Chapter 147
Zara
Sophia was strangely quiet in the car, her expression hesitant and thoughtful. Even as she drove down the street, I sensed her thoughts were elsewhere.
“Can I ask you something?” she finally spoke as we entered her house. I looked through Sophia’s closet, examining every dress and expensive pair of shoes.
“Go ahead.” I nodded, my gaze gliding approvingly over one of her dresses. It was black, with ruffled sleeves like a doll’s, and a very short hem. It reached mid-thigh, but I was worried it might open if I leaned over.
“If Ethan’s friend wanted to cross over, would Alpha Kane allow her?” Sophia frowned, fiddling with her hands, watching me explore her endless closet. “Or would he just kill her p>
I shuddered involuntarily at her last sentence, a disturbing image of Kitty’s death flashing through my mind.
“I wouldn’t have let him kill her.” I frowned. “He would have wanted to interrogate her, to prove her innocence, but I would never have let him kill her p>
“Is that what you did with Kate?” she asked, her voice slightly less worried.
“News travels fast, huh?” I quipped, raising an eyebrow. “But yes. Everyone deserves a chance to prove their innocence p>
“Agreed,” she said quietly. “I have one more question for you p>
“I’ll answer on one condition.” I smiled shyly, holding up the black dress I’d seen in Sophia’s closet. “Can I borrow it p>
“Is that your condition?” Sophia snorted, almost as usual. “Damn it, keep the damn thing. I’m too tall for it anyway. When I bend over, all my charms are on display p>
“I think it’ll be the same for me. Perfect for Kane.” I chuckled. “What were you trying to ask me p>
“You think all the Demons are evil p>
I felt myself tense, wondering where the hell it had come from. From the seriousness of her expression, I could tell she wanted an honest answer. For a moment, I wanted to say “yes” to curse all Demons for my personal experience with them.
Are all Demons evil? Some werewolves are evil, but others are good. Couldn’t the same be true of Demons? Who am I to judge an entire race?
“No.” The word surprised me, as did the maturity of my answer. “There’s good and evil in everything. In the end, it’s all about choice p>
Finally, she stood up and helped me look through her closet, holding out a couple of dresses for my approval.
“I guess sometimes not growing up has its perks,” I chuckled, and I was overcome with happiness at the sight of Sophia’s genuine smile.
Whatever was plaguing her mind had now subsided. It was clear she was struggling with her own demons, but I would wait patiently until she was willing to share.
“How are things with your friend?” I asked, wondering if she even found the time to spend with the poor thing.
“I honestly haven’t had time to visit him.” She chuckled breathlessly. “With all this, I don’t know how safe it is to leave the pack p>
“I guess you’re right.” I frowned, my voice soft and sympathetic. “I’m so sorry, really p>
“It’s not your fault.” She shook her head, anger flickering in her brown eyes. “Marcus started all this p>
“And now we have to deal with this mess,” I chuckled darkly.
“Some people never change.” Her laughter was as loud as mine.
After spending the next two hours with her, she sent me home.
I dropped the clothes she’d given me at the foot of Alpha Kane’s bed and walked down the hall to Ryan’s room. I knocked on the door and waited a few minutes, smiling as Ryan opened it. He looked a million times better.
“Looks good.” I smiled softly. “Ready to go home p>
Actually, yes.” Ryan chuckled, becoming himself again. A slight sadness still glimmered in his eyes, but I hoped that would fade with time. “I really wanted to talk to you. Come in p>
I followed Ryan inside, my stomach churning at the way our last meeting had gone.
“It’s not your fault, Zara.” Ryan turned, answering my thoughts as if they were written all over my face. “Sure, Marcus wants you, but they also want to destroy this pack. You couldn’t change that p>
“I never knew I frowned.
While I was struggling to pick my jaw up from the floor, Ryan did something unexpected. A dazzling smile spread across his face, and a hearty laugh escaped his lips.
I drove Ryan and me back to Dad’s house in one of Alpha Kane’s cars. The sun was already setting, preparing for the moonrise. The light was on in the living room, and I knew Dad was sitting in his usual chair.
We entered the house without knocking. Dad glanced at where Ryan and I were standing. The beer fell from his hand as he jumped up from the chair. Dad was never affectionate. His praise consisted of a smile and a pat on the back.
The sight of Dad hugging Ryan warmed me, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“You Dad grimaced, pointing his finger at me while still hugging Ryan. “You’re in trouble p>
“You’re welcome,” I grinned, enjoying the happiness in Dad’s eyes.
“You did it,” he breathed, a smile spreading across his face as he looked Ryan over. “It’s going to take a lot of food to make up for that weight p>
“I’m sure you can do it,” Ryan chuckled.
“Everything okay?” I frowned.
“Remember what we talked about before you went to get Ryan?” Dad sighed.
“Very good,” I muttered.
“I know about your… connection with the shadows.” He cleared his throat, glancing at Ryan. “I saw you during the fight, calling out to them. I’m sure you know how dangerous it is now p>
“I know.” I frowned, and a thought that had been bothering me for a long time occurred to me. “How do you see them? Kane sees them too p>
“It’s not some special ability or anything.” He shrugged, his lips twitching as he caught the mention of Kane in my words. “You just have to look hard p>
“Look hard?” I snorted, but my heart wasn’t in it. “Really p>
“Of course.” Dad chuckled, but his face immediately grew serious. “Can’t say you’re not…Don’t mess with those shadows, but be careful. Their prices can be very high p>
“I know how high they are,” I muttered under my breath, avoiding his fearful gaze.
“Don’t tell me, have you traded your life p>
“No,” he said.
I laughed. “They didn’t accept my life. They took someone else’s p>
“Oh, my Goddess.” Dad shook his head, pressing his hand to his heart.
Something about Dad’s reaction sent a wave of guilt through me, so strong that I fell to my knees. His sympathy and disappointment tormented me, hitting me harder than anything else.
“I didn’t… I didn’t know.” I simply said, “Kane should have died; we were outnumbered. I had to do something. They would have killed Ryan, Sophia, Carter, and Wade the moment they had me p>
“The Shadows can be a valuable resource, capable of things we can’t.” Dad nodded. “But the cost often outweighs the benefit. Sometimes a little of your blood is enough, but as you well know, sometimes they ask for more p>
“They took an innocent human,” I whispered, my guilt-filled gaze landing on Dad.
Dad said nothing, knowing it wouldn’t ease my guilt. Instead, he hugged me and held me tight. The tears refused to flow; I’d already shed enough.