Sophia POV"Let's see the cabin, girls!" I said excitedly and walked straight to the stairs and saw that there was another guard there, and this time I didn't have to speak because he quickly moved away. Room 13 was very interesting, with three sofas, two puffs, a table, a minibar and a balcony where you could see the whole dance floor. I threw my bag on one of the sofas and went straight to the balcony.I leaned forward with my hands resting on the edge of the balcony and watched as people started to come in, the music was already playing, something soft at the moment, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the situation.I only opened my eyes when I heard the door opening and the sound of several people coming in, I turned around, still leaning against the balcony and smiled, six new people had arrived, and they seemed to be couples.The way they looked at each other was something I'd seen in very few couples, they loved each other and I smiled, it was so beautiful to see because couples di
Sophia POVAs I was leaving the dance floor, I saw that Alex was standing by the stairs with his arms crossed, he looked worried... I was surprised by his expression, but I went to get another drink, and then I felt someone grab my arm and I shuddered.I knew that things could get out of hand very quickly, so I pulled my arm away and pushed the person who had held me without my permission.I saw a guy stumbling, he was wearing a leather jacket with some spikes, jeans and heavy boots, his hair was shaved on the sides, but the ends were up.Then I turned to Alex, who was already close by, grabbed his arm and made a slight movement with my head, but Alex's aura was enough to make the people around him afraid... It's as if he was really turning his anger into something physical."Sorry! I didn't know she already had an owner!" The man said.He should have kept quiet, it would have been better... It would have been better for him to face Alex, because the way I turned, I saw people cringin
Sophia POV"Drinking without eating... After leaving the hospital..." I said with my eyes closed. "It wasn't my best moment of intelligence.""Think about it, at least you didn't take your medicine," Alex said, and I felt him sit down next to me."I'll need sugar as well as salt..." I took a deep breath."Sugar?" Alex asked, confused."Yes, glucose..." I opened my eyes and stared at him, I could still see that shadow in his eyes. "Your eyes...""What's wrong with them?" Alex asked me, but I knew he was nervous."There's something in them... I thought it was because I was drunk, but..." I want to reach up and touch his face, but my inst
Sophia POV"You shouldn't go around flirting with everyone." I heard Alex's voice coming from the left and turned to see him."Why? Are you jealous?" I asked and approached him slowly. "I thought you said you didn't want anything to do with me."I could see an uneasy look on Alex's face, a touch of jealousy and doubt."Sophia, you're going to end up regretting it," Alex speaks after thinking for a few seconds, and I know he's frustrated."I've regretted a lot of things in my life, including choosing to have sex with some people who, well, weren't good enough." I'm very close to Alex, and I tilt my head to speak close to his ear. "But life would be very dull if we didn't taste things..." I lower my voice an
"Hey! You're not going to sleep here, are you?" I heard Samuel's voice and opened my eyes, letting out a low laugh."No, I'm not sleeping here..." I smiled and added something he definitely wasn't expecting: "But maybe in a hotel room with you accompanying me."I saw his eyes widen for a second and then his laugh echoed, and I liked the sound of it, but that twinge of pain came back."By the Goddess! You're very direct and very different." He said, pouring me a shot of apple mead."Why be the same when I can be different?" I asked, smiling."I agree with that!" Samuel replied and handed me the glass. "It's a busy night, but if you want to wait, we can go somewhere else afterward."
Sophia POVAgain I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I look around, we're outside the bar, there are a few cars there, and several people are looking at our discussion, but I know it's none of them, so I let my gaze wander to more hidden places.Alex holds my arm, but I don't push him, I know he understands what I'm doing and in fact, he's also looking around.I finally stop and look further to the right, down a much darker street, and it's impossible to tell if there's anything there, but I know that whatever is watching me is there."Sophia, we need to go." I heard Alex's voice and with my peripheral vision, I saw some people heading in the direction I had stopped to pay more attention. "Sophia, please."
