“Out of all the reckless things the two of you have done these past two years, this takes the fucking cake, Parmar, Socha your mate. Your second chance mate. You are supposed to be protecting her the King shouts.
“Sophia, you’re supposed to keep him from making decisions like this. We don’t work-
“Enough,” I growl, cutting my grandmother off. I would love to say they stopped because I’m angry, but I’m sure they think my outbursts are adorable, the same way Ragnar does. “I think you’re missing the point here. You’re right. We’re supposed to be pushing each other up. Please tell me how this doesn’t qualify as that? He took an entire city for what was done to me and to keep me safe. The city just happens to be a little rougher than we originally thought.
“How were we supposed to know that all this was linked to all of this crap the Alpha King from like two terms ago pat together? The important thing is that we discovered it. People are being taken advantage of. Good people who put their trust in their King. You know, like we all put our faith in you, sir.” I cross my arms over my chest and turn away from him. 1 find it very one–sided that we have to trust you without question, but you aren’t granting us the same courtesy. I thought we were friends.”
Ragnar tries his best not to laugh, and for once, he keeps the straight face he’s trying to achieve, but I can feel it through our bond and see how shiny his eyes are from this. My grandmother is staring at me with an almost identical expression. I m sure no one really ever gives him a hard time, but this isn’t the time for him to be yelling at us.
The King, on the other hand, can’t find a single place to avert his gaze with all of us locked in a small room in a place none of us ever thought we would end up in. Anastasia is not too far from me with an impressed smile on her face. Her brother is standing right beside her with his lips pressed together.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” the King sighs. Ana and Santiago both look over at me, impressed. ‘Look, if all of this information is true, we’re going to need him. You two get the hell out of here and start calling the other council members.
“If that shit stain out there has information we need, we will make sure he gives it to us,” he glances over at the Poluccis and then turns his attention to us. “What the hell is this, Ragnar? There aren’t very many things I ask of you as your father but this was definitely one of the three rules we established when we changed the laws so you could get into the military
sooner.”
“It was my fault,” I step forward. Ragnar looks over at me, shocked. “I met Mr Polucci’s mate, Aimee, and she gave me a job. They also protected me when Santiago came here to try to take me. And she was the one who was with me when the bombs went off. All those people who were injured, she helped us.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but they’re really good people. I mean, look, they would have taken this information up to court themselves, but they called us. That should mean something to you. It means a lot to me because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, and they’re teaching me. I don’t know about you, but I consider them friends. Now that I know they’re your niece and nephew, they’re my family too. I don’t have a lot of that anymore-”
“Okay, okay,” he sighs, pressing the back of his hands to his eyes. He looks in their direction and then at me. “Thank you for helping, Sophia. It’s not something I’ll ever forget. If it’s all right with the two of you. I would like for former Major General Helvig to interrogate the prisoner properly. Do you have medical supplies?”
“I left my bag in there,” I raise my hand.
“Perfect. Sophia always has what we need. Santiago, why don’t you go with Ragnar? Ana, you’re with me. Sophia, please stay with the King. I don’t want him to be alone here. Just because they are your friends doesn’t mean they will play well with us. We all have something to do now. Yes?” my Grandmother asks..
“I’m okay with that,” Ana pushes off the table to stand in front of my grandmother. “I’d be honored to see you work. I’ve heard some very compelling stories, Major General. May I ask why you’re retiring?”
“Personal reasons,” she says coldly.
“Don’t let Sophia out of your sight,” Ragnar sighs.
“Oh, so now her safety is a priority?” the King snides.
“It always has. Do you think I would be here if it wasn’t? You have a Helvig on your side, too. Have you ever been able to stop her from doing something insane?” he pauses dramatically. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. If Sophia wants to be friends with the Rogues, she can. I’m not going to try to stop her anymore.
“And for your information, I didn’t listen to you about them because you’re holding on to a grudge that had nothing to do with you. You’re always talking about evolving. Keeping that in the name of tradition is idiotic. They are our blood.”
“And when they stab you in the back?” the King growls..
“I would love to see them try. It was you who taught me to keep my enemies close. It always has been to do as I ask, not as
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I do with you.”
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That sounds a lot deeper than it was intended to be, and I know the look on the King’s face because it’s the same one my Grandmother gets when I say mean things to her. He might have gone a little too far, but I get it. There are things we stop ourselves from doing because we’re so afraid to let them down.
“Call court,” is all the King says and dismisses everyone.
“Stay with my father, Sophia. You’re already in deep shit. Don’t make it worse, Little Wolf, Ragnar places a kiss on the top of my head before waving Santiago towards him. He and Ana acknowledge one another.
The way they look at one another tells me that they are communicating the same way Ragnar and I do. I take a deep breath and keep my eyes on my grandmother. She motions for me to get closer.
“Are you okay?” she asks me.
“Did you know?” I ask her.
“No, I did know that someone tried to take Gavin when he was still a pup, but I didn’t know the details. Your father was very protective of your mother and your brother. It was best for things to remain the way they were. If your brother’s identity had been made public, he would have been handed over to the Poluccis as a servant.”
“I don’t understand why wolves are traded like this,” I shake my head.
“It’s a blood oath. Wolves outnumber the supernatural world fifteen thousand to one. There are predators out there who require hunting and blood as sustenance. With the decimation of humans, the food pyramid speaks for itself.”
The mention of blood makes me think of the way I react to exposed blood. Particularly when someone is afraid. I nod to let her know I understand. I may not like it, but I understand..
“I’m sorry that you had to find out about all of this the way you have, Darling,” she sighs heavily. “I should have looked into your parents‘ deaths. I don’t-”
“Stop,” I take her hand. “And honestly, all I wanted to was for the Romanos to pay. I’m sorry for creating such a big mess. I don’t know how to take it back.”
“You should never apologize for what comes so naturally to you. You’ve always been this way. You see a bully, and you stop at nothing to stop them. You’re doing the right thing, Sophia,” she cups my face. “Never forget that.”
EB
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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.
