Chapter 203
Sophia’s POV
The moment I stepped into the corridor, I saw Lester.
“Sophia. His voice was rough, desperate. One arm braced beside my head while his other hand gripped my wrist. We need to talk.
“Get off me, Lester.” I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.
“Not until you listen to me.” His face was inches from mine, his eyes wild with something between rage and desperation. “I can’t take this anymore. You ignoring me, avoiding me-
“I’m not avoiding you. I’m done with you. There’s a difference.” I met his gaze steadily, refusing to show the fear creeping up my spine.
That’s when he leaned in, trying to kiss me.
The sound of my palm connecting with his face echoed through the corridor like a gunshot.
“Sophia, I will have you!” The words erupted from him, raw and possessive. “One way or another.”
I stared at him, my cheek stinging from the force of my own slap. “Really? And how exactly are you going to explain that to-” I let my voice drip with sarcasm. “You know, my father? Should I call him right now and tell him his student wants to ‘have‘ his daughter?”
His face went white.
But instead of backing down, his expression crumpled into something pathetic. “Sophia, why are you hurting me like this? I know you feel something for me.
I can sense it.”
The laugh that escaped me was bitter as winter wind. “Jesus Christ, Lester. Are you really this between us. “I told you before – it’s Mira or me. You can only choose one.” My eyes narrowed.
g delusional?” I pushed against his chest, creating space
where is she, anyway? Your precious little sister?”
“I’m looking for her too!” His voice cracked with desperation. “And she’s not–I don’t think of Mira as anything more than a sister. You’re the one I love,
Sophia. You’re the one I want.”
That did it. The last thread of patience I had snapped clean in half.
‘Oh, spare me the bullshit!‘ I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “I’m so fucking tired of watching this brother–sister act between you two. You know what your problem is, Lester? You think you love me, but you’d die for her. That’s not love – that’s obsession with what you can’t have while
taking for granted what you do.”
Lester’s mouth opened and closed like he was drowning on dry land.
‘You know what you do, Lester? You protect Mira. That’s it. That’s your entire emotional range. I was shaking now, but not with fear. With liberation. “But Elle? Elle protects everyone she cares about. She’d burn the world down for the people she loves, and she doesn’t make them compete for her loyalty. You’re too selfish to understand that kind of love. You only love yourself!”
The silence that followed felt like the moment after lightning strikes – heavy, electric, waiting for the thunder.
Lester stood there, his Alpha composure completely shattered. No words. No arguments. Nothing.
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16:54 Tue, Dec 23 MOT.
Chapter 203
‘Sophia, listen to me- he started, but I was done. So fucking done.
“We’re finished, Lester. We were done the moment you chose her over me, and we’re still done now that you’re trying to choose me over her.” I stepped toward him, and he actually flinched. “Now get out of my way.”
For a moment, I thought he might actually try to stop me. His whole body was trembling with barely contained Alpha rage. But then something in him seemed to break, and he stepped aside.
I walked past him without a backward glance, my heart pounding but my steps steady.
“Sophia, wait. His voice was barely a whisper. “The house and car that Frostclaw provided – you can keep them. As an apology.”
I paused but didn’t turn around. “I don’t live on pack territory anymore, and I can buy my own car. Keep your guilt gifts.”
Elle’s POV
Everyone was so stuffed they could barely move.
“Oh my God, Abigail groaned, patting her stomach. “Susan, your cooking is incredible. I think I gained five pounds just from dinner.”
Susan beamed with pride. “You girls should come visit more often when we get back. I love having people to cook for.”
“Mom, with your salary, you can’t afford to feed all of us,” I teased, settling back into my chair and trying to push the image of Sophia’s confrontation with
Lester out of my mind.
“Well, there’s always Malcolm!” Susan blurted out, then immediately turned bright red as she realized what she’d said.
The entire table went silent. Malcolm nearly choked on his wine.
“Mom…” I started, but I couldn’t help grinning.
“I mean–that’s not–we haven’t really talked about-” Susan was stumbling over her words, looking anywhere but at Malcolm.
Malcolm cleared his throat, his cheeks turning pink. “Well, I mean, if Susan will have me…”
‘Oh for God’s sake,” Abigail laughed. “You two are adorable. Just admit you’re dating already.”
Susan covered her face with her hands. “This is mortifying.”
‘It’s sweet,‘ I corrected, reaching over to squeeze her arm. “I’m happy for you, Mom. Both of you.”
Malcolm’s smile was so bright it could have powered the entire ship. “Thank you, Elle. That means everything.”
Just as we were all settling into this warm, fuzzy family moment, Sophia reappeared. She looked composed, but I could see the tension in her shoulders and something new in her eyes relief, maybe? Or freedom?
–
‘How’d it go?” I asked quietly as she sat down.
“It went exactly how it needed to go,” she replied, then louder: “Did you guys save me any dessert?”
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16:54 Tue, Dec 23
Chapter 203
Later, after we’d all headed back to our rooms, I decided I needed some fresh air. The assistant Harper had assigned to me offered to escort me to the deck, and I gratefully accepted. The evening was beautiful, and I wanted to clear my head before trying to sleep.
I was just starting to relax when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Elle West?”
I turned to find Lester Harrison standing a few feet away. Up close, I could see that his eyes were red–rimmed, like he’d been crying. His usual Alpha arrogance was nowhere to be found he just looked broken.
“Ms. West,” he said again, his voice hoarse. “Could we… could we talk?”
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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.
