Chapter 7

Noah POV

When Marcus and I were teenage boys, Marcus had something for a strange girl in the pack. The girl’s family were strange because of their unique brown colored hair and brown eye color. They were also the only brown werewolf among our pack who were mostly grey or black wolves.

Miranda was her name. She never had a thing for Marcus. She was mostly after chasing another alpha son in the neighboring village.

“If Miranda attacked my brother, Marcus is around the corner somewhere.” I said to Sophia as we sat in her living room while we waited for my brother to wake up from sleep.

“Marcus has a connection with Jacob? Or did he send her to lure Jacob into his side? I know Jacob has some kind of upper hand in my life.” Sophia said slowly, as she tried to find a meaning between Miranda and Jacob.

I knew it was a plot. This is Marcus trying to get at me through messing with the people around me. I just need to protect Sophia and my brother from his attacks. He should face me instead, he knows he can’t do that because he is afraid to. He could get around most of the pack members head, so if he was able to convince Miranda, then he must be determined.

I sat quietly and watched as Sophia paced around as we waited for my brother to wake up. It took everything in me not to rush beside Sophia and hold her down, telling it was going to be alright but I just didn’t know the right words to say to her. Was it really going to be alright? How sure am I that it will really be okay for her. A life of werewolf, I dragged a poor human woman into.

***

As we waited for Marcus to wake up, I couldn’t help but worry about Sophia and my brother’s safety. Marcus had always been cunning and manipulative, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to use anyone close to me to get at me.

My brother finally stirred from his slumber, and Sophia and I sat closer to hear his account of the attack. His eyes were filled with fear and anger as he recounted the terrifying encounter with Miranda.

“I was out in the woods, just trying to clear my head, and then she appeared out of nowhere,” my brother said, his voice trembling slightly. “She had this eerie grin on her face, and I could feel her dark energy surrounding me. Before I could react, she lunged at me, and her eyes… her eyes were filled with malice.”

Sophia interjected, “Did she say anything? Was there any indication of why she attacked you?”

My brother nodded. “She said something about serving her alpha and proving her loyalty. It was as if she was under some kind of spell, controlled by someone else.”

I clenched my fists, realizing that Marcus had indeed sent Miranda to carry out this attack. He was using her as a pawn in his twisted game against me. But why involve Jacob? What connection did they have?

Speaking up, Sophia mused, “Do you think Jacob has something to do with this? Why would Miranda go after you because of him?”

My brother hesitated, then revealed, “I’ve seen them together before, whispering and acting secretive. I don’t know what they’re up to, but it can’t be anything good.”

It was evident that Marcus had woven a complex web of deception, and Sophia and my brother were caught in its threads. I knew I had to confront Marcus directly, but he always seemed to be one step ahead. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

Later that evening, Sophia received an unexpected visitor. Through the window, I saw Miranda and Jacob walking together as though they were old friends. The sight sent shivers down my spine.

As they approached Sophia’s house, Miranda glanced in my direction, her eyes locking with mine for a moment. There was a chilling grin on her face, and I could sense her malevolence from afar. It was clear that Marcus had manipulated her to come here, perhaps to gauge my reaction or to intimidate us further.

I quickly motioned for my brother and Sophia to hide as I confronted the unwelcome guests outside. As I stepped out, trying to keep my emotions in check, Miranda and Jacob acted casually, pretending they were just passing by.

“What brings you here, Miranda?” I asked, my voice steady but laced with suspicion.

She smirked, “Oh, just thought I’d say hi to Sophia and see how your brother is doing after our little encounter earlier. No hard feelings, right?”

I didn’t buy her act for a second. There was a malevolent glint in her eyes that sent a chill down my spine. I had to be cautious, as I knew Marcus could be watching, ready to exploit any moment of weakness.

“I suggest you leave and never come near my family again,” I warned, my tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Miranda’s grin widened, and she turned to Jacob. “We should get going. Wouldn’t want to overstay our welcome, right?”

Jacob nodded, giving me a smug look, and the two of them walked away. As they disappeared into the night, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a dangerous game set in motion by my vengeful brother.

I returned inside, my mind racing with thoughts of how to protect my loved ones and face Marcus head-on. I knew I had to be smart, strategic, and stay one step ahead of him. The suspense and uncertainty lingered, but I was determined to unravel Marcus’s schemes and put an end to his malicious plans once and for all.

