Chapter 20

~Liam~

“Alpha,” Sophia whispered, wrapping her cold arms around my neck from behind, “You look unwell. Are you in pain? Perhaps I can ease it a bit.”

I sat in my bedroom, where Grace used to stay. It felt so empty without her. I sighed, staring at her abandoned belongings, still boxed up in suitcases. How long was she going to be gone?

The room felt like a shell of what it once was, now that Grace was gone. Like all of the warmth and the character left it.

I ignored Sophia, annoyed by her antics. I never thought it would come to this, but I was tired of Sophia’s constant attempts to please me and instant oral gratification.

I felt numb to her offer. To her disappointment, it wouldn’t work on me, this time. I leaned forward, pulling away from Sophia’s grasp.

I sighed. It really had been great being with a chosen mate–everything was so easy.

I never had to question her thoughts or loyalty. She was always mine. She never begged for more or complained about the way things were, or challenged my ideas when I presented them. There was no fighting with Sophia, being with her was so carefree.

Maybe that’s why I was so drawn to her, at the beginning. I thought she offered something Idesperately wanted. I thought she could show me how great it was to be with a chosen mate.

But was that really the way relationships were supposed to be? No conflict, no difference of opinions? If so, why was I so devastatingly unhappy?

I couldn’t get Grace out of my mind. Even during my happiest moments with Sophia, Grace lingered in my thoughts. I spent my time wishing she were here, knowing what she would have said or done instead of Sophia’s decisions.

That bastard, the Lycan King. It was all his fault!

My body tensed, bringing my chin to rest on my fist. My face scrunched as anger rose in my chest just at the thought of him.

Alexander had relentlessly pursued Grace, trying time and time again to bring her to his territory.

And now he won. She had finally left me for Alex.

A wave of despair washed over me and I put my hands over my face. There was nothing I could do about it. She was gone, Alexander beat me. That was that. Some Alpha I was.

I felt trapped. I couldn’t think of a single solution, although I knew Grace could, if she were here.

I couldn’t just storm the Black Lycan clan’s castle, that would be an act of war, and I couldn’t sacrifice my pack when I knew we’d lose. The Black Lycans were just stronger.

The other Alphas wouldn’t support me, they’d see it as an act of weakness and selfishness.

Besides, they would rather watch me fall, rejoice in my defeat, and claim my territory as their own.

I tried my hardest to stop Grace when I could, but I failed. What kind of an Alpha King can’t keep his own Luna from running off?

I pulled out my phone, disappointed to see no notifications, then stared at the string of texts I’d sent Grace.

“Damn it, Grace, what are you doing?” I muttered as I sent her another message. I knew she wouldn’t respond, but what else could I do?

I thought she’d stay by my side, stay with the pack. She had always been a very good Luna, raised as one. It was her entire identity and she had always fulfilled it perfectly.

Her strong will and well-trained manners had conditioned her to know that she had to make sacrifices for the pack, and she had always done so in the past. I honestly thought she would have compromised this time, as well.

But I guess I had asked too much of her, this time.

I sat back in the chair, staring at Grace’s hairbrush that lay on the nightstand.

She would always be strong-willed and stand up for herself, being a female Alpha. I both loved and hated that about her.

Grace always had to be in control. Whatever idea I suggested, she had a better one. Whatever solution I proposed, she would have something better.

There was no winning with her. It was a constant battle to make myself feel worthy of the Alpha King title, to feel like I was the Alpha of the Nightshade pack. Not just some Beta cowering behind his barking Alpha wife.

However, I knew I made a better warrior than her. I was stronger and had more fighting training.

She preferred not to get into a fight at all, which made me a more powerful Alpha.

In the werewolf world, it was just as important to be able to protect your pack as it was to speak in councils.

I just wished Grace was more submissive. That’s where Sophia shined.

It was so nice not having to battle and argue and fight for my dominance with her, but… it just wasn’t enough. She was nowhere near the woman Grace was, and she lacked everything I loved about Grace.

Even if Grace and I weren’t fated mates, I had chosen her for a reason. When I chose to marry her three years ago, I had no doubts in my mind that she was the one. She would make the perfect Luna to my pack, and the perfect partner.

She was quick-witted, intelligent, beautiful, funny, compassionate, and reasonable. She was the perfect woman.

“You’ve been messaging for hours. Is it your wife again?” Sophia whispered into my ear, and I frowned, annoyed.

I didn’t want to be consoled, fawned over. Sophia was nothing like Grace. She could never live up to Grace’s standard.

A wave of anger flared inside of me and I abruptly grabbed her hand, pulling her in front of me.

She cried out in shock, and I forced her to kneel in front of me.

“Never speak of my wife or your Luna again!” I shouted, hands shaking with fury.

I was sick of Sophia always belittling Grace when she had nothing on her.

“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered, trembling in fear in front of me. She lowered her head, and I could hear her voice crack with a sob. “I-I understand the difference between us. I only want to help.”

I laughed cruelly, looking down on her. She was so pathetic, so weak. “How could an Omega possibly help an Alpha?”

Sophia slowly looked up at me, a spark in her eye. She slid her hands onto my knees, leaning forward. Tears wet her cheeks, but she was no longer crying.

“I may just be an Omega… but I am still a woman, and I understand things from a woman’s perspective.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. I had to admit, her words intrigued me, if she had something actually worthwhile to say, and not just another empty attempt to console me.

I tilted my head, motioning for her to continue.

I could see the smile that played at the corners of her lips, as if she was excited about her own idea.

“We could always target the people Grace cares about.”