The story is causing an uproar. It’s trending all over the media, Not only did she drop one of the biggest scoops of the month, but she’s also made small clips of what Santiago did to me to earn him the black eye and the busted lip Ivar gifted him for what he did to me.
Memes are being made of the expression on Poppy’s face while he was choking me in front of our peers. They’re calling her the snake in the garden. A lovely nickname Kennedy herself made up.
The follow–up posts on social media are of a potential defamation lawsuit former Alpha Romano is putting together. However, because she is not from Artume City, there isn’t much they can do. Not to mention that she has the sources Ivar has sent her to back up what Mr. Callihan said. He has lawyered up and is winning the sympathy of his loyal followers. Then there’s all the publicity he’s getting for his new TV show. The studio is taking very good care of their asset.
Despite the small victory, I’m staring at the text message I received the night the podcast aired.
-I know you had something to do with this, Sophia. You couldn’t just go away and let us live our lives, could you? You lost. Santiago is my mate, and I am his Luna. When I find out how you got a hold of those files, I am going to watch him drag
bitch.- your ass back here so you can beg Luna Romano for forgiveness on your knees. You worthless omega
All week, she’s been sending me pictures of her and Santiago smiling at one another the way a newly married couple does. Some of them are at the pack house, some of them are in his bedroom, and what really fucks me up are the ones of her in what used to be our apartment.
She’s playing with my things. Everything he and I once owned together is now hers. And he’s letting her do that. I know he’s letting her do it on purpose. He thinks this will send me running to him to demand answers. I don’t need any. He made sure I knew my place when he brought her to that party and tried to kill me in front of my friends and peers.
“You should take some of this stuff,” Ivar says, sitting next to me on the Loveseat in the game room.
“I am taking Gavin’s setup with me, but the rest I will be donating to the Boys and Girls Club. I’m thinking about having the place renovated and donating a bunch of stuff we’re not taking with us. That way they serve someone instead of just collecting dust here,” I box up some of my brother’s figures.
“That’s a good idea,” he pats my head. “I wanted to ask you if you could do me a favor?”
“If it is within my power,” I nod.
“Block her number, Soph. There is no need for you to allow this bitch to be torturing you with this shit,” he reaches for my phone. I pull it away and tuck it into my hoodie. “Sophie.”
“You don’t understand,” I say, looking up at him.
“No, I don’t. Explain it to me.”
“I don’t know how. I don’t know why I need to see it, but I do. It’s just helping me wrap my mind around this situation much better.”
“He tried to kill you in front of a lot of people, Soph. And then they called you a-” he pauses, unable to repeat it. “Look, the term is almost up. We can request that you take your finals early.”
“They’re not going to let me. I’ve been trying to request the transfer, and the online documentation says it’s pending. When I call the front desk, they tell me there is nothing they can do until the end of the term. He is blocking me the same way I am blocking him.”
“What do you want to do with that?” he lets out an exasperated sigh.
1/3
3:57 pm PDD.
Chapter 22
$5 vouchers
“I’m going to have to talk to him and give him the money back, along with the passwords to all of his shit,” I shrug.
“I can’t let you do that. Ragnar would murder me if he were to lure you away somehow and something happened to you. I love being alive, Sophia Helvig. I love being alive a whole lot.”
“You are ridiculously dramatic, you know that?”
“I think the word you’re looking for is charismatic,” he rolls his eyes.
“The plan was always to give him his shit back as long as he gave me what I wanted. I think we have grounds for an exchange
now.”
“Are you going to tell him about the files on his mother? There are some very fucked up cover ups in there that the Alpha King would love to see. You know who else would love to see this plot twist? Kennedy Lowe and the Queen Luna.”
“Kenny is already in trouble here in the city. There is no reason to add fuel to that fire. And you are forgetting that those are client–lawyer confidentiality files between the Luna and my mother.”
“I mean no offense, and this is going to sound fucked, but your mother is gone. We happened across these files, and if we were to leak them. The social media sleuths will piece together the murder of little Rosaline Henderson.
“Don’t you think she deserves a voice? Don’t you think that her very living family deserves to know what happened to their sweet little princess? I know a Major General who would kill anyone in her way to find out what happened to her granddaughter if this were her murder.”
“But it’s not, Ivar. And we wouldn’t be doing this for the right reasons. When she gets back, I will talk to my grandmother about this, and she will decide what to do with them.”
“You know what she’s going to do with them. Someone hurt her poopsie, and she will destroy the Romanos for it. Who do you think taught my brother to be the ruthless asshole that he is now? It wasn’t my dad, that’s for sure. Don’t tell him I said this, but he’s kind of a simp.”
“I am going to pretend that you didn’t say that about one of the most feared Lycan Kings in existence. I refuse to believe that,” I stand up to keep packing.
“Fine. I am allowing you to set up this meeting, but I am warning you, little Omega. This is not going to end well. Do this somewhere public, and I am going to have an entire team with us. That is non–negotiable after what happened the last time he was too close. I expect the King will give you a ring about this.”
“What do you want in exchange? I feel like you caved a little too quickly.”
“I want Kaylee’s number,” he smirks.
I have to ask her, but I should warn you now. Kaylee is holding out for her mate. She is a very big believer in the ways of the Goddess and the design of fate. I know you can be very charismatic and persuasive, but please don’t hurt my friend. She’s very special to me, and if this ends badly, know that she’ll still be a big part of my life. Don’t make it an awkward one.”
“I swear to you that I will never hurt your friend,” he says, bowing his head politely.
“If she says yes, then I will give you the number,” I sit down beside him and hold up my phone to show him what I am about to do.
“Are you sure about this? I think we make him squirm a little longer.”
“If he gives me what I want, then I can take the finals carly, and we can go home. I know you’re just as eager as I am to get the hell out of here as I am.”
2/3
1:57 pm P DD
Chapter 22
“All right. Do it,” he nods. “I’ve got your back.”
55 vouchers
“Thank you,” I bump my shoulder to his and unblock Santiago’s number. “I don’t think I could have gotten through any of this without you, Ivar. I’m sure Gavin and Oliver are pleased you’re here. I know I am.”
3/3
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
