Sophia’s POV
I was almost at the end of the corridor when I felt Lester’s hand grab my him. Every instinct I had as a werewolf Beta sermed at the presumptuous contact, and I whirled around, shaking him off with gh force that his actully jolted lock. The look of surprise on his face imuld hire been
satisfying if I wasn’t so fucking angry.
Tester, dont be ridiculos, okay?” I kept my velor perfectly level. “Your Imly–eight years old. Having women amund you in perfectly normal, int it? As an Alpha, you should be thinking about continuing the bloodline for the pack.”
The words tasted like ash in my mouth, but I forced them out anyway. Better to sound indifferent than to let him see how much seeing him with Mira had actually hurt.
“That’s not what this is about,” he said, stepping closer despite the warning in my posture. “You know dams well—”
“I know what?” I tilted my head with a smile.
For just a second. I let my guard down. The hurt I’d been carrying since last night flashed through me like lightning, and I saw Lester amber eyes catch it before I could lock it away again, Shit. He knew me too well, could ad my tells like we were still teenagers running patrol together.
I turned on my heel, my silver hair whipping around like a curtain I could hide behind,
“Sophia.”
1 felt Lester’s fingers wrap around my wrist before I could pull away, his Alpha strength keeping me from shaking him off this time. When I turned to face
him, I could see something desperate brewing in his amber eyes,
“We need to talk
“What exactly do you want to say, Lester?” I kept my voice cool, professional
I want to say that what you saw wasn’t what you think it was.
“Really? The laugh that came out of me was sharp enough to cut glass. “Because what I saw was you being the perfect gentleman, taking care of everyone’s feelings, making sure poor Mira didn’t feel abandoned. Just like you always do
Something shifted in his expression, and I realized I’d said more than I meant to. My voice huid revealed the deeper hurt underneath the anger–the knowledge that Lester Harrison was constitutionally incapable of choosing one person over the needs of everyone else.
“Are you jealous?” The words slipped out of him like he couldn’t help himself.
And there it was. The question I’d been dreading because I couldn’t answer it honestly without revealing just how pathetic Td become.
“Jealous? Of what? Your ability to be everyone’s knight in shining armor? Your talent for making sure every female wulf in a fifty–mile radius feels protected and cherished?”
That’s not
“Just like you defend Mira, you’ll defend me next week when some other situation comes up. You’re like an emotional central air conditioning system, Lester.
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Chapter 175
You keep everyone at the perfect temperature so in one ever feels unscomfortable,
hung between us, and 1 watched him inch like Id physically stick him. Good. Maybe it was time umeone called him out on his people
The accusation
pleasing bullshit
I started to walk away, but apparently tester wasn’t done making terrible decisions today. His Alpha speed let him catch up with me easily, and suddenly was backed against the wall with his hands braced on either side of my head.
The sodden press of his body against mine made my breath catch.
“What are yo
are you doing? I demanded, hating how heathless I sounded. Lester, remember at positions-
“Tuck our positions.” he growled, and the raw winger in his voice made something clench low in my belly. And fuck pack politics. Do you want to know why I was relieved when you got angry back there?
1 pressed myself harder against the wall, trying to create distance that didn’t exist. “Lester, dont
“Because it meant you cared.” His ha
you. That mattered to you
hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing across my skin with devastating gentleness. “It meant this mattered to
“Of course it matters. I whispered before I could stop myself. The admission slipped out like blood from a wound, and I immediately wanted to take it back.
“Last night, what you sa
you saw…” His voice was soft now, hypnotic. “Mira isat my type. She never was.
Against every instinct screaming at me to shut up and walk away, I heard myself ask, “Then what
His eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. ‘You. Exactly you.”
your type?‘
The words hit me like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs. I stared up at him, searching his face for any sign that he was just playing with me.
but all I saw was raw honesty.
“I finally understand why you’re so protective of Elle,” he continued, his thumb still tracing gentle patterns on my cheek.
“Because you see something in her that reminds you of yourself. The same pure heart, the same loyalty.” His smile was soft, almost fond. “You’re both idiots”
“Did you just call me an idiot?” I sputtered, my temper flaring again despite the butterflies in my stomach.
“The most beautiful idiot Ive ever known,” he confirmed, and the affection in his voice made me want to hit him and kiss him in equal measure.
I felt my walls starting to crumble, felt hope blooming in my chest like a dangerous flower. But then reality crashed back in, and I shook my head, pushing against his chest with hands that trembled slightly.
I said, but
there was no
was no real force behind it. “Don’t say things like that when you don’t mean them.”
“When have 1 ever lied to you?”
“What about Elle?” I demanded. “You think humans are beneath us, remember? You’ve made that clear enough.”
c answer. “Elle is an exception. She’s proven herself. But that doesn’t change the fact Elle is…” He paused, and I could see him trying to find the diplomatic that she’s still just human, Sophia. She can’t understand our world the way you do.”
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Chapter 175
And there it was. The fundamental difference between us that would always exist.
“Just human,” I repeated, my voice deadly quiet. And what happens when I disagree with that, Lester?
“That’s not what I meant
“It’s exactly what you meant.” Educked under his arm, putting distance between us with movements that were sharp and efficient. “You want someone who support you when it’s easy, whall challenge you when it’s safe, who submit when it matters. You want a partner who knows her place.”
“Sophia, please
“Stop talking!” I shoved him hard. “Don’t say another word to use about this, Lester! And don’t make a move against Elle, don’t try to sabotage her relationship with Brad!”
I saw something shift in his eyes.
I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there in the corridor, hopefully finally understanding that some bridges, once burned, couldn’t be rebuilt.
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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.
