Chapter 9
SOPHIA’S POV
Klara looped her tiny chubby fingers around my arm as we stepped out of Ashley’s hospital room.
Patricia followed behind us quietly.
My wolf was curled inside me. She was exhausted and silent. Her emotions matched the hollow ache in my chest. I had said everything I needed to say to Damien and my daughter. There was nothing left binding me to that family, not really, not anymore.
I kept my eyes forward, ready to leave the hospital entirely, when I caught a scent. The scent was bitter and familiar. It could only belong to one person.
Helen.
I didn’t even have time to brace myself. She stepped out from behind a corner as if she had been waiting.
“You have the nerve,” she hissed before I could move past her. “You didn’t just abandon your husband, you abandoned your daughter p>
Her voice carried the edge of a Luna’s command, that need-to-be obeyed undertone. But I had lived beneath the Stone family’s aura for years. It didn’t shake me anymore.
I glared at her.
“I didn’t abandon anyone,” I said softly.
“Oh?” Helen snapped. “Then why did Ashley wake up alone? Why does she cry for Tiffany? Why is she terrified every time you disappear? What kind of mother are you p>
Patricia muttered something under her breath, but Helen ignored her. She wasn’t here for the truth.
She was here to wound me.
In the past, I would have scrambled to defend myself, to explain, to justify. But I felt strangely calm now. I was detached. My wolf lifted her head, but only to observe, not to fight.
“I’m not explaining myself to you,” I said, stepping around her.
Helen grabbed my arm. Her nails bit into my skin, and her wolf pushed against mine “You irresponsible, ungrateful p>
My wolf reacted instantly, rising with a quiet growl only I could hear inside my mind. Not today.
I removed her hand from my arm one finger at a time, meeting her angry eyes.
“Let go of me,” I said evenly.
For a moment Helen seemed stunned, like she finally realized that the weak, obedient Sophia she knew no longer existed.
“You’ll regret this,” she spat after me.
But I didn’t look back. I simply walked away.
DAMIEN’S POV
Mom stormed back into the room. I knew she had caused a scene. Her scent was filled with anger.
Ashley flinched, covering her ears.
“That woman is impossible!” Helen exploded. “Your wife just brushed past me like I’m dirt under her shoes. She doesn’t care about her daughter. She doesn’t care about any of us p>
I exhaled slowly. “Mother, she’s just being emotional p>
“Emotional?” Helen barked. “She’s disrespectful p>
I didn’t reply. I was too tired to argue, and honestly, Sophia’s behavior didn’t worry me. She had always been sensitive. She would cool off. She always did.
Or at least… she used to.
As I rubbed my temple, I was suddenly reminded of something else – something more important. My wolf stretched inside me with a restless huff.
Ovulation.
I straightened in my seat. Right. It was the window. The fertile period. The time we couldn’t afford to miss again.
If Sophia would simply get pregnant, everything else would fall into place.
“She’ll come home,” I said dismissively, grabbing my keys. “I’ll talk to her p>
Helen blinked. “Damien, where are you going? Ashley needs you p>
“You’re here,” I said, already heading for the door. “I’ll handle Sophia p>
My wolf approved, pushing me forward. I had to find her, complete the task then restore order.
I left the hospital, got into my car, and began dialing her number.
It rang once. Then I heard the automated voice: This number is currently unreachable.
I frowned and tried again. Same result.
“She turned off her phone I muttered.
My wolf growled softly. He was already impatient.
I texted her: Where are you? Call me. We need to talk. Answer your phone.
No response.
Something cold pricked the back of my neck. I didn’t pause. I drove straight home, hoping she had simply gone there ahead of me.
When I arrived, the villa was silent.
“Sophia?” I called out as I entered.
Someone stepped out from the hallway. For a split second, my heart lifted.
“Sophia p>
The woman turned. It was a maid.
“Alpha?” she asked, startled.
I froze, feeling embarrassed “Where’s Sophia p>
She looked nervous, “I haven’t seen her since that day”
My wolf’s ears perked.
I didn’t waste another second. I left the villa again, already dialing her number.
This time, it didn’t even ring. It went straight to failed connection.
She was avoiding me.