The Surprise

SOPHIA'S POV:

“Sophia!” My aunt called out and I quickly moved to the mirror.

“Auntie, I’m almost ready!” I yelled back as I leaned forward, adjusting the neckline of my white top and running my fingers through my curls.

My aunt’s voice floated up the stairs again, sharp as ever. “Sophia! You are going to be late for the airport!”

“I said I’m coming!” I grabbed my handbag from the edge of the bed, then paused, scanning the room.

My eyes darted over the vanity, the nightstand, the small stack of books I’d decided not to bring. My suitcase was already downstairs; my cousin had hauled it there an hour ago. And everything from my clothes, laptop, chargers, and toiletries were all carefully folded and packed.

I mentally ticked through the list one more time. ‘Okay, I had everything.’

“Alright,” I murmured to myself, taking one last look at the room that had been mine for the past few years. “Time to go.”

When I stepped out and headed toward the dining hall, the smell of toast and scrambled eggs filled my nose.

“Auntie, I’m really not hungry,” I started before I even reached the table. “I’ll just grab something on the plane.”

My aunt crossed her arms, her apron already dusted with flour. “You’re not leaving this house without eating real food, young lady.”

I sighed, dropping my bag onto one of the chairs and watched as she slid a plate toward me.

I sat because, honestly, there was no winning with her and soon, my cousin arrived and sat across from me. While I ate, Auntie sat beside me, arms still folded, and suddenly I heard her sigh.

Looking up I saw the tears in her eyes as she asked, touching my arm. “Why do you have to go, baby? Why can’t you just stay here with us?”

In a split second, I was on my feet, hugging her from behind as I tried to reassure her that I'd be fine, that I'd call everyday and that I had to leave.

Because ever since my parents died, I’d been living with her, her son and her husband who was a powerful businessman in Bloodhound Pack, part of the CleveHowl Kingdom. But, I was born in Moonclaw Kingdom, in the Blackfang Pack. And even though it had been years, something in me still pulled toward that place. Toward the night my parents died and the memory gap that refused to fill.

That’s why I’d decided to transfer to MoonLand University in Moonclaw’s capital.

That, and Maxwell, my boyfriend.

Maxwell and I had met months before my parents died. And despite the distance, despite everything, he’d been there. He never pressured me, never asked for more than I could give. When I told him about the nightmares, he just listened. When I broke down, he stayed on the call till I fell asleep.

So yeah. I was transferring for my parents… and for him.

He knew about the transfer, we’d talked about it for months, but he didn’t know when because I wanted to surprise him. I’d even made a friend online, through some random fantasy game. We’d been playing together for over a month, chatting late at night, joking, sharing stories. We never exchanged photos because it was kind of our thing to stay anonymous.

And she studied at MoonLand, too, and when I told her my plan, she agreed to help me find Maxwell’s dorm. So everything was set.

I pulled away from Auntie and smiled weakly. “I can’t keep hiding here forever, Auntie. I need to live my life.”

She sniffled and made me promise to call 24/7 and I agreed, chuckling before my cousin rose up, saying that we had to leave while reaching for his car keys.

As we headed out, Auntie called after us. “Drive carefully! No speeding!”

I grinned and waved, then ran back for one last hug. “I love you, Auntie.”

“I love you too, my baby.”

Then we entered the car, and he drove off.

The drive to the airport was quiet at first until he broke the silence, asking if I was sure about my decision to move out. I assured him that I was and that earned me a smile before he made me swear to call if anyone gives me trouble or if I don't like it there.

I laughed. “Relax, I’ll be fine.”

He just shook his head, but I saw the smile on his face.

When we reached the airport, he helped me with the check-in and stood around till I was done, then he hugged me tightly before leaving.

As I walked toward the gate, I waved until I couldn’t see him anymore. The plane was half full, when I took the window seat, exhaled, and pressed my forehead to the glass. The ground crew looked like tiny ants running around the plane.

Before the flight attendant told everyone to turn off their phones, I texted Auntie: I’m on the plane. Love you.

Then I powered down my phone, slipped on my eye mask, and leaned back. I didn’t know how long it took because one second I was falling asleep and the next, the pilot announced our descent into Moonclaw Kingdom.

Stepping out, I carried my bag as I went through baggage claim, grabbed my suitcase, and watched as a porter offered to help. He helped load everything into a cab, and I tipped him before climbing into the back seat.

“MoonLand University, please,” I told the driver.

He nodded. “Yes, miss.”

The ride took about thirty minutes and when we reached the university gates, the driver stopped, and I showed my transfer slip to the guards at the gate before being let in, then I asked for directions to Dormitory D6.

With the direction, the cab rode in and when we arrived, I asked the wait while I rushed in because the plan was to surprise him before moving into my own room in Dormitory C4.

I took the elevator up, and when the door opened on the third floor, I walked straight to Room 23 and knocked.

The door swung open almost immediately and before me stood a tall and toned girl with a sports bra and a towel loosely tied around her waist.

I scrolled through my phone, checking the address, thinking that I'd come to the wrong place only for the girl to snap her fingers at me. “What do you want?”

I blinked, confused. “I’m looking for…”

“Baby, who’s that?” A familiar male voice called from inside.

The girl turned halfway toward him. “I don’t know, Maxie. I don’t know who this is.”

Maxie?

Out of nowhere, he appeared, shirtless, with a towel around his waist, and water still dripping from his hair.

He froze when he saw me. “Sophia?”

The girl turned to look at him, then back at me. “Who is she?”

“I should be asking you.” I laughed, but it came out broken. “Maxwell is my boyfriend.”

Her brows shot up. “Your boyfriend? Maxwell is my boyfriend.”

“What?”

“Why the hell are you here?” He asked. “You weren’t supposed to be here for another few days.”

“Wow.” I said quietly, shaking my head. “I’m glad I came earlier, at least I got to see what you really are.”

He reached out. “Sophia, please, can we not do this in the hallway? People are going to…”

“Let them watch!” I shouted. My voice cracked, and doors began opening down the hall as faces peeked out and phones came up.

Maxwell tried to step closer, but I shoved him hard in the chest. “Don’t touch me!”

“Please, Soph, stop.”

The girl shoved me back. “Who even are you? Did someone send you to ruin us?”

“Oh my god, you’re delusional,” I snapped. “Wake up!”

She moved closer again, but Maxwell’s voice boomed through the corridor. “Enough!”

Everyone went still as he turned to me. “Leave, Sophia. We’re done.”

I stared at him. “What?”

“I said we’re done,” he repeated, quieter this time. “I’m tired, okay? I’m tired of feeling like I have to be with you out of pity. Every conversation we have ends up about that night of your parents' accident and your memory loss. I can’t do it anymore, I can’t keep feeling sorry for you.”

My eyes widened, as a single tear slid down my right eye. “Do you even realize what you’re saying right now?”

He looked straight at me. “We’re over.”

I swallowed hard. “You’re breaking up with me… your mate… because of her?”

He hesitated, then scoffed bitterly. “You know what? Scratch that.” His eyes were cold now. “I reject you as my mate.”