Chapter 77

Asher pov

The tension was high, as Johnson stepped forward, flashing his angry eyes. "Sophia, back off," he snarled. "This does not concern you in the least."

Sophia laughed then, cold and mirthless. "Oh, but it does have to do with me," she returned, her tone full of venom. "You see, I have been just waiting for that one perfect moment to strike, and now, when I know Asher's secret, I will be at an advantage.

I growled, flashing my teeth, and Sophia retreated a step backward, her eyes aglow with excitement.

"Johnson, tell me," she said, the malice in her tone dripping. "What is Asher's secret? What is he keeping from the rest of us?"

Johnson's eyes locked on mine, warning staring back at me. Shut up. Yet there was something in the glitter of Sophia's eyes, and I knew she was not about to back off.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Sophia," Johnson said, his voice even but guarded.

Sophia smiled a little more, her face closing in on Johnson's. "Liar, Johnson," she croaked low, her tone laced with malice. "I know of Asher's little problem, and I know he's been getting mysterious texts.

My heart sank, and a chill ran down my spine. How did she know that?

Johnson's eyes darted to me, and in them, I could almost see surprise; he, too, did not know how Sophia knew about the texts.

"Sophia, what is going on?" Johnson asked firmly but cautiously.

Smiling wider now, Sophia took another step closer. "Asher, you are in grave danger," she continued, dripping her words with malice, "and only I can save you."

It now flashed back to the snarl, and at that, she retreated a step, her eyes flashing with just excitement.

"Don't trust her, Asher," Johnson growled, locking eyes with her. "It's just tactics to get through to you."

But, in an instance, it was as if Sophia had struck some chord in me. I was in danger, and I didn't know who to trust.

"And again, I know you and Aurora just met, which, everything you think you are doing, I know of it, Asher," she said. "But you are still coming to see Aurora after what you told me there was nothing between you two?"

Anger was building inside her. "Luna, Sophia, stop," Johnson attempted to say, inching closer to her.

"How dare you," Sophia spat, "but why would you lower yourself to even follow a mute girl? Don't you have any shame? You are an alpha, for crying out loud!"

With those words, I felt my anger well up, my eyes ablaze in fury as I took another step forward, growling menacingly in the lowest of voices, "How dare you, and you have absolutely no right to talk about or over Aurora.

The flames in Sophia's eyes flared and she stepped a bit closer toward me. "Oh, I have every right," she spat. "You are an alpha, Asher, meant to lead-not be this love-sick puppy after some mute girl."

His eyes flashing, Johnson leapt a single step forward with fisted fists. "Enough, Sophia." His voice had reduced to an incoherent growl.

But Sophia just laughed, cold and mirthless. "You're all so blind," she said, her eyes gleaming with malice. "You think Asher is some kind of hero, but he's just a fool. And Aurora.Aurora is just a pawn in his game."

I growled then, flashing my teeth, and Sophia stepped backward as her eyes glinted with excitement. "You're only proving my point, Asher," she hurled across at me, "You are nothing but a boy playing leader." There and then, the full brunt of my anger threatened to overwhelm me, and closing the gap, my eyes seemed to blaze at Sophia with the intensity of their fury. "You know not what you talk about," I growled threateningly.

The sparkle in Sophia's eyes shone even brighter as she took a step closer to me, her tone reeking with malice. "Oh, I think I do," she said, venom dripping from every word. "I think I know exactly what's going on here."

Anger was flashing in Johnson's eyes, and he stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Sophia, stop," he growled. "You're going too far."

But Sophia just laughed, cold and mirthless. "I'm just getting started," she said, her eyes glinting with malice.

And then a figure stepped out of the darkness, her eyes fixed intently on Sophia. It was one of my pack members, her face pale, set in determination.

"I tried to step in front of her.

But some of my pack members merely shook thejr head, there eyes refusing to release Sophia's face. They took one step closer, the movements of their legs languid, almost casual, until they was right in front of Sophia.

And in one swift, silent moment, sophia leaned forward and slapped Johnson across the face.

The slapping sound seemed to hang in the air, and for one moment, Johnson stumbled backward, holding his cheek, his eyes wide with shock. For a second, nobody moved or spoke; all were frozen in shocked silence.

Then Sophia's face contorted in rage, and she launched herself at Johnson, her fists flying. But some of my pack members was quick to react, grabbing Sophia and holding her back.

"Aurora, get out of here," Johnson snarled flashing his angry eyes. "Now."

Sophia struggled against Johnson's grip, her eyes blazing in fury.

"You'll pay for this," Sophia spat venomous. "You and your little mute friend."

I took another step closer, my gaze nailed to Sophia. "Leave her alone," Johnson his voice barely above a growl.

The challenge was enough to send shivers down my spine-the gleam in her eyes, the laughter-ice, mirthless. "Oh, this is just heating up," she said, the malice oozing through her voice.

And with that, she took advantage of Johnson's slackened grip and vanished into the night, leaving all of us pondering what in the world she was up to.

I ran fast so that I could trace her trail; since I were in my wolf form wasn't able to get her, even some of my men did follow me yet no luck.

We went in my car because Johnson was accompanying him. "Let's go home and just see what she has told elders," Johnson said.

I transformed back to human form, nodded.