Chapter 131: Suspicious

Sofia walked back to her own room, the weight of the day pressing down on her.

​”You are too kind, Sofia,” her wolf’s voice echoed in her mind, sounding wary. “Kindness is a gift, but in our world, it can be a trap. Remember, do not trust anyone so easily.”

​”I know,” Sofia whispered to the empty room. “I’ll be careful. I just couldn’t leave her there.” She sighed and fell into bed, drifting into a restless sleep.

​The next morning, Sofia woke up feeling a bit more refreshed. She sat on the sofa with her phone, scrolling through job listings. She was determined to earn her own way, even with the stack of cash Alaric had left her.

​Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Before she even reached the door, a powerful, wild scent of pine and lightning filled the air. She knew that scent anywhere.

​”Damien,” she murmured.

​She opened the door, and there he was. Damien stood there looking as handsome as ever, a small smile playing on his lips. “Morning, Sofia. I wanted to see how you were doing.”

​”I’m fine, Damien. Come in,” she said, smiling back.

​He stepped inside, his presence immediately filling the space. But as they stood in the living room, the guest room door opened. Bella walked out, wearing some of Sofia’s clean clothes, her hair damp from a shower.

​Bella stopped in her tracks when she saw him. “Holy… who is this?” she thought, her eyes roaming over Damien’s muscular frame and sharp jawline. “This man is gorgeous. He looks so powerful… so hot.”

​Damien, however, did not smile back. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Bella. As an Alpha, his instincts were screaming. He didn’t know who she was, but her energy felt “off”—dark and muddy.

​”Who is this?” Damien asked, his voice turning cold and hard.

​”This is my friend, Bella,” Sofia said, sensing the tension. “She’s going through a hard time, so she’ll be staying here for a few days.” Sofia turned to Bella. “Bella, this is Alpha Damien, the leader of the Full Moon Pack.”

​Bella’s eyes widened with fake awe. She quickly lowered her head in a deep bow. “It is an honor to meet you, Alpha,” she said in her sweetest, most innocent voice.

​Damien didn’t even acknowledge her greeting. He didn’t like the way she smelled, and he didn’t like a stranger being so close to his mate. He looked back at Sofia, his expression serious.

​”Sofia,” he said, ignoring Bella completely. “Can we talk? In your room. Private.”

​Sofia frowned. She didn’t like how rude Damien was being to her guest. “Damien, she greeted you. You could at least be polite.”

​”Private. Now,” Damien insisted, his Alpha tone slipping out.

​Sofia sighed and looked at Bella. “I’m so sorry, Bella. Give us a minute.”

​Bella nodded quickly, looking like a kicked puppy. “It’s okay, Sofia. I understand.”

​But as Sofia led Damien toward her bedroom, Bella’s face twisted into a snarl. “Arrogant Alpha,” she thought. “Go ahead, talk. It won’t save her. My King is already on his way with the poison.”

​Inside the bedroom, Damien shut the door and turned to Sofia, his frown deepening. “I don’t like her, Sofia. Her energy feels off. Where did you find her?”

​”I found her on the street, Damien,” Sofia said, her voice rising as she turned to face him. “She was being attacked by three men. I saved her. I couldn’t just leave her there to die while I live in a luxury apartment I didn’t even pay for!”

​Damien stepped closer, his shadow looming over her. “Sofia, you are a White Wolf. You are the most valuable person in the supernatural world right now. You can’t just pick up strays because you feel sorry for them. Her scent… it’s masked, but there’s something underneath it that doesn’t sit right with my wolf.”

​”I am not ’picking up strays’!” Sofia snapped, crossing her arms. “I am helping a girl who was rejected by her mate and her family. I know what that feels like, even if you don’t. I can take care of myself now, Damien. I’m not the weak girl you tortured anymore. I have my own power.”

​Damien’s jaw tightened. He wanted to roar, to tell her that his instincts were never wrong, and that the girl in the other room smelled like a rotting secret. But as he looked at Sofia—at the anger in her eyes and the way she was finally standing up for herself—he forced his anger down. He didn’t want to be another Alpha telling her what to do.

​”I know you’re strong, Sofia,” Damien said, his voice dropping to a low, calm tone. He reached out, his fingers grazing her arm. “I know what you can do. But being powerful doesn’t mean you have to be reckless. Just… be careful. Please. For me.”

​Sofia’s expression softened just a little; she understood his concern. “I’ll be careful. But Bella stays. She needs a friend, and I’ll be careful… I’ll watch her.”

​Damien sighed, nodding slowly. He wanted to argue more, to demand she kick the stranger out, but he knew this topic was already upsetting her. He didn’t want to push her further away, especially when he was finally getting her to talk to him again.

​”Fine,” he muttered. “But I’m leaving a couple of my best warriors in the building lobby. Just in case.”

​”Damien—”

​”Don’t argue with me on that,” he said firmly. “Now, let’s talk about something else. How are you doing? Anything strange happening lately?”

​Outside the bedroom door, Bella had her ear pressed against the wood. She couldn’t hear every word, but she heard enough to know the Alpha was suspicious. She frowned, went back to her room, and made a mind link.

​”The Alpha of the Full Moon Pack is here. He doesn’t trust me. Honey, you have to hurry with the package. I need to get rid of Sofia before this man sniffs out the truth.”

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