The podcast my brother sent me is interesting. I wasn’t sure how difficult the situation was, but hearing some of the stories. this Omega male has told about the former Luna of Artume City is cause for a long overdue investigation on the alphas of the City. The Alpha King owes me this much. Taking these ass holes off the lead board for good would settle some of the debts he owes me, even if it is simply removing the former Luna from her position on his council.
“Werewolves are fucking pathetic,” my father scoffs. The major general clears her throat. “I mean no offense to your granddaughter or your son. I know your late mate, Lewis was a good man, but listen to what this man is saying about one of their leading families.
“Lycans honor their omegas. They are the most important to our kind. The only ones powerful enough to bring forth the next generation. You almost died during childbirth, Zara. Had your mate not been by your side, you would have. Sophia is a
treasure.”
“It’s not the same for them, my King,” she says sadly. “Werewolf omegas are mortals with a bit more strength. Breeding one weakens the vessel of their heirs, meaning the spirit that possesses it wouldn’t be as strong as its predecessors.”
“Why do you think Sophia was born an Omega?” I ask.
“I don’t believe she was. Sophia was every bit the beta her father and her grandfather were. The damage inflicted on her body during the rogue raid was bad. She should have died. I believe that what saved her was the sacrifice of her wolf’s spirit.
“Some of the midwives believe that as well. As for her vessel, she is of beta rank. Her strength, her patience, and her diligence all point to the perfect vessel. I’ve never met an Omega wolf who can keep track of everything Sophia does.
“I’ve tested her more than once. I knew she wasn’t fully recovered when she started at the academy. Yet, her performance was better than satisfactory. If she had stayed in the combat program, she would have grown stronger.”
“Did you explain that to her?” my father asks.
“She never wanted to be in that program,” I inform them.
“And you know this how?” Zaraphina looks up at me with disdain.
I remember when she would come around. It would cause a fight between Sophia’s parents. The way she treated Olivia and completely dismissed Sophia never sat well with her, but the Major General would never show this in front of her son. I think she knew he would chew her head off for it.
He adored Sophia and loved his mate. I was always jealous of the way the Helvigs got along growing up because the love their parents gave them was something that was always missing in my home. Even when my little sister was around. We were always someone else’s problem. I didn’t get close to my father until after my training was complete and I began to participate in grand council decisions.
“I grew up alongside your grandchildren. I understand that the females in your house are very powerful and very prideful, but it’s not in Sophia’s nature to be violent. Your grandsons inherited every bit of your pride, but Sophie took after her mother. She wanted to protect and serve the same way she did.
“That has always been her true self. After all, she had been born to become a Luna. That is what they do. You’ve always overlooked her and her mother because of it. You believe them soft. I don’t think Sophia is soft. I was there during that attack. I watched her give her all. Never undermine her strength in front of me again, Major General.”
She averts her gaze, but it’s more than obvious that she completely disagrees with me. She excuses herself and leaves the room as I continue to listen to the Podcast. It’s in the number one spot at the moment. The Artume media feed is filled with
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3:57 pm
Chapter 23
conspiracy theories and videos of this piece of shit putting his hands on Sophia.
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Others are coming forward with their own edits of the event videos. Videos of Sophia and Ivar playing a drinking game and beating anyone who challenged them. She had been happy for a moment despite the situation she finds herself in.
Then he shows up, and her demeanor changes. That wasn’t just the look of someone whose fun had been cut short. She was scared. That is the look of someone who has been physically abused by someone they once trusted. I know that look all too well. I see it at court all the time. It boils my blood even to consider him hurting her in any way.
“I’ve never seen you speak to the Major General that way, Ragnar,” my father interrupts my thoughts. “You should apologize to her.”
“I will not apologize to her,” I scoff.
“Ragnar,” he growls.
“I’m not wrong, Father. You know she never respected Olivia and never gave Sophia the light of day. All because they aren’t fighters. There are more ways to fight than tooth and claw. She’s so close–minded.”
“That is not your place to say anything, Son. They are not our blood, and how she raised her children is none of our concern.”
“You forget that Olivia raised us as well. While you and Mother were out doing your duties, it was Olivia and her family who made us who we are. She fed us and attended every single one of our most important milestones. She didn’t have to do that. She did it because, like Sophia, she was a kind and generous person.
“It might not be your place to say anything, Father, but Sophie is part of my family, and no one is going to disrespect her in front of me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few calls to make before the first peace summit in the morning.”
“Ragnar, you’ve been irritable since you found out that Santiago rejected Sophia. Is there something you want to tell me? Did something happen between the two of you that I should know?”
“The last time I saw Sophia, she was thirteen years old. What you are implying is disrespectful not only to me, your son. But to Sophia as well. You are buying into the shit these wolves are spitting about her. I know no one has ever touched Sophia, but this asshole. I know her.”
“You are acting like a jealous boyfriend,” he sighs.
“If that is how you want to see it, be my guest,” I take my things to go up to my room. I stop before walking out. “I would be honored to have a mate like her, for someone as gentle and loving as she to look my way.
“Perhaps you have forgotten what that’s like. You’re no different from this idiot Alpha. You have the world standing before you, but you’re too afraid to reach out for her. I know my mother would want you to accept the happiness she thought you deserved. The same way I know Josephine prays for mine.”
“Ragnar,” he calls out for me, regret lacing his voice, but I’m no longer in the mood to listen to him, and I have more important things to do.
I need to get Sophia out of Artume City as soon as I possibly can, and there is only one way I can do that. A royal guard is going to have to go down there and make this asshole give Sophia everything she needs, or I will personally request that the Romanos be stripped of all their titles and territories, even if I have to go to war with them myself.
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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.
