2
Her flushed smile says it all.
Our bond has grown deeper since Sophia gave me her mating mark. It's only been ten days, but her constant presence within me, as a result of the bond, has done a lot to help with the grief that I've been carrying within me. The grief of losing a girl whom I had raised and who had been both a younger sister and a child. I had to end her life with my own hands, having realized too late her obsession with me and the destruction she had caused to our pack as a result.
These past couple of weeks have been hard for us all. My mate lost someone as well. She still has a hard time talking about Drew, and I try not to mention him. Her grief is different than mine.
When I lost my parents, I still had some of my pack left alive, and they had cared for me and helped me through the darkest times. Sophia was forcibly orphaned when her father was killed by Alpha Black, the leader of the Red Rock Wolf Pack. Her mother was imprisoned as soon as Sophia was born, and Alpha Black raised my mate with the intention of taking her as his own mate once she was of the right age. Sophia was deliberately isolated and Drew was one of the few people whom she had cared for. His death had shattered her.
She's tried to hold herself together but she's unable to hide her grief entirely.
The only thing I can do is to be there for her and piece her back together when she breaks. There is a rough road ahead for her, what with Sophia having been appointed the leader of the South Alliance. She's trying not to show it, but she's quite anxious about how she's supposed to handle such a position. She, more than anyone, is aware that the only reason she's been given this title is because she is the Silver Wolf, a mystical creature who is a shifter with the ability to practice magic.
"Why don't you lie down for a bit and I'll get you something to eat?" I suggest, seeing how pale she looks.
"I'm okay," my mate insists.
"Sure you are," I agree affably, picking her up with ease and carrying her to the bed. "You're perfectly okay. In fact, you're so okay that a nap will just make you more okay."
She scowls at me. "Your jokes are broken."
"It's okay," I reply pleasantly.
She throws a pillow at me in annoyance and I duck out of the way before retrieving it and tucking it under her. "Sleep. We'll work on your aim later."
I'm sure she would punch me if she wasn't so exhausted.
I leave the room once I’m absolutely certain that she’s dozed off.
The guest houses provided to us by the Greyson Wolf Pack are built like entire suites with a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, and a private backyard. I’m grateful for the privacy. I also know that the guest houses are at the far end of the town, away from the nursery and where Karina's people who are assigned to the nursery reside. Alpha Greyhound is taking a huge risk in housing us. If the Queen of the North Alliance discovers he helped us, there is no knowing what she will do to him and his people.
As I walk in into the living area, I see Alpha Dorian Greyhound lingering by the entrance.
“Dorian?"
Dorian Greyhound is a tall man in his late forties. He gives me a brief nod. “I was hoping to catch you. I heard Sophia has been busy removing the evil magic from the children."
I nod, sticking my hands in my pockets.
I've not built any sort of close friendships with the alphas of the North alliance. They had all kept an eye on me, but also kept me at a distance, not wanting to incur Karina's wrath. However, once they realized that I had begun to rebuild my pack, they offered assistance on small matters. It was an acknowledgment of my efforts. I never held them responsible for turning a blind eye all these years. After all, Karina had everyone by the balls.
I hadn't expected Dorian to stick his neck out for me, even now. The fact that he did has me grateful to the Alpha. He's made it easier for me to regroup my people. Since we will have to leave for the north, I've sent some of my soldiers along with Dorian’s people to let them know about the change of plans. They’re all set to convene on the border between the North and the South, where we will meet them.
Right now, Dorian is helping us by facilitating communications. My own right-hand team, Patrick, Jared, Saul, and Nathan, have returned to our village to collect all the evidence against Karina that we've been gathering for years now. Then they will make their own journey to the border. The only reason we're still lingering here is because Sophia wants to remove the magic that was placed on the pups belonging to this pack, and because her mother is still in critical condition.
"We're very grateful to her," Dorian says, quietly. "You have no idea how it feels to finally breathe easy again."
"I do know." I glance behind me at the closed bedroom door behind which my mate is resting. "She did the same for my pack. It's not easy for her, either. She's not very good at protecting her interests. So I do that for her."
The meaning behind my words is not lost on Dorian. If Sophia is overwhelmed, I'll put a stop to everything, no matter the consequences.
"I understand," the Alpha says. "She's got too generous a heart. It's not common amongst our kind. Wolf shifters are more bloodthirsty and brutish. Your mate is…she's different."
Dorian is choosing his words carefully, probably so as not to offend me, but he's right. Sophia is more empathetic. She always was. When I met her, I constantly confused her empathy for recklessness. She would throw herself into dangerous situations, just to help someone. She was also more sensitive than I was, a fact that she hid behind a prickly exterior.
My heart tightens.
My actions in the very beginning must have left horrifying bruises on her heart. And yet, she's forgiven me for them, always understanding. What I just said to Dorian is true. She doesn't know where the line is when it comes to her safety, which is why I have to draw it for her.
"She's the Silver Wolf," I give Dorian an easy smile. "What did you expect? She's not going to be like us in most regards."
I have no intention of sharing my mate's weaknesses with anyone, not even the man risking his life to give us a place to stay. Weaknesses can be exploited, and Sophia has enough people after her. I don't want to add any more to the list.
"You're right," Dorian agrees. "Now, about why I'm here. One of the representatives of the Central Alliance wants to see you. Since all the alliance representatives are now returning to their respective territories, they made a quick stop here. I believe he wanted to see Sophia but at the last moment, he changed his mind and asked for you instead.”
Invitations are always sent to the leaders of the three alliances for the Winter Banquet.. The attendees from each alliance include the leader of the alliance, along with the alphas of the packs within that alliance. However, the Central Alliance has never sent any of their Alphas, nor has the King of the Central Alliance ever made an appearance. He sends representatives instead. Karina always considered this an insult, since it is always the leader of the North Alliance who hosts the Winter Banquet. However, there wasn't anything she could do but accept this slight.
Dorian's words have me blinking in surprise. “Someone from the Central Alliance wants to speak to me?”
“He’s waiting outside.”
I look over my shoulder once again before replying. "I'll speak to him outside. Sophia is resting right now. I don’t want her to be disturbed.”
I follow Dorian outside. The man standing near the entrance looks a little familiar. He’s the one who spoke up in favor of Sophia during the showdown at the banquet. In fact, he had also been standing quite close to Sophia when I had arrived.
“How can I help you?”