Chapter 64
SOPHIA’S POV
I was walking to my car when someone called my name. The voice was familiar but unexpected. I turned around and saw Zade leaning against a black Mercedes parked across the street. He was dressed in an expensive suit, looking completely out of place here.
I was shocked to see him.
“Zade? What are you doing here?” I glanced around nervously.
Stone Villa was right behind me. If Damien came back and saw us together, it would only make things worse.
“I could ask you the same thing.” He pushed off the car and walked toward me. “You look like hell, Sophia. What happened p>
“Nothing. I’m fine.” I tried to move past him but he stepped in my way.
“Don’t lie to me. I can see it all over your face. Damien did something.” His expression darkened. “What did he do p>
I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to admit how badly I was losing this fight. But something about the way Zade looked at me, the genuine concern in his eyes, made the words spill out.
“He’s replacing me with Tiffany. He’s taking Ashley to her house, spending weekends there. He’s making my daughter comfortable with the idea of another woman as her mother.” My voice broke. “And I can’t do anything to stop it p>
Zade’s jaw tightened. “Where is he right now p>
“I don’t know. He’s preparing for work. I’m not sure where he is. I saw him drive out p>
“Then let’s find him p>
Zade pulled out his phone and made a quick call. He spoke in low tones I couldn’t quite hear. When he hung up, he looked at me.
“He’s at Moonlight Bar in his private room p>
“How do you know that p>
“I make it my business to know where my enemies are.” He opened his car door. “Get in. We’re going there p>
“What? No. I can’t just show up at his bar. That’s p>
“We’re going. You need someone with you. Someone he can’t just dismiss or intimidate.” Zade’s eyes were hard. “I’m tired of watching him destroy you piece by piece. It’s time someone stood up to him on your behalf p>
“But you two are enemies. If you show up there together, it’ll start a war p>
“Good. Maybe it’s time for a war.” Zade walked around and opened the passenger door for me. “Get in, Sophia p>
I stood there for a moment, torn. Every instinct told me this was a bad idea, that going to Damien’s bar with Zade would only make everything worse. But another part of me, the part that was tired of being pushed around and ignored, wanted to fight back.
I got in the car.
Zade drove fast through the city.
Neither of us spoke much. My wolf was anxious. She kept pacing inside me. She knew we were heading into danger. But she was also angry. She was also tired of being treated like we didn’t matter.
Moonlight Bar was downtown. It was Damien’s high-end establishment that catered to wealthy wolves and humans who didn’t know what they were really drinking with.
Zade pulled up to the front entrance and tossed his keys to the valet like he owned the place.
“Come on.” He took my arm and led me inside.
The interior was dark and sophisticated. It had low lighting and expensive furniture.
Several people looked up as we entered. I saw recognition in their eyes. I saw recognition and fear. Zade Harrington walking into Damien’s territory was not a small thing.
A security guard stepped in front of us. “Alpha Harrington. I’m afraid you’re not welcome here p>
“I don’t care about your welcome. I’m here to see Damien Stoneod.” Zade’s voice was cold.. “His private room. Now p>
“Sir, I can’t let you p>
Zade pushed past him like he wasn’t even there. I followed. We walked through the main bar area toward the back where the private rooms were.
More security appeared but Zade ignored them all. His Alpha presence was rolling off him in waves, making the weaker wolves back down automatically.
We reached a door marked with Damien’s pack symbol. Zade didn’t bother knocking. He just opened it and walked in. I followed close behind.
The room was spacious with a large table in the center. Damien sat at the head of it. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand. Simon was beside him. Nate was there too.
They all looked up in shock as we entered.
Damien’s expression went from surprise to rage in seconds. He stood up. His Alpha presence exploded out to meet Zade’s.
“What the hell are you doing here p>
“Having a conversation.” Zade walked to the table and with one swift motion, flipped it over. Glasses and bottles crashed to the floor. Liquid spilled everywhere. The other wolves there jumped to their feet, ready to attack. “About how you’ve been treating your wife p>
“Get out now. Before I have you thrown out.” Damien’s voice was deadly quiet.
“I’d like to see you try.” Zade turned to me. “Go ahead, Sophia. Tell him what you came to say p>
All eyes turned to me. I stood there frozen.
Simon stepped forward. “You have no right to come here and make demands. You left your marriage. This is the consequence p>
“I didn’t choose to leave. I was driven out by years of neglect and betrayal.” I looked at Damien. “By a husband who valued everyone except his wife. Who humiliated me publicly while expecting me to stay silent and grateful p>
Simon moved toward me. He had an angry expression on his face.
Zade stepped between us instantly. “Touch her and you’ll regret it p>
“You don’t give orders here.” Simon’s eyes flashed gold. His wolf was close to the surface.
“Neither do you.” Zade’s voice dropped lower. His tone became more dangerous. “You’re a nobody pretending to be an Alpha. You enforce Damien’s will but you have no real power of your own. So sit down before I remind you what real power looks like p>
The tension in the room was suffocating. Wolves on both sides were ready to shift. They all looked ready to fight. This could turn bloody very quickly.
I put my hand on Zade’s arm. “Wait. Please.” I looked at Damien. “Can we talk? Just the two of us? Please p>
Damien stared at me for a long moment. Then he nodded once. “Everyone out p>
“Boss-” Simon started.
“Out.” Damien ordered.
Simon glared at Zade but left when Damien repeated the command. Zade looked at me with a question in his eyes. I nodded. He could go too.
“I’ll be right outside,” Zade said quietly. “If you need me, just call p>
He left, closing the door behind him.
Now it was just me and Damien.