Damien sat perfectly still, his heart heavy in his chest as he watched Sofia sleep. The healer had already co and gone, assuring him that she was fine—that her body had simply shut down from the intense fear and the shock of the day. But Damien couldn’t relax. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, waiting for any sign that she was coming back to him.
As he stared at her, the silence of the room forced him to face the truth he had buried for years. He looked at her, and he realized he was a liar. He had told the pack he hated her. He had told Alaric she was just a "fuck slave." But as he had fought his uncle, seeing the blade move toward the thought of her death, he had felt his soul starting to tear apart.
He didn’t hate her. He had never stopped loving her. His anger was just a mask for a heart that had been broken by the girl he couldn’t live without.
"Goddess help ," he sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. He felt exhausted and drained. He kept his eyes fixed on her, praying for any movent.
Suddenly, he noticed her long eyelashes blink. A surge of relief broke through his body, making his hands shake.
Slowly, Sofia opened her eyes. She groaned softly, her vision blurry at first as she took in the high, dark ceiling of the Alpha’s bedroom.
"Damien?" she whispered, her voice tiny and cracked.
She tried to sit up, but she winced as a dizzy spell hit her. Damien was instantly at her side, his hand moving to her shoulder to gently push her back against the pillows.
"Easy, Sofia," he said, his voice surprisingly soft. "Don’t try to move yet. You’re safe. I’ve got you."
Sofia looked at him, her blue eyes wide with confusion and lingering terror. mory ca rushing back—the festival, the roaring crowd, and Alaric’s cold promise to take her head.
"The fight..." she gasped, her hand flying to her throat as if checking to see if it was still there. "Alaric... is he... am I...?"
"You’re alive," Damien promised, his thumb grazing her jawline. "I won, Sofia. Or rather, the fight ended. My uncle... he was testing . He isn’t going to hurt you. No one is ever going to hurt you again. I won’t allow it."
Sofia searched his face. She saw the bandages on his arm and the fresh bruises on his skin, but mostly, she saw the look in his eyes. The cold, green hardness was gone, replaced by a raw, aching vulnerability that made her breath hitch.
Realizing things were awkward between them, Damien stood up and moved over to the window.
"Damien," Sofia called out. "Two years ago... you beca suddenly cold to . We were happy, and then overnight, you turned into a stranger. What did I do? I need to know."
Damien’s shoulders tensed. He let out a harsh, bitter laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. "You’re asking that? Now? You really have the nerve to act like you don’t know?"
Despite her dizziness, Sofia pushed herself up as she swung her legs over the side of the high bed. "I don’t know, Damien! That is the truth! I woke up one day and the man who promised to love was looking at with pure hatred. Tell what I did!"
Damien spun around, his face a mask of disbelief and rage. He scoffed, his erald eyes flashing. It was obvious to him—or so he thought—that Sofia was playing a part. He had seen her that day. But she thought no one saw her.
"You betrayed ," he said, his voice full of anger.
Sofia stood, her legs feeling like jelly, but she forced herself to take a step toward him. "How? How did I betray you?"
Damien frowned, his heart twisting. Why won’t she just confess? he wondered. If she just admitted it, if she asked for forgiveness for that day, I could finally let the anger go. I could forgive her. But her wide, blue eyes only showed confusion, and it made his blood boil. He couldn’t stand the "innocence" she was projecting.
"I can’t do this with you, Sofia," he muttered, turning toward the door. He felt like if he stayed one more minute, he would either break down and hold her or roar in frustration.
"Damien, wait!" she cried out, her full lips trembling. "You know I didn’t push Lola! I loved her. She was my sister. I would never, ever do that to her! I am innocent, Damien... please, I am begging you, investigate my case. Look at the evidence again!"
Damien paused at the door, his hand gripping the handle so hard the wood groaned. He didn’t turn back. He didn’t want to hear her pleas or feel the pull of his heartstrings.
"If you are innocent, then prove it yourself," he spat, and with that, he left the room.
Sofia collapsed onto the bed. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she drew them back. Now wasn’t the ti for tears.
The door opened, and she abruptly stood up, thinking it was Damien returning, but she was stunned to realize it was Alpha Alaric.
Her eyes widened in fear as she consciously took a step backward.
Alpha Alaric raised a brow. "Why are you acting like you’ve seen a ghost?"
Sofia frowned. "You literally wanted my head..."
Alaric scoffed. "Don’t be dramatic, little bird. It was a test. A prank to see just how much my nephew was lying to himself about you." He stepped closer, his erald eyes scanning her curvy fra with a heat that made her skin prickle. "How could I want your head when I’ve already decided I want the rest of you?"
Sofia’s breath hitched. The way he looked at her sent a confusing jolt through her. Before she could find the words to protest, the door swung open with a violent thud.
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