and pulsing like a thread stretched too thin but refusing to snap completely. She doesn’t say a word, doesn’t make a move. Just keeps staring at me, her gaze drilling into mine like she’s waiting. Then I realize... she’s waiting for me to see her, to really see her. All of her. The darkness she carries, the evil she’s let in, it’s twisted and terrifying, but beneath all that, she’s still my mate. She’s still Sophia.And she needs me to accept that. She’s not looking for judgment or fear. She wants reassurance, a promise that I’m not going anywhere, no matter how deep her shadows run. She needs to know I’m still with her, that I won’t turn my back on he
MikhailSophia's smile falters just enough for me to notice. There’s a flicker in her gaze—unsure, almost fragile—and it hits me like a punch to the gut. My heart clenches as I watch her wrestle with whatever storm is brewing in her mind.“You don’t hate me,” she says, her voice so quiet it feels like a secret.The vulnerable side that wonders if she deserves to be loved.... that her darkness would make me not love her.Anger floods through me, hot and fierce, almost too much to hold back.Because this uncertainty I see flickering in Sophia’s eyes, that doubt gnawing at her, it didn’t just come out of nowhere.It’s him. Gregor. That worthless piece of filth lying broken on the ground. He’s the reason she even questions her worth. He’s the one who planted this poison in her head, making her feel like she can’t be loved, like she’s undeserving of it. Every insult, every cut he threw her way was meant to chip away at her, to leave her feeling unloved and worthless. I take a deep breath,
MikhailGregor’s cries fill the air, raw and broken, as he tries to get away from Sophia. He’s crawling like a beaten dog, dragging himself through his own blood. It smears across the ground, a trail of his pathetic attempt to escape.His hand clamps over the empty socket, but it doesn’t stop the blood. It pours down his face, dripping onto the ground, staining everything in his path. His body shakes like a leaf in a storm, and all the while, Sophia watches him with that same cold, detached look.He’s finally tasting his own medicine, and damn if it doesn’t feel satisfying to watch.All that fake power, that smug confidence he wore like armor, has crumbled. What’s left is the real Gregor: a coward who can’t handle the pain he’s dealt out to others for so long. It’s poetic, really.Sophia stands up slowly, her movements are steady, almost graceful, as she straightens herself. The blood on her claws glistens under the dim light, dark and sticky.Without a flicker of emotion, she wipes t
MikhailSophia somehow lifts Gregor even higher, her claws tearing the tendons of his neck even more.The raw strength in her is unreal. He’s gasping, his hands clawing at her wrist, but she doesn’t flinch. If anything, her expression hardens even more, her jaw set in cold determination.Gregor’s no small guy. He’s built like a damn boulder, broad shoulders, thick arms... he is Alpha even if he is illegitimate; he still has blood in him. Sophia, though? She’s barely half his size, slender and petite compared to him. Normally, anyone would assume she wouldn’t stand a chance against someone like him.But right now, none of that matters. Her strength is something else entirely, something that shouldn’t even be possible. She’s got him off the ground like he weighs nothing, her hand gripping him with ease. Gregor struggles, his muscles flexing as he tries to fight back, but it’s useless. He looks like a child in her grasp, completely powerless.And then, with a sudden force, she hurls him
MikhailSophia’s gaze shifts to me, and for a moment, the cold mask she’s been wearing cracks. Her eyes soften, and a flash of pain crosses her face. It’s so quick that I almost think I imagine it, but then she whispers, her voice trembling with something I can’t quite place."Leave."There’s regret in her tone, maybe even a hint of helplessness. Her eyes shine with unshed tears, and for a second, I forget the darkness radiating from her, the raw power she’s been wielding like a weapon."I am not going anywhere," I hold her gaze steadily.Her lips part, and there’s this flicker of vulnerability in her expression."You wouldn’t want to witness this," Her voice breaking slightly.Something about the way she says it makes my chest tighten. It’s not just the words—it’s the regret laced in them, the quiet plea for me to walk away.The tears glistening in her eyes are such a stark contrast to the ruthless strength she’s been showing. If it weren’t for Gregor dangling helplessly from her cla
MikhailGregor laughs, and then his eyes land on me. There’s a smugness in his gaze, a sick kind of satisfaction that makes my blood boil."It’s been so long since I’ve been with you," he says, his voice dripping with mockery as he shifts his attention back to Sophia. But I know his words are aimed at me. He’s trying to get a rise out of me to prove that he won."So long since I’ve properly held you," Gregor continues, his tone turning low and possessive like he has some kind of claim on her. "But now, my longing will finally end."My wolf growls inside me, but I give him a sharp warning to stay in control. However, it’s taking everything to hold him back because he is on the verge of taking control.This bastard is so twisted he doesn’t even care that the woman he’s drooling over is someone who used to call him father. It churns my stomach just thinking about it. The way he looks at her now, like she’s some prize he’s been waiting to claim, makes me want to rip him apart all over ag
MikhailColdness settles deep in my chest as the silence stretches after her words. I lock away every emotion clawing at me, burying them under a layer of ice. My eyes stay on her face, maybe searching for the glimpse of Sophia that I know.But I find none.Have I really lost her? No, it can't be because a part of me refuses to believe this, even when everything screams that she is gone.“I’ll take you to Gregor.” My voice is flat, my tone sharp as I curtly nod.“What the hell are you saying?” Caleb’s voice cuts through the tension like a whip, his outrage spilling into the air. “You’re gonna take her to that bastard? Are you out of your mind?”Out of the corner of my eye, I see Caleb step forward, his hands balled into fists, but I don’t move. I keep my gaze on Sophia.A small smirk lifts the corner of her lips as she raises an eyebrow like she’s enjoying the chaos her words have created. It’s not a smile I recognize. It’s taunting and cold.“Yes,” I say firmly, ignoring the way Cale
MikhailSophia’s hand lifts slowly, her fingers trembling for just a second as if she is recalling how to move them.Her body shifts, tilting forward in a way that seems unnatural like she’s being guided by something unseen. Then, with a grace that sends a shiver down my spine, her feet touch the ground.She stands.There’s something so different about her, something off. She looks like Sophia, but the way she holds herself, the way her presence feels—it’s like she’s someone else entirely.Like it’s her... but at the same time, she is not. I need something to hold on to... to comfort me, and unintentionally, I feel myself reaching out to our mate bond. Instantly, a wave of relief rushes through me, spreading warmth in my chest as I feel it—the bond. It flickers to life, like a spark reigniting a flame that I thought was dying.It’s there. I can feel it pulling at me, familiar and steady, like it always has been. The connection that ties us together that grounds me, that makes her