Chapter 164
SOPHIA’S POV
The sitting room felt like a cage.
I sat on the far end of the sofa. I badly wanted to leave.
George sat between us. He kept glancing from Damien to Tiffany, then back again.
“Talk,” he said again. “Both of you. You’re wolves, not pups. Use your words p>
Nobody spoke.
Damien sat on the opposite end of the sofa from me. Tiffany stood near the fireplace, still wiping the corners of her eyes with the sleeve of her soft pink sweater.
I stared at the carpet. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. My wolf whimpered softly inside me. She was just as uncomfortable as I was. She hadn’t made a sound in hours.
George looked between Tiffany and Damien, hoping one of them would speak up.
I fought the urge to groan.
“Just apologize already” I thought “So, I can be on my way”
Tiffany broke first.
“I don’t want to fight,” she said softly. “I just want us to be okay. I hate it when things are tense between us p>
Damien didn’t look up right away.
“You’re not the reason,” he said. His voice was rough. “It’s not you p>
“Then what is it?” she asked.
silence.
“Pressure,” he said finally. “Work, the pack, things I haven’t been handling well.” He lifted his head and looked at her then, “And I’ve been short with you because of things that have nothing to do with you. That’s not fair p>
Tiffany’s breath caught. “Damien p>
“I’m sorry,” he said.
George sighed and sat back in his chair. Tiffany and Damien hugged each other tightly.
“There,” he said. “That’s better. That’s all it needed p>
I said nothing.
I had spent four years trying to fit with Damien Stone.
I had pressed myself into every shape I could think of. I had made myself smaller when he needed space and larger when he needed a wall. I had learned his coffee order and his sleep schedule.
Watching him hold Tiffany, I understood something: he had never been learning me back.
“Sophia.” George’s voice cut through my thoughts. I looked at him.
“Thank you,” he said, and he meant it “For coming”
I forced a smile smile. “I didn’t do much p>
“You stayed,” he said. “That was enough p>
I stood up. My injured arm was a bit painful – the same arm Damien had grabbed less than an hour ago. I kept my right hand close to my body as I reached down for my bag with my left.
“I’ll head home now,” I said. “It’s late p>
I didn’t look at Damien. There was nothing left in looking at Damien.
I said good night to George and let him take my hand with both of his, squeezing it gently.
“Rest that arm,” he said quietly. “And come visit an old man when you can p>
“I will,” I said, and I meant it.
Then I walked out of the room, down the long hallway, and through the front door of Stone Manor.
I stood on the front steps for a moment and just breathed.
My own wolf had been quiet for so long I sometimes forgot she was still there. She was pressed up against the inside of my ribs, waiting.
It’s over, I told her. We’re almost through it.
She didn’t answer. She never did when she was tired.
I pulled my coat tighter around my shoulders with my good arm and walked to my car.
To my surprise, I saw a strange car in the driveway.
A dark car was parked just outside the tall iron gate of the estate. The engine was off.
I slowed my steps.
No.
I kept walking. I kept my eyes forward as I moved.
Don’t stop. Don’t look. Just get to your car and go.
But then the car door opened.
It was Zade. He was wearing a dark jacket over a light shirt. He had his hands in his pockets and a cigarette between two fingers. He dropped it and crushed it under his shoe as I approached.
He moved before I could pass him. One step, and he was in front of me.
I stopped.
I looked at him. Or rather, I glared at him.
“Move,” I said.
“What happened in there?” he asked.
I shifted my bag on my shoulder. “Nothing that concerns you p>
“Sophia. You were in there for forty minutes. I counted p>
I finally looked at his face.
“You counted,” I repeated flatly.
“Every minute.” He said it without embarrassment.
I shook my head and looked away. “You shouldn’t be here. This is Damien’s family estate. If he sees you p>
“I don’t care if he sees me p>
“Well, I care,” I said sharply. “I don’t need more complications tonight, Zade. I really, truly don’t. this is none of your business”