The night was long and filled with contemplation as I prepared to confront my brother in a final showdown. The stakes were high, and the fate of our pack hung in the balance. But I was ready to face it.

As the night wore on, my brother’s injuries took their toll, and he eventually drifted back to sleep, his breathing steady and peaceful. Sophia and I sat close by, both lost in our thoughts, unsure of what the future held for us. The weight of the impending confrontation with Marcus hung heavily over our heads.

Sophia broke the silence, her voice soft and hesitant, “Noah, there’s something I need to tell you about Jacob.

I turned to her, curious and slightly apprehensive about what she was going to say. “What is it?”

She took a deep breath, her eyes searching mine for understanding. “Jacob and I… we used to be together. He was my ex-lover before I met you.”

I felt a pang of jealousy mixed with surprise, but I tried my best to remain composed. “I see. How did you two end up breaking up?”

Sophia’s gaze dropped to the floor as she spoke, “It was a complicated situation. He wasn’t exactly who I dream to spend my life with forever. I had to end the relationship.”

I placed a reassuring hand on hers. “You don’t have to share more if you’re not comfortable. Just know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she squeezed my hand gently. “Thank you, Noah. I appreciate your understanding.”

We sat together in silence for a while, finding comfort in each other’s presence. The topic of Jacob had opened up a deeper level of trust between us, and I felt a renewed determination to protect Sophia from any harm that might come her way.

As the first rays of dawn began to illuminate the sky, we both knew it was time to rest. Sophia showed me to a spare bedroom, and I settled in, trying to clear my mind and find some rest before the inevitable confrontation with Marcus.

In the depths of my dreams, I found myself in a dark forest, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the ground. I could sense a malevolent presence lurking nearby, and as I turned around, I came face to face with Marcus. His eyes glowed with a sinister light, and a cold smile played on his lips.

“You can’t protect them forever, Noah,” he taunted, his voice echoing through the night. “I’ll destroy everything you hold dear. I already took your position as alpha. “

In my dream, I stood my ground, summoning every ounce of strength and courage within me.

. “You won’t win, Marcus. I’ll never let you harm my family or anyone else again.”

As our confrontation intensified, I suddenly jolted awake, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. The dream had felt so real, a vivid manifestation of the internal struggle I was facing.

I quietly got up from bed and walked to the window, gazing at the rising sun on the horizon. Sophia’s words echoed in my mind, reminding me that I wasn’t alone in this battle. Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Returning to the living room, I found Sophia sitting by the fireplace, deep in thought. She looked up as I approached, concern etched on her face.

“Are you alright, Noah?” she asked softly.

I nodded, offering her a small smile. “Yeah, just a bad dream. But don’t worry, I’m okay.”

She stood up and walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “We’ll get through this together, Noah. I believe in you.”

Her words filled me with renewed strength, and I hugged her back tightly. “Thank you, Sophia. I won’t let anything happen to you or my brother. We’ll face Marcus head-on, and we’ll make sure he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Sophia pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes with determination. “Let’s make a plan. We need to be smart about this.”

We spent the rest of the morning strategizing and discussing how to confront Marcus and dismantle his schemes. Sophia’s sharp mind and clever insights proved invaluable, and I knew I was lucky to have her by my side.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, we made a pact to face Marcus together, united against his malevolence. We would protect our pack, our loved ones, and each other, no matter the cost.

With a newfound sense of purpose, I felt the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, but I also knew I had the strength of our bond to carry me through. The final showdown with Marcus was approaching, and I was ready to face it with determination and love, knowing that together, we could overcome anything.

And so, as the day turned into evening, my brother woke up once again, feeling stronger and more determined than ever. Sophia and I shared a meaningful look, silently reassuring each other that we were prepared for whatever lay ahead.

With a deep breath, my brother settled back into bed, fatigue washing over him. As he drifted off to sleep, I knew that he was safe for now. The night would bring its challenges, but we were ready to face them, side by side.

Sophia and I retreated to another room, holding each other close, finding comfort in the warmth of our embrace. We knew the road ahead would be difficult, but with love, trust, and determination, we were prepared to overcome anything that stood in our way.

And as the night enfolded us in its dark embrace, we knew that the final chapter of this dangerous game had just begun.