chapter 2: Dangerous Choice

The sun was well up over the treetops the next morning, leaving in its wake a flood of gold. But anything less like sunshine would be hard to find, as Sophia hurled herself from side to side in her bed, greatly beset with doubts. What's going on with Daniel? Why does he act so differently? That uncomfortable feeling of last night just wouldn't go away.

She had not been able to sleep that night, her body flailing in her bed while a decision brewed inside her head. This she knew was going to take a lot more determination on her part as she set off toward the training grounds where he mostly trained alone in the mornings. The air was cool; fresh pine filled her nostrils, but her mind dwelled on nothing except the upcoming fight.

He kicked and punched as she entered the clearing, each movement sharp and precise with focus. Sophia took a deep breath and then stepped into his line of vision.

"Daniel," she called, firm though her stomach was tumbling.

He stopped dead and turned, the smile breaking across his face at the sight of her. "Hey, Sophia! I wasn't expecting to see you here so early!"

"I need to talk to you," she told him, the racing heart setting off a weird excitement.

"Yeah? What's up?" he said, swiping at the sweat on his forehead as he moved in closer.

"It's about last night," she started with firmness. "I overheard you and Laura talking. It didn't sound good.

Daniel's face turned partially and the smile was gone now. "Oh, that? It was nothing. We were just discussing some plans for the pack gathering."

"Plans? That sounds serious," Sophia added, crossing her arms. "I need you to be upfront with me. Are you hiding something from me?"

He took a step back, furrowing his eyebrows. "Sophia, come on. You know I'd never hide anything from you. You're my best friend.

But your actions don't speak those words," she said, frustration bubbling deep inside her. "I don't want to feel this way-like I can't even trust you."

Daniel let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "You have to believe me, Laura gets melodramatic at times. I really wouldn't bother about it.

On Sophia's frowning face, disappointment and anger mixed. "You're just writing this off like it means nothing, and that's OK. I'm trying to look out for you-us!

"Look, I appreciate that," he said coolly. "You need to stop worrying. Trust me, all right? Everything is fine.

She felt her heart sink. "Fine. If you won't talk to me, I guess I'll just have to figure it out on my own," she replied, turning on her heel to walk away.

"Wait, Sophia!" Daniel called after her, but she didn't turn back. She was angry, and deep inside, she was sad from their argument.

With a stomach churning like a storm, she turned to walk away. She wanted so much to believe Daniel, but something in his tone had not rung quite right. Just as she reached the edge of the clearing, she saw Laura standing on a nearby rock, her eyes glinting at her with that amused smile.

"Looks like things didn't go well with your little friend," Laura said, her voice honey, sugar-coated but laced with something sharper.

Sophia narrowed her eyes at her. "What do you want, Laura?"

"Oh, nothing. I just so happened to see the two of you arguing. It's really quite sad," she said with an added pout. "But I imagine that is what happens when one trusts the wrong people."

The blood boiled inside Sophia. "What does that mean?

Laura rose and moved closer to her; the expression had changed. "I just mean sometimes, people can betray you without you even knowing it. Be careful, especially with Daniel. He's not the only one with secrets."

"Are you trying to cause trouble?" snapped Sophia, raising her voice.

"None at all," Laura replied innocently. "But you do know how cruel the world is, right? They say blood is thicker than water, but then sometimes family can be wrong. You deserve to be happy, not just loyal."

As Sophia continued to listen, her heartbeat began to quicken. But my family has always been there for me, she now contested, her fists clenched.

"Of course, but what about your happiness? What if your family is not the right path for you?" Laura added as an evil sparkle danced in her eyes.

Sophia's face quivered; her resolve was breaking. "You don't understand. They're my family! They've always supported me."

"Have they? Or have they just held you back?" Laura challenged, crossing her arms.

A cold chill began to inch its way up Sophia's spine as she said, "Why are you telling me this? What do you want from me?"

"I just want to help you see the truth, Sophia," Laura said, her tone caressing each word smoothly, like any siren's song. "You are strong, and you can make your own choices. You shouldn't let anyone dictate your life.

"But Daniel is my best friend! I just can't leave him behind," Sophia debated, though Laura's words weighed heavy in her mind.

"Can you really trust him?" Laura challenged, her head tilted. "Maybe you should take some time away from your family and figure out what you really want."

The beating of her heart made Sophia say, "You think I should just leave? Abandon them?

Not leave, just take some time off. It is your life, for goodness' sake. You have a right to be happy," Laura insisted, an assurance in her tone.

The more Laura talked, the more Sophia's lips twitched between the loyalty that was due to her family and the growing doubts over Daniel. Everything just didn't seem to add up.

"I just. I need some time to think," she whispered and felt lost.

"Exactly! Take some time for yourself. Figure things out," Laura encouraged. "You'll see that you're stronger than you thinks."

By standing there, the weight of the decision was on her shoulders as the look which gave way was an overload of emotions: could she trust Daniel even; was this the right choice?

A long pause later, Sophia nodded. "Alright, I'll take some time off. But I just can't fully turn my back to the family."

Laura smiled wider. "Of course you can't! Just give yourself some space. You need to find out what makes you happy.

Torn by her feelings with Daniel and loyalty to her family, Sophia had made a reckless decision. "I'll keep my distance for a while," she managed to say in a shaking voice, yet firm.

"Good! You'll thank me later," Laura exclaimed; the sound of her hands clapping together expressed her delight.

But every step Sophia took, it was as though a suspicion fell into her chest. Giant to her-family and friends-but it was starting to feel like she was walking a tightrope, standing on the edge of a decision that could turn very hazardous.

She tried, when she went home, to pay more attention to her family, but those doubts had simply remained there. She watched her parents chat and laugh, tell each other about their day. All the happiness seemed so off, far away. It was as if all was out of kilter.

She lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling with the swirl of thoughts inside her head. Was she doing the right thing, keeping herself distant from Daniel? Was Laura really worried about her or just trying to cause chaos?

The moonlight entered through her window and cast a glow on her features. Little did that do to take this churning in her stomach away. Sophia closed her eyes to block out the din in her mind.

But while she made her way into sleep, images would just not leave her mind-that she had just set something big in motion, something beyond her control.

With every tick of the moment, she knew the dangerous decision she had just made was going to keep her on her toes, guessing at what was going to happen to her in days to come.