Sophia POVI woke up not wanting to wake up because that feeling of having been discarded was still intense, I didn't know how I was going to cope with it, and again I felt like crying, I swallowed and took several deep breaths to control that urge.I got up and went to the closet, grabbing some pajamas from there. I needed to change and have breakfast, I also needed to take my medication and especially stay away from Achilles, at least as far away as I could.I brush my teeth, splash some water on my face and see that I look a bit pale. I take another deep breath, comb my hair and go to the bedroom door. When I open it, I can hear a commotion outside, and I know immediately that Achilles and Perseus are there, as well as Hyperion and Alex, they're discussing something.
Sophia POV"Of course there is... He didn't want me." I said simply, and my heart ached again."He wants you, but he can't... Not yet." Alex said, and I took a deep breath, looking away from him. "Sophia... I promise, after you talk to Hyperion, things will make sense.""Okay." It was the only thing I managed to say, and Alex pulled away, giving me a kiss in the middle of my forehead.I closed my eyes and tried to control this rollercoaster of emotions: part of me trusts Alex, while there's a part that wants to protect itself, even if it means hurting others.We started walking towards the elevator and I saw it hit the penthouse floor again, only this time instead of the brothers going to the dining room, we pas
Sophia POVI feel a shiver run down my spine with that phrase, something I didn't know was possible, because there's a different tone, it's not like Khalid telling me I'm an object, it was different…It was acceptance, certainty, as if, by calling me that, he was recognizing something beyond the physical, beyond desire, beyond the blood that pulses in our veins.He didn't see me as a possession, but as part of something ancient, sacred.My Shi. A phrase that meant our souls were connected…Maybe that's how I should have felt from the beginning with Achilles and Perseus, but I was different back then, I didn't know about this world and had to learn about everything…It's not that the connection between me and Khalid is stronger, but it's different… And this difference is glaring… Because Achilles and Perseus had to fight from the start to win me over…They were the ones who taught me about the Bond, the Balance, and what it means to be a mate, and in this difference, there's an added w
Sophia POVWaking up should be easy, but honestly? In my current state, it's not. My whole body aches, as if needles are penetrating my muscles, and I let out a groan of pain. But that only worsens the situation, as my head starts spinning, even with my eyes closed.I took deep breaths several times to try and make the sensation go away, until I felt my hands being held. The touch is gentle and loving, and I can feel the sparks of destiny taking effect, spreading through my wrists and up my arms, easing my pain.After a few seconds, I managed to blink a few times before focusing my gaze. I know I should pay attention to Achilles and Perseus, but what catches my attention is a completely different smell.It's a strange mixture, dark yet warm at the same time… It's like black amber, with myrrh, mixed with the dry heat of the desert at sunset, where the sand still holds the warmth of the sun, but the air begins to cool. There's a subtle scent of dried earth after rain, rare and sacred, m
Achilles POV"Shut up!" I yelled at the illusion, my voice reverberating through the space like a furious thunderclap.I turned abruptly to Perseus, my breathing heavy, and without hesitation, I raised my hand, slapping him across the face. The sharp crack of the impact echoed through the place, my Alpha widened his eyes, surprised not only by the blow but by the intensity of my gaze that openly challenged him."I know you better than anyone, Perseus, and I know you're not like this! You're not a monster!" I exclaimed."This is the second time I've put her in a hospital!" Perseus shouted, his voice filled with anger and despair.He pushed me hard, but my feet remained firm on the ground. His strength could have knocked me down, but I wouldn't back down."Next time she might not survive!" I said with determination. "And will you allow there to be a third time?"My voice came out cold as ice, sharp as a blade. I watched the red mark of my fingers begin to form on his face, standing out
Aquiles POVThere is a lot of information, but it all makes sense… Although I don't like the idea of Khalid being a permanent part of our lives. I would have liked a moment just for me and Perseus with Sophia, something we've been seeking since the first moment we saw her, and now we have to accept that this moment may never exist.I closed my eyes for a few seconds and sighed. My body and my wolf are tired; after all, we've been drained intensely and constantly, and I feel my body losing strength and my legs giving in under the weight of exhaustion. Before I could react, I felt a pair of firm hands holding me, preventing my fall.“Aquiles!” Hélios shouted while hugging me around the waist.Hélios's scent became stronger, always with a woody touch and a hint of aged leather. That same scent calms me and gives me a bit more strength.“Hélios…” I whispered his name and rested my head on his shoulder. “I'm tired… My energy is drained.”“I know, my love.” Hélios said and led me to the bed
Khalid POVWe opened the door and saw Alex there, he had already tidied up the room, and then Hélios gently placed Sophia on the bed, as if she were the most precious and fragile thing in the world. My heart tightened seeing her so vulnerable. Despite everything we've been through, I still don't know if this will last, if this connection will remain intact when the storm passes.‘What will Sophia think when she wakes up?’ I thought to myself, feeling the weight of that doubt in my chest.I sighed, automatically adjusting my suit, just to keep my hands busy. My eyes turned to Hélios, who now observed Sophia with a serene expression, something rare to see in him. I was still impressed at how someone so explosive and unpredictable could seem so calm at that moment.“No, I didn't know… At least not with 100% certainty, but I already suspected that something like this could happen.” Hélios finally turned to me, after adjusting Sophia better on the sheets. “What woke me up was feeling the b
Khalid POV“You are dismissed… For now.” Azrik spoke after a few seconds, his voice carrying undeniable authority.His expression was one of suspicion, a glimpse of doubt that he couldn't openly express, as, at that moment, he had no concrete proof to support it. Nevertheless, his sharp eyes analyzed every detail, every remnant of truth hidden in the gestures of those present.“Soon, I will contact you regarding the punishment for Alpha Ivar Volkheim and his pack.” Azrik turned to Ivar, his gaze assessing and relentless.“Will she be okay?” Ivar asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.“Yes, she just needs to rest.” It was Aquiles who answered, with the usual calmness that characterized him.“I will analyze the information I obtained from the ritual and about the possible spells Gáta may have cast on Ivar and his pack.” Shangō declared, his tone firm, walking towards Ivar, who bowed in respect to the magnitude of his power.“We will wait.” Hélios replied, making an educated bow,
Khalid POVBefore I could get an answer, a sharp, piercing pain shot through my chest, as if an invisible blade was tearing me apart from the inside. My gaze shot to Sophia. She was kneeling inside the circle, her eyes wide, her body trembling in involuntary spasms. A trickle of blood ran from her mouth, followed by an intense flow from her eyes, nose, and chest. The metallic smell spread through the air, permeating every corner of the hall.I stood up immediately, my instincts screaming in alarm. I placed myself between Aquiles and Hélios, a firm barrier preventing any rash advance."No!" My voice came out firm, unquestionable, filled with determination.At the same time, Ivar stood up and took a determined step towards Sophia. But something was different about him. His gaze, once filled with arrogance and superiority, now showed genuine concern. His aura was no longer as oppressive, and his stance seemed to differ from the ruthless man he had become over the years."Naomi!" He calle
Khalid POVI know I said I don't care about seeing Sophia in the arms of others, but the truth is it hurts, but I shouldn't do anything about it, on the contrary… I must remain faithful to my words.I have known since the first moment I realized I am in love with this woman, that the rest of my life would be an eternal torture. That I would never have her in my arms and would always see her in the arms of others.I know that Azrik is paying attention to my actions, I couldn't hide the sad smile, but it lasted only a short time before I controlled myself, but I found it interesting that Hélios doesn't care about what I am doing.His reaction is the calmest possible, he just looks at Sophia embracing Aquiles with a gentle and loving smile on his lips. I know he noticed my sad smile, but he didn't do anything about it.Definitely, Hélios knows that I would never act in a way to hurt Sophia, I have done many things to protect her and it wouldn't be now that I would change my attitudes.Af
Achilles POVI can feel the moment Sophia pulled my energy and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that my mate is well, that she is conscious and that is already a great victory for me, because every second we stand still, unable to do anything, is agony.A few minutes later, the side door opened and I saw Azrik enter alone, he looked at Gáta who, before he could say anything, disappeared in a small purplish-green cloud.Seeing that color and feeling that pressure, I know that Gáta is involved with the curse, somehow she manages to pull energy from the Mother of Monsters. Khalid had said that the name for people involved in the cult of the Ancient Gods was “Cultists” and Gáta is definitely one of those people.The dragon's aura spread like fire spreading through a dry forest, but Hélios' aura protected me from the damage it could cause, especially since I am not at full strength.Boreas is doing his best to keep the connection with Sophia open and I know that if it weren't for that, m