Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Making A Deal
SOPHIA’S POV
I stood in the room facing Damien.
This was my chance to get answers. To make him stop hurting my family.
"Did you do it?" I asked him. "Did you deliberately sabotage Marco and Patricia’s careers? Did you force my mother out of her volunteer position? Did you pressure the HOA to file complaints about my parents’ house?"
Damien didn’t even hesitate. "Yes."
The single word hit
hard. I knew it was him. But hearing him admit it so casually made my wolf snarl with rage.
"How could you?" I snapped. "They’re innocent people. You’re destroying them just to hurt ?"
"I’m not trying to hurt them. I’m trying to make you understand consequences." Damien moved closer. His Alpha presence pushed against
but I refused to back down. "You left . You filed for divorce. Did you think there wouldn’t be repercussions?"
"So you punish innocent people? That’s your solution?" My voice rose. "You’re supposed to be an Alpha. You’re supposed to protect people but all you do is hurt anyone who doesn’t give you exactly what you want."
"I do what’s necessary to maintain order, to keep my pack strong” His eyes were cold. "Your family chose to support you against . They made their choice. Now they’re living with it."
"They’re living with YOUR cruelty. Don’t pretend this is about pack order or consequences. This is about your ego."
Damien’s jaw tightened "What do you want, Sophia?"
"I want you to stop going after my family. They don’t deserve this." My voice broke slightly. "Please. If you ever loved
at all, stop hurting them."
"And what do I get in return?"
The question made my stomach turn. Of course, there had to be sothing in it for him. Damien never did anything without getting sothing back.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to be a proper mother to Ashley. I want you to spend ti with her and take care of her." He paused. "I want you to stop running away every ti things get difficult."
"I haven’t been running away”
"Then prove it. Co back. Be present in her life." Damien crossed his arms. "Do that, and I’ll ease up on your family.”
I wanted to tell him he couldn’t blackmail
into doing what he wanted. But what choice did I have? My family was suffering because of . I couldn’t let that continue just because of my pride.
"Fine. I’ll be there for Ashley as much as you’ll let ." I t his eyes. "But in return, you stop everything. All of it.”
"It all depends on your performance, how well you take care of Ashley. If I see you’re serious then yes. I’ll back off completely."
"How do I know you’ll keep your word?"
“You’ll just have to trust . The sa way I have to trust that you’ll actually follow through this ti instead of running away again."
The words hurt but I pushed past the pain. This wasn’t about
and Damien anymore. This was about protecting my family.
"I have a question." I said. "Why have you been avoiding ?”
"I’ve been busy."
"That’s not an answer."
"It’s the only answer you’re getting." He turned away from . "We have an agreent now. You do your part, I’ll do mine. That’s all that matters."
There was so much more I wanted to say, so many questions I wanted answers to. Why Tiffany? Why was he parading her around like she was already his new Luna? Why was he so determined to replace
instead of just letting
go?
But I knew I wouldn’t get real answers. So I just said what I needed to say.
"I’ll be there for Ashley. I’ll do everything a mother should do. But that’s all I’m doing. I’m not coming back to you. I’m not playing happy family. I’m fulfilling my duty as Ashley’s mother. Nothing more."
"That’s all I’m asking for."
I turned and walked to the door. I left before he could say anything else. Outside, Zade was waiting for .
"How did it go?" he asked.
"We made a deal. It’s fine.”
I thought about sothing. I didn’t want to stay here tonight. Being in that house with Damien had been too suffocating.
"Can you just take
sowhere?” I asked.
He smiled. “Sure. I know just the place”
Zade followed
out into the parking lot. His hand ca to rest on my back as we walked. I didn’t feel too comfortable with the gesture but I was too tired to argue.
We were almost to his car when Simon appeared. He looked between
and Zade, specifically at where Zade’s hand touched my back.
"Of course you’d leave with him." Simon’s voice was full of contempt. "You really have no sha, do you? Your husband is right inside and you’re already draped over another man."
"Watch your mouth." Zade’s voice went cold.
"Why? So you can pretend this is innocent?” Simon stepped closer. His wolf was visible in his eyes. "Everyone can see what’s happening here. Everyone knows what you two are doing."
"We’re not doing anything."
I was too tired for this. I was too drained to care about Simon’s accusations.
"Right. That’s why he’s touching you like he owns you” Simon’s face twisted with anger. "You’re a whore, Sophia.”
Zade moved so fast I barely saw it. One second he was beside . The next he had Simon by the throat, pressed against the wall.
"Apologize. Now."
"I’m not apologizing for telling the truth."
"Then let
tell you so truth." Zade’s voice was deadly quiet. "You’re a pathetic excuse for a wolf. You hide behind Damien’s power because you have none of your own. You bully won because n would put you in your place. And you’re standing here calling Sophia nas because you’re terrified that she’s finally strong enough to walk away from all of you."
"You don’t know anything about our pack”
"I know enough. I know you arranged to have her transferred away from her support system.” Zade leaned in closer. "You want to talk about immoral? Look in a mirror."
"Let him go, Zade." I put my hand on his arm. "He’s not worth it."
Zade released Simon, who stumbled back coughing. Simon glared at both of us but didn’t say anything else. He just watched as Zade guided
to his car.
I didn’t care what Simon thought. I was too numb to feel anything except exhaustion.
*
DAMIEN’S POV
From my car, I saw Zade’s car pulling away with Sophia in it.
Simon burst back into the car. His face was red with anger. "Did you see that? Did you see how they left together.”
"I saw." My voice was flat.
"And you’re just going to let it happen?”
"What would you like
to do, Simon? Force her to co back? Lock her in the house?" I turned to look at him. "She made her choice. I can’t stop that."
"Yes, you can. You’re the Alpha. You have that power."
I shook my head. "She’ll co back for Ashley. That’s all that matters."
Simon scoffed. “Tiffany is a good match for you.”
“Sophia is Ashley’s mother.”
"In biology only but Tiffany is acting like a real mother." Simon’s expression was hard. "Ashley is getting attached to her. Maybe that’s not a bad thing."
My wolf growled at the suggestion. Tiffany wasn’t Ashley’s mother. She would never be Ashley’s mother but Simon wasn’t completely wrong. Tiffany was good with Ashley.
"Just think about it," Simon continued. "You could have a complete family again, a Luna who actually wants to be here, who understands her place."
I didn’t respond. I just stared out the window at the empty parking lot.
My wolf was confused and angry but he was also satisfied that we’d gotten what we wanted.
Sophia would co back. She would be there for Ashley.
Everything was going according to plan. Even if it didn’t feel like winning.
Reviews
All reviews (0)