House Of Wolves

Sophia POV

 The gates opened, black and heavy, as Xavier drove through. I sat in the back seat, arms crossed. He hadn’t said a word the whole ride.

When we stopped, he got out, slammed his door, then opened mine.

“Move.”

I grabbed my duffel bag. “You’re a real charmer.”

“Inside,” he said, already walking ahead.

We went down a long hall. I asked, “Where’s the staff?”

“You don’t need them.”

He stopped at a door, opened it. “This is your room.”

I stepped in, glanced around. “Not much color. You allergic to it?”

He didn’t react. Instead, he handed me a folded paper.

“What’s this?”

“Your rules.”

I skimmed them, no West Wing, no guests, curfew, mandatory meals, no office access, no purchases, no media, no speaking unless spoken to.

I laughed. “You’re kidding.”

“You live here under my terms. Disobey, and I’ll make you regret it.”

“Do all your prisoners get a list like this?”

“This isn’t prison.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

He stepped closer. “Push me, little girl, and I’ll push back harder.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be.”

He left. The door clicked shut. I crumpled the paper in my hand.

For some reason my mind went to last year. 

My Dad had been drunk, pacing my room. “Xavier never forgave me,” he muttered. “He’ll burn us to the ground.” I didn’t understand then. I do now.

I sat at the bed wondering if this is how my life would be from now on. 

Suddenly someone knocked on the door. Before I could answer, the door swung open and a butler stood there. 

“Sir Xavier asks you to come to the dining table.” he said simply before walking away.

Great.. I thought to myself. He has no servants but one butler. 

I followed the faint sound of cutlery through the hall until I stepped into the dining room. Xavier was already seated at the head of the long table, a roast chicken and vegetables set neatly between us. He didn’t look up.

“Sit,” he said.

I pulled out the chair at the far end. “So formal. Should I curtsy too?”

He glanced up briefly. “Eat.”

I reached for the chicken slowly. “Not even a ‘how was your day, Sophia?’ No polite small talk?”

“I don’t waste time on things that don’t matter.”

I gave a short laugh. “Wow. You’d be a hit at parties.”

He didn’t reply, just cut into his food with mechanical precision. The clink of his knife on the plate was the only sound.

I poked at my food. “So, we eat in silence too?”

“Yes.”

“Not hungry.” I pushed my chair back.

“You’ll sit until I dismiss you.”

I laughed. “Victorian cosplay?”

Finally, he looked at me. “This is me teaching you how to survive here.”

“And what if I don’t want to learn?” I asked.

He rose from his chair, walking the length of the table with slow, deliberate steps. When he reached me, he rested his hands on the arms of my chair, trapping me there.

“Then,” he said softly, “you’ll learn the hard way.”

Our eyes locked, heat sparking under the steel in his gaze. My heart was pounding, but I refused to look away.

“Goodnight, Sophia,” he murmured, his breath brushing my ear before he turned and left the room.

I stayed frozen in the chair. I could feel my pulse racing.

Sophia… Focus

He is y

our enemy.

I turned to the direction he took

Is he?