Chapter 132: Something Is Wrong

Sofia walked Damien to the door and watched him leave. As the door clicked shut, Bella stepped out of the guest room, looking sad, her shoulders slumped.

​”It seems Alpha Damien doesn’t like me very much,” Bella said, her voice trembling as if she were about to cry. “I don’t want to cause trouble for you, Sofia. Maybe I should just go back to the street.”

​”No, don’t say that,” Sofia said quickly, walking over to her. “Damien is just like that. He is very protective and he doesn’t trust people easily. It’s not your fault, Bella. Don’t worry about him.”

​Bella sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Are you sure? I feel like a burden.”

​”You are not a burden,” Sofia insisted. She wanted to cheer Bella up. “Tell you what, tomorrow we will go shopping! You need more clothes, and it will be fun to get out of the house. We can have a real girls’ day.”

​Bella’s eyes lit up, but inside, her mind was racing. “Shopping? Perfect. That will make it even easier to meet the courier at the mall. I can get the substance and she won’t suspect a thing.”

​”That sounds wonderful, Sofia,” Bella said with a sweet smile. “I’ve never had a girls’ day before.”

​”Then it’s a plan,” Sofia said. “Now, why don’t you get some more rest? I’m going to look at some more job ads.”

​As Sofia turned away, Bella headed back to her room. She immediately opened the Mind Link to the Rogue King.

​”Change of plans, honey. We are going shopping tomorrow. Send the courier to the city mall at noon. I’ll get the poison there. Once we get home, I’ll fix her a ’celebration’ dinner. By tomorrow night, the White Wolf will be yours.”

​The Rogue King’s dark laughter echoed in her head. “Perfect, my love. Everything is falling into place.”

​Meanwhile, as Damien drove back home, his mind wasn’t at rest. He kept thinking about Bella; there was just something about her that didn’t sit well with him.

​”You should run a background check on her,” his wolf suggested.

​Damien nodded, gripping the steering wheel tight. Usually, every werewolf has a scent, but Bella smelled too clean. It was as if she were trying too hard to smell like nothing at all.

​”The way she looked at me,” Damien muttered to himself, his Alpha instincts bristling. “She wasn’t just a frightened girl. There was a hunger in her eyes.”

​”She is a snake in the grass,” his wolf growled back. “And she is sleeping under the same roof as our mate. If you do not act, it will be too late.”

​Damien pulled over to the side of the road and grabbed his phone. He didn’t call his usual assistants; instead, he dialed a private number for a specialist in the pack who handled deep-cover intelligence.

​”I need a full sweep,” Damien commanded the moment the line picked up. “The name is Bella. Sofia found her in the neutral zone… she now lives with her. Check everything about her. I want to know who her parents were, who her mate was, and why a girl like that was being attacked right where Sofia could see her.”

​”On it, Alpha. I’ll have the data by tomorrow afternoon,” the voice responded.

​The next morning, Sofia felt a strange shiver as she got ready for the mall. She dressed in a simple outfit, wanting to blend in, while Bella came out of her room looking refreshed and eager.

​”I’m so excited, Sofia!” Bella chirped, her voice dripping with fake honey. “I’ve never been to the big city mall. It’s going to be so much fun.”

​Sofia smiled, trying to ignore the small, nagging voice of her wolf that had been pacing in the back of her mind all night. “It’ll be good for us to get out. We’ll find you some things that make you feel like yourself again.”

​As they stepped into the crowded mall, the volume of scents and noises made Sofia’s head spin. Her new abilities made everything louder—she could hear the heartbeat of the security guard fifty feet away and the whispers of conversation.

​”I’m just going to use the restroom quickly,” Bella said as they passed a crowded food court. She checked her watch. It was exactly 11:58 AM. “Do you mind waiting at that coffee stand?”

​”Not at all,” Sofia said, relieved to have a moment of quiet. “Take your time.”

​Bella hurried away, but she didn’t head for the restrooms. She slipped behind a large pillar near the service entrance. A man in a plain grey hoodie was standing there, holding a small brown paper bag. He didn’t look up, but as Bella passed, he dropped the bag into her open shopping tote.

​”The King says to use it all,” the man whispered, his voice barely audible over the mall music. “No mistakes.”

​”There won’t be any,” Bella whispered back.

​She walked back to Sofia with a bright, innocent smile, the poison hidden safely among her things. “All done! Ready to look at those dresses?”

​Sofia nodded. “Sure.”

​The two women spent the rest of the afternoon moving from shop to shop. Sofia bought Bella several high-quality outfits, shoes, and even a warm coat. Bella acted more and more grateful with every bag they added to their collection, but her hand never left the tote bag where the brown paper package sat.

​When they finally returned to the apartment, the sun was beginning to set, casting long, orange shadows across the living room floor. Sofia dropped the shopping bags near the sofa, feeling a sudden, sharp wave of exhaustion hit her.

​”I am so tired,” Sofia admitted, rubbing her temples. “I think I need to lie down for a moment,” She frowned, rubbing her stomach. “I don’t know why, but I feel a bit sick.”

​”You’ve done so much for me today, Sofia,” Bella said, her voice soft and sweet. “Please, go to your room and rest. I want to cook a ’thank you’ dinner for you. It’s the least I can do.”

​Sofia hesitated, but her stomach gave a strange, uncomfortable rumble. It felt like a dull ache, a warning sign from her body that something wasn’t right. She figured she was just hungry and overworked. “Are you sure? You’ve had a long day too.”

​”I insist,” Bella said, already heading toward the kitchen.

​Sofia nodded and retreated to her bedroom. She lay on her bed, but the stomach ache didn’t go away. It felt like a tight knot, and her White Wolf was pacing restlessly in the back of her mind, growling at nothing. “Something is wrong,” the wolf whispered, but Sofia was too tired to listen.

​In the kitchen, Bella worked quickly. She sang loud, happy music so Sofia could hear from the room and not suspect a thing as she prepared a delicious-smelling pasta with a rich, creamy sauce. Her movements were fast and careful. Once the plates were set, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the vial from the mall. It was a clear, thick liquid.

​With a steady hand, she poured the entire contents onto the plate meant for Sofia. She stirred it in until it vanished completely. The wolfsbane was odorless and tasteless—no way anyone could perceive it.

​”Sofia! Dinner is ready!” Bella called out, her voice echoing happily down the hallway.

​Sofia stood up, her legs feeling a bit heavy. The stomach ache had sharpened, but the smell of the food was enticing. She walked into the small dining area and saw the beautiful meal Bella had prepared.

​”It looks amazing, Bella,” Sofia said, pulling out her chair.

​”Eat up,” Bella urged, sitting across from her with her own clean plate. “And tell me how it tastes.”

​Sofia picked up her fork and twirled the pasta, while Bella watched her carefully, waiting for the first bite.

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