Where My Heart Belong

 Kieran

I watched as Sophia walked majestically out of the car with two guards by her side from the window of the conference hall. Her scent hit me first before she got close enough to the pack house. Expensive perfume, vanilla, and jasmine. She always wore them like her life depended on the blend. Knowing werewolves have heightened olfactory senses, she’d wear too much, as if a little of it wasn’t enough to announce her presence before she entered a room. 

I drew in a sharp breath, mentally calming myself for whatever the reunion would bring. She barely changed. She made sure she gathered everyone’s attention along with her as she walked, with her head high, as they all fixed their gazes on her perfectly straight posture from behind. 

“Are you nervous?” Damien appeared from behind, his expression was neutral beyond suspicion. “I don’t have a good feeling about her appearance.”

“Do you have any idea why she’s really here?”

“I spoke to her on the phone, and she said she heard about the alpha murders through her contacts back here at the pack.” He paused when he noticed the look of betrayal on my face. I couldn’t believe I had snitches here that related what had been going on at the pack to her. “She specifically asked about who we are consulting on the matter.”

Of course she did. "What did you tell her?"

"Nothing. I figured you'd want to handle that conversation yourself."

Smart man. I clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks. Give us some privacy, but stay close."

Damien nodded and disappeared before Sophia finally walked into the room, leaving me to face my past alone. I pushed open the door and stepped inside. I stepped forward and met her halfway.

Sophia turned the doorknob and stepped in, her face lighting up with that forced smile I remembered so well. He beauty was still there; her perfectly styled auburn hair, designer clothes that probably cost more than what most pckmembers made in a month, and those green eyes that had once made other alphas envious of what they thought was my good luck.

Now, looking at her, I realized how I felt when we were still together. I felt nothing. No anger, no attraction, no regret. Just…void. 

She moved toward me with elegance. “Kieran,” she said, stopping close enough to invade my personal space without quite touching. “You look good. It’s great to see you again.’

"Sophia." I kept my voice neutral, professional. "Damien said you had concerns about pack security."

Her smile faltered slightly at my formal tone. “You haven’t changed, always straight to business.”

"Some things do." I moved to the bar cart, needing something to do with my hands. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Wine, if you have it. That pinot noir you used to keep for special occasions."

I poured her a glass, noting how she'd emphasized 'special occasions.' As if this reunion qualified. For myself, I opted for whiskey. I had a feeling I'd need it.

"So," I said, handing her the wine. "What brings you back to Crescent Moon territory?"

She settled onto the leather couch, crossing her legs elegantly. "I heard about the murders. Alpha Davidson, Alpha Morrison... It's terrifying what's happening to pack leaders across the region."

"Since when do Ravencrest Pack politics concern you?"

"Since my husband is potentially in danger." The words hung in the air between us, heavy with implication.

"Ex-husband," I corrected quietly.

Her green eyes flashed. "Are we? I seem to remember you refusing to sign the final divorce papers."

She was right, and we both knew it. I'd held onto those papers for months, telling myself it was about legal complications, about protecting pack assets. But the truth was more complicated. Signing them would have meant admitting complete failure, not just as a husband, but as a leader who'd let politics destroy two relationships.

"Things have been complicated," I said finally.

"I imagine they have been. Especially with her back in town," she said casually with a shrug.

There it was. I'd been wondering how long it would take her to bring up Aria. She didn’t stop talking about him, too, while we were still married. 

"If you're referring to our supernatural consultant, yes, we've brought in outside expertise to help with the investigation." I acted naturally to see if she was going to let the matter die there or not. 

Sophia laughed, a sound like breaking glass. "Supernatural consultant? Is that what we're calling her now?"

"That's what she is."

"Come now, Kieran. We both know exactly what she is." Sophia stood and moved closer, her voice dropping to that intimate tone she'd used during our marriage when she wanted something. "She's the reason our marriage fell apart. The reason you could never fully commit to me, to us, to what we could have built together."

I set down my whiskey harder than necessary. "Our marriage fell apart because we never should have gotten married in the first place. We both know that."

"Do we?" She reached out, her fingers brushing against my arm. "I remember a time when you seemed happy enough with the arrangement."

"Happy?" I pulled away from her touch. "Sophia, I was going through the motions. We both were. You wanted the status of being an alpha's mate, and I wanted to prove I could make the 'right' choice for the pack."

"And now?" Her eyes searched my face. "What do you want now?"

The question caught me off guard with its directness. What did I want? Three years ago, I thought I wanted pack stability, political advantage, and the approval of the elders. Now...

Now I wanted to see Aria smile without walls behind her eyes. I wanted to know who had taught her that devastating howl, and why she'd been forced to learn such techniques. I wanted to understand what had shaped her into this deadly, independent woman, and I wanted to earn back even a fraction of the trust I'd thrown away.

But I couldn't say any of that to Sophia.

"I want to keep my pack safe," I said instead.

"From who? Some rogue killer?" She moved closer again, persistent as always. "Kieran, I've been thinking during our time apart. About what went wrong, about what we could have had if we'd just tried harder."

"Sophia…"

"I made mistakes too," she continued, not letting me interrupt. "I was jealous of a memory, of someone who wasn't even here. I let that jealousy drive me away when I should have fought for what we had."

"What we had wasn't worth fighting for." The words came out harsher than I'd intended, but they were true. "We had a political arrangement. A treaty marriage. There was no love there, Sophia. Not real love."

Her facade cracked slightly, showing a flash of the hurt beneath. "There could have been. If you'd let yourself try. If you'd stopped comparing me to her."

"I never compared you to anyone."

"Didn't you?" She laughed bitterly. "Do you think I didn't notice? The way you'd go quiet when her name came up in pack gossip? The way you kept track of where she was, what she was doing? Your beta might be discreet, but he's not invisible, Kieran. I knew you were having her watched."

The accusation hit closer to home than I wanted to admit. Had I been that obvious? Had everyone known about my... interest in Aria's whereabouts?

"That was pack security," I said weakly.

"Pack security." She shook her head. "Even now, you can't admit it. She's here for three days, and already you're different. More alive than I've seen you in years."

Before I could respond, there was a soft knock on the door. Damien's voice came through: "Alpha? Sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation."

I opened the door to find Damien looking unusually flustered. Behind him stood two pack members I recognized. They were young wolves who usually worked perimeter security.

"What kind of situation?"

"The hunter is here," one of them said, slightly out of breath. "She's requesting permission to stay on pack territory. For the investigation."

My heart did something complicated in my chest. Aria was here. At the pack house. Requesting to stay. Was that why Marcus had been calling? I couldn’t pick because I was occupied, but Sophia came in around the time I was less occupied, so I couldn’t even pick up his calls.

"Where is she now?"

"Main gate. She said she'd wait for your decision."

I could feel Sophia's eyes boring into me, could practically hear her thoughts: See? I told you so.

"Tell her..." I paused, thinking quickly. Having Aria on the pack territory would be smart strategically. She'd be closer to investigate, closer to observe pack dynamics and identify potential threats. It made perfect sense from a security standpoint. Was that me thinking for myself or the pack?

It also meant she'd be here when Sophia was here, which had the potential to be a complete disaster.

"Tell her permission granted," I said finally. "Have someone escort her to the guest quarters in the east wing."

The pack members nodded and hurried off. Damien lingered for a moment, his expression questioning.

"You sure about this, Alpha?"

"It's the right call for the investigation," I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. “And, I’d like to hear the reason why she chose to come here directly from her.” 

After Damien left, I turned back to Sophia, who was watching me with knowing eyes.

"Interesting timing," she said softly.

"It's purely a coincidence."

"Is it?" She finished her wine and set the glass down with deliberate precision. "Or is she making sure she has a front-row seat for our reunion?"

"Aria doesn't think about our relationship, Sophia. She's here to do a job."

"Our relationship." Sophia smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Interesting choice of words. Since technically, she and I are the ones with relationships to you. She just had hers first."

The possessiveness in her tone set my teeth on edge. "Aria and I don't have a relationship. Not anymore."

"Don't you?" She moved closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Then why haven't you signed the divorce papers? Why do you track her movements? Why does mentioning her name make you look like you've been struck by lightning?"

"Because I made a mistake!" The words exploded out of me before I could stop them. "Because I destroyed something good for something convenient, and I've regretted it every day since. Is that what you want to hear?"

Sophia went very still. "Do you love her?"

The question made the air around us go stiff, my chest was falling and rising beyond the normal rate. I could have lied, or changed the subject. I could have given a politically wise answer that would keep things normal between us,mae our divorce a smooth one, and maintain whatever friendship we might be able toform from our failed marriage. 

Instead, I told the truth.

"Yes."