hapter 4
E55 vouchers
Santiago is sitting there without meeting my gaze. I cautiously go around the table to sit where Luna Romano wants me to sit. I stay still as she reaches over me for the bread knife. I sit back as she cuts the freshly made loaf of bread in front of me. She places a slice on my plate and then another on his. I watch her hands as she moves to put other things on our plates, never setting the knife down. She walks around the table and sets it down beside her plate.
“I understand that you are having some trouble with the new arrangement,” she says as she takes a fork off the table. “I don’t have to remind you that you are Santiago’s mate.”
“No, you don’t, and I don’t think it’s any of your business,” I answer honestly–the two of us jump when Santiago slams his hand on the table.
“Don’t talk to my mother like that, Sophia,” he growls.
“It’s alright, son,” she says and continues to eat as if nothing were out of place. “Sophia, you shouldn’t be making this harder than it has to be. You are Santiago’s mate, and that comes with certain responsibilities.”
“No, it doesn’t. You legally found a replacement for these so–called responsibilities-”
“Of course, I did,” she stops me. “Do you think you, an omega. A wolfless girl who is practically mortal could ever hold a candle to what a beta–ranked female can?”
“I can do everything the beta–ranked female you chose and better. I have proven that over and over. In training and my studies. She wouldn’t be able to hold the highest credentials in medicine, the way I can run circles around her studies in pack economics. The comparison isn’t fair if you’re basing this on genetics.”
“Is that what this is?” she laughs humorlessly. “You’re jealous of Poppy?”
“Poppy has nothing I need to be jealous about,” I sneer.
“Except you do. She is the new Luna of the City, whether you like it or not,” she says flatly. “Do you know how many Lunas die a year because other alphas or rogues target them. You know, the very same rogues who took your family from us. You will never be in any danger with Luna Romano taking the lead.”
I stare at her, letting what she just said sink in. She just called Poppy Luna Romano. My hand twitches over the fork beside my plate. It would be so easy for me to get over this table with it to show her exactly what this little omega can do. I may be the lowest rank of my kind, but I was raised like one of them.
My grandmother would rather kill me than let me walk around unable to protect myself. As one of the Lycan King’s most trusted Major Generals, my training started long before theirs did. I was raised to be a soldier, and it was only by fate that I am now a healer.
“Mom,” Santiago says gently. “I think you should leave.”
“Excuse me?” she laughs, looking over at him.
“I think you should go so that I can talk to Sophia alone,” he adds.
“You brought me here,” she reminds him.
“I know, and she knows how serious this is now. Get out,” he growls.
The two of them face off for a moment before she nods and stands up to leave. Neither of us moves as she gathers her belongings. She kisses the side of his head. He knows exactly what I would do to his mother, even though she outranks me. I’d spend the rest of my life in a prison cell here, and I wouldn’t regret it.
1/2
3:55 pm PDD
Chapter 4
55 vouchers
“I suggest you understand your position and soon, Sophia,” she says, pausing at the end of the table. “We want to move forward doing things pleasantly. You can be a part of this family the easy way, or you can be a part of this family the hard way. The choice is up to you, but leaving is not an option.”
“Go, Santiago growls at her again.
I sit here waiting for the weight of her words to break the silence between us. He expects me to stay here while he parades his chosen around for all to see simply because I’m an omega. Tears fill my eyes as the realization hits me like a slap across the face. They’re all going to make my life a living hell, and he expects me to take it.
You swore you’d never let anything hurt me when I told you I didn’t shift,” I whisper.
“I would never let anything hurt you, Sophia. You know that I would do anything for you.”
“Except this, right? You’d never stand up to your mother for us even if it killed me,” I stand up.
“She made us dinner, Sophia. The least you can do is try it,” he says calmly.
I suck in the mucus in my nose from crying and hack it up into my mouth before spitting it on the food she made for us. He stares at me in disbelief. I’ve never done anything so ill–mannered before. My grandmother would have never let me hear the end of it, but I think this is an exception she might be willing to overlook.
That’s what I think about your mother’s food, Santiago.” I kiss him on the opposite side of his head.
“It’s going to take some time for us to get used to this. Sophie,” he continues.
“I’d reject you now if I thought you’d accept it. But I’m looking forward to doing everything in my power to make you do it. By the time this is over, you’re going to hate me with every ounce of your soul the way I do you now.”
He reacts this time. His hand lashes out and grabs my wrist. He spins me around, pulling me into him hard. My chest smacks against his, hard enough to knock the air out of my lungs.
“You hate me?” he laughs and pushes against me until my back hits the wall.
My body is trembling, and I can’t bring myself to look up at him because if he looks into my eyes, he’ll know I’m lying. I want to hate him. I should. But our world is on fire. The flames are closing in around us, with nowhere to run. He did this. He did this to us, and instead of letting me go so that he may do his so–called duty, he wants me to stick around to watch him destroy everything we could have built together.
“Reject me. Please,” I beg him. “I don’t want this. I don’t want you like this.”
“Not a chance, Sophia. You said you’d help me make sure the City prospers,” he says, burying his face in the crook of my neck. “This is it, Baby. As soon as we have an heir, it’s over. It’ll be just you and me. You’ll bear my mark, and we can put it all behind us.”
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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.
