SophiaIt’s been a few days since the attack, and even though life is slowly returning to normal, the lingering tension is hard to shake. Everyone is still on edge, senses heightened, and every movement feels sharper, more deliberate—like we’re all waiting for the other shoe to drop.It feels anything can happen at any moment.Mikhail is in touch with Alexei, but nothing helpful has been found. I don't know whether Mikhail has told Alexei that he has found me or not, because Mikhail never talked about anything related to pack with me. However, I have sensed he seems a bit agitated whenever he talks to Alexei. I didn't ask him what is happening back at the pack because I don't know where I stand when it comes to pack matters.I sit outside on the porch, bundled in a light blanket despite the mild chill in the air, watching the others train. Jake is leading the session, his voice carrying across the field as he barks orders, pushing everyone to their limits. Who can say these people are
MikhailThe fire crackles softly, filling the room with a quiet warmth, but it does little to dissipate the tension that hangs in the air. I sit with Jake, Caleb, and Lucas, the remnants of dinner lingering in the kitchen as Sophia takes Rose upstairs to bed.Jake sits across from me, his expression as unreadable as always, though there’s a subtle edge to his demeanor tonight. Caleb is next to him, quieter than usual, but his eyes meet mine every so often—something that didn’t happen before the attack. There’s no animosity in his gaze now, just a sort of grudging acceptance, or maybe understanding.We may not be close, but after what we’ve been through, we’ve reached a kind of truce. We both care deeply about the people around us, even if we show it in different ways.I glance at Lucas, who’s sitting off to the side, his brow furrowed, lost in thought. Out of all of us, he looks the most troubled. His eyes flicker toward the stairs where Sophia and Rose disappeared moments ago, his wor
Sophia I stretch slowly under the blankets, taking a moment to savor the peacefulness of the early hours. For the first time in days, there’s no overwhelming heaviness dragging me down, no sharp ache that makes me want to curl up and stay hidden. I feel… better. Not entirely back to normal—my body is still sore, and my energy isn’t anywhere near what it should be—but the fog of exhaustion has lifted, and the familiar hum of my wolf’s presence is stronger now, steadying me in a way that’s comforting. It’s been so long since I felt her this clearly. For a while, it was like she was barely there, just a faint whisper in the back of my mind, too weak to even respond when I called. But now… I can sense her stirring, her warmth seeping through my veins, though I know she’s not ready to come to the surface yet. Shifting would be too much right now. I can feel it in the way my muscles protest even the slightest movement, the way my bones still feel fragile, as if they haven’t fully mende
Sophia When Mikhail had gone to answer his phone, the idea of picnic suddenly came to me. After everything we’ve been through, a small escape seemed like the perfect way to make new memories. When I shared this idea with him, he instantly agreed because he felt it might be good for Rose to meet his wolf in a place where she is already relaxed. The lake has always been a special place for Rose and me. I have been taking her there since she was a baby. Whenever she used to cry and I couldn't know how to comfort her, I used to take her there. And still now it’s where I’d take her when we needed a quiet moment, just the two of us. A place surrounded by tall trees and the soft shimmer of the water. I always felt connected to nature there, and I could see that same sense of connection in Rose whenever we visited. It became our little special place. Rose and I have made some beautiful memories together and are still making them, and now even Mikhail deserves to make some of his own with
SophiaMy gaze follows Rose as she chases after a fluttering butterfly, her laughter echoing through the trees. She looks so free, so full of life. My heart swells with joy as I watch her. This moment, this peace, feels like a dream I’m afraid to wake from.Beside me, Mikhail is stretched out, his eyes closed, the weight of the world seeming to ease off his shoulders for the first time in a long while. His face, which usually carries a hardened, battle-worn expression, now looks soft and peaceful, but I notice the dark circles under his eyes.I shouldn’t stare, but I can’t help it. Mikhail has been through so much, and seeing him like this—so vulnerable, yet so strong—stirs something inside me. Without even thinking, my hand reaches out, my fingers gently grazing the skin under his eyes, as if I could somehow erase the exhaustion that clings to him.Instantly, his hand shoots up, grabbing my wrist with a firm yet gentle grip. His eyes snap open, alarm flashing in them for a brief mome
Sophia The sun dips lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden light across the field as Rose clings to Mikhail’s neck. She is talking his ears off, but he doesn't seem to mind at all. In fact, he is soaking in all the attention that he is getting from her. Mikhail gently sets her down, but she stays close, her fingers clutching the edge of his shirt. Her eyes are wide, curious, as she gazes up at him with a seriousness that makes her look like a copy of him. I can see Mikhail is trying to fight of the smile that is threatening to appear on his face because she looks so adorable with her serious expression. "Dada," she says, her voice small but determined. Mikhail crouches down, bringing himself to her level. “Yes, Rose?” “I... I want to see it.” Her words come out in a rush, her tiny brow furrowing in concentration. “See what, pup?” Mikhail blinks, clearly not understanding. “Dada,” Rose suddenly murmurs, her voice sleepy as she climbs in my lap and rests against me. “Can I s
SophiaThe coldness that washes over me as Mikhail looks at me with a predator's gaze is like ice water over my skin. All the warmth, all the comfort that fills my heart when he’s near—gone. In that moment, he’s no longer the man I love, the father of my child. He’s a stranger, a threat. And that look in his eyes—the wild, untamed hunger—it’s like I’ve never known him at all.My breath hitches, my muscles locking in place. His growl deepens, a sound so raw and primal it sends a shiver down my spine. My heart races, but I refuse to back down. I refuse to let fear control me.I harden my gaze, every tear that had gathered moments ago drying up as something darker takes over inside me. I lock eyes with him, feeling the shift in the air, the tension, the instinct to survive. A growl rumbles from my chest, low and fierce, something I haven’t felt in years.“I don’t want to hurt you,” I growl back, my voice steady but laced with a warning. “But I won’t hesitate if you push me.”His wolf’s l
SophiaI wake up gasping, the sensation of drowning in cold water making my body jolt violently. My heart is pounding, my breath uneven as I struggle to gather my bearings. It feels like someone has poured ice water over me, the chill sinking into my bones.Disoriented, I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. That’s when I notice him.Mikhail.The first thing I see is Mikhail's worried gaze, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty as he cradles me in his arms. One arm is wrapped around my back, supporting me gently as though I might break if he holds me too tightly. In his other hand, I notice he's holding an empty water bottle, drops of water sliding down his fingers."You're awake," he breathes, relief flooding his voice as his grip on me tightens for just a moment, as though he's afraid I might slip away again. His thumb brushes against my cheek, sending a spark of warmth through the icy numbness still clinging to my skin."Sophia, are you okay?"My mind is stil
MikhailThe moment I have Sophia in my arms, it feels like my heart is finally able to beat again, like my lungs can take in air properly.I didn’t realize how much I was suffocating until now. Until she was here, pressed against me, where she belongs.Having her back in my arms feels like I’ve gotten my life back, like I’m whole again.But then, she shifts slightly, trying to take a step back.A growl rips from my chest before I can stop it, deep and primal. My arms tighten around her instinctively, refusing to let her move away.My wolf is losing it, clawing at me, desperate to keep her close. Possessiveness surges through me, raw and unrelenting. I don’t want her to go—I can’t let her go. Not even for a second.Sophia laughs softly, the sound light but a little tired. Her arms tighten around me, and for a second, it feels like she’s holding on just as much as I am.“I’m dirty,” she murmurs, tilting her head back just enough to meet my eyes. There’s something teasing there, but also
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