Chapter 123: The Perfect CrimeSOPHIAThe satisfaction that was coursing through my veins was giving me a rush of dopamine as I pulled Riley from the passenger seat of my car. Everything was falling into place exactly as I'd planned it, each piece of my well thought out scheme coming together like a perfectly designed puzzle.The sound of approaching vehicles made me turn back looking pleased with what I was seeing.Three black SUVs pulled up at the clearing, their engines rumbling in the quiet forest. I'd been expecting them, of course – Bullet and his team of rogues were nothing if not punctual whenever it came to doing the dirty work for me in order to get paid handsomely. They loved money the most and had no morality.The lead vehicle came to a stop just a few feet from where Riley and I stood, and Bullet himself came out from the driver's seat as he slammed the door shut looking around nodding his head absentmindedly. He was exactly what one would expect from a rogue leader. H
Chapter 122: The Mystery NecklaceI'd started searching frantically through my desk drawers, pushing files aside as I looked for the necklace.I then dropped to my knees to look under the furniture to check if it has fallen somewhere. The necklace had to be here somewhere, that had to be a must. I couldn't have lost it. It was the most precious thing I owned, the last tangible connection I had to my mate."Xenois," Thorne had said, kneeling down to help me search. "Where did you last see it?""I never took it off," I'd repeated, my voice getting more desperate as our search turned up nothing. I ran a hand through my hair trying not to panic. "It's been around my neck every day for years. Lumina gave it to me and I've been cherishing it all this time. It's the only thing I have left of her now."Thorne had stopped searching and stared at me with an expression I couldn't interpret. "Are you kidding me right now?""What do you mean?" I'd asked, still crawling around on the floor looking
Chapter 121: A Good Morning IndeedXENOISThe morning had started perfectly well, with some sort of clarity that I hadn't felt in months. For the first time since Lumina and Ollie had left, my mind was alert and focused, like a fog had lifted off me that I hadn't even realized was there. