SOPHIA’S POV
When I stepped out of the house that evening, I felt a bit tense.
My wolf had been restless all day. She kept pacing quietly in the back of my mind like she was waiting for sothing bad to happen.
I knew why. Every ti I had to see Damien lately, sothing inside got restless.
His car was already parked outside.
I paused for a second before walking toward it. I didn’t want to do this, but George was waiting in the hospital, and that was enough reason for to move forward.
When I reached the car, the driver stepped out and opened the door for
“Thank you” I said to him as I got in.
Damien was in the seat beside . The mont I closed the door, the scent hit .
It wasn’t subtle. This was a strong and sweet feminine scent. It was familiar to .
Tiffany.
My wolf reacted instantly. She growled low inside . It wasn’t just Tiffany’s perfu. I could sll her presence, like she had been here not long ago.
I didn’t say anything.
I simply leaned back, looking at the front. That was when I saw it. there was a small costic bag near the center console, slightly open, with lip gloss and powder inside.
My stomach turned at the sight.
So, this was how it was now. He didn’t even bother to hide it.
“Let’s go,” Damien said to the driver. His voice was calm as if nothing was wrong.
The car started moving.
I kept my eyes fixed on the window, watching the city pass by, but my mind wasn’t on the streets. My wolf stayed tense. She was uneasy and honestly, a little disgusted.
“You’re quiet,” Damien said after a while.
I didn’t look at him.
“There’s nothing to say,” I replied simply.
The car fell silent again.
-
When we arrived at the hospital, I got out first.
The building looked the sa. We’d been here many tis but tonight it sothing in was different. Maybe it was because I knew what I was walking into. Maybe it was because I knew I would have to stand next to Damien and pretend, even for a short ti.
We walked side by side toward George’s room. My wolf stayed alert. She kept watching everything, sensing everything.
The mont we stepped inside, George’s face lit up.
“There you are,” he said. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t co.”
“We’re here,” Damien said, walking closer to the bed.
I followed, keeping a small distance at first, but George’s eyes moved to quickly.
“Sophia,” he said, reaching out his hand.
I stepped forward and took it gently.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Better now that I see you,” he replied with a smile.
George’s eyes moved between the two of us, and I could see the expectation there. He wanted to see us together, not just in the sa room, but close.
Before I could react, Damien moved.
His hand reached for mine. He held my hand firmly. The gesture was sudden and there was no room to pull away without making it obvious.
My body went stiff.
My wolf reacted imdiately. She recognized his touch. She always had. But now, it felt wrong.
I didn’t look at him. I just let it happen.
George’s smile widened.
“That’s good,” he said softly. “That’s how it should be.”
I said nothing.
Damien’s grip tightened a bit, like he was making sure I wouldn’t pull away.
To anyone else, it would have looked natural. It looked like a husband holding his wife’s hand.
But I knew better, and so did my wolf.
After a while, George’s expression turned a bit confused.
“Where’s Ashley?” he asked suddenly.
The question made the room go still.
I felt Damien’s hand tighten around mine for a second.
“She... couldn’t make it today,” Damien said.
George frowned.
“Couldn’t make it?” he repeated. “She always cos.”
There was confusion in his voice now.
“I want to see her,” George said firmly. “Take ho. I’ll see her there.”
The words hit harder than expected. I felt Damien’s tension instantly. Even my own heart started racing.
“That’s not a good idea,” Damien said quickly.
George looked at Damien. “Why not?”
“You need to recover,” Damien replied. “The doctors said-”
“I’ve recovered enough,” George cut in. “I want to go ho.”
His tone was stronger now. Even the look on his face was determined.
I could feel the shift in the air. I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.
Damien was panicking.
It wasn’t obvious to anyone else, but I could feel it in the way his hand tightened again. He couldn’t let George go ho, not now. If he did, everything would be exposed.
My wolf picked up on it imdiately and so did I.
I stepped forward, gently pulling my hand free this ti.
“Grandpa,” I said softly.
George looked at .
“You’ll see her,” I continued. “But not like this.”
He frowned at .
“I miss her,” he said quietly.
“I know,” I smiled “And she misses you too.”
That wasn’t a lie.
“She’ll be there when you get better,” I added gently. “And when you’re strong enough, you can go ho and see her anyti you want.”
George looked at carefully, like he was trying to decide whether to believe .
“Anyti?” he asked.
“Anyti,” I nodded.
There was a pause. Then slowly, his expression softened.
“Alright,” he said.
The tension in the room eased instantly.
I could feel Damien relax slightly beside , but I didn’t look at him.
I didn’t want to.
-
After so ti, George grew tired, and we stepped out to give him space.
The corridor felt quieter but my wolf was still restless.
“I had it handled,” Damien said suddenly.
I stopped walking. His words almost made laugh, almost. He was practically panicking in the room a few minutes ago.
I turned to look at him.
“No,” I said “You didn’t.”
“I didn’t need you to step in,” he said.
“And I didn’t do it for you,”
For a mont, neither of us spoke. Then I turned and walked away.
I needed to be away from him. so, I just kept walking till I got outside. I moved to the hospital garden.
The place was quiet. There were soft lights along the place. The air felt lighter here.
I took in a deep breath as I entered. My wolf relaxed inside .
My eyes scanned the place. That was when I saw him.
Lance.
He stood near the trees with his hands in his pockets. When he saw , he smiled.
I was shocked to see him. What was he doing here?
“Sophia,” he said.
“Lance,” I replied.
We walked toward each other, stopping a few steps apart.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m okay,”
He studied my face, like he didn’t fully believe that.
“You don’t look okay,” he said gently.
I let out a small breath. “I’ve been worse”
He nodded, not saying anything. That was one thing I loved about Lance. He knew when to let things go.
Before either of us could say anything else, I heard footsteps behind .
I turned to see George there. A nurse was helping him walk slowly into the garden.
“Grandpa, you shouldn’t be out here,” I said, moving toward him.
“I needed so air,” he replied stubbornly.
His eyes shifted to Lance.
“And who is this?” he asked.
“This is Lance,” I said. “He’s my friend.”
George looked at Lance carefully, like he was studying him.
Lance nodded his head respectfully at George “Good day, sir”
“A good man,” George said after a mont.
Lance smiled “I try,”
George’s eyes moved between us. I noticed his expression changing as he looked at us and it confused even more.
“You should spend more ti with her,” George said suddenly.
The words caught off guard. What?
“Grandpa-” I started.
“She needs soone steady,” he continued. “Soone who knows her worth.”
My chest tightened. Why – why was he saying this?
Lance glanced at briefly before looking back at George.
“I understand,” he said calmly.
George nodded, satisfied.
“But I’m already taken,” Lance added gently.
The words made pause. George frowned slightly.
“You are?” he asked.
“Yes,” Lance said. “My heart already belongs to soone,” he continued.
George sighed softly. “That’s a sha,”
User Comments
0 comments from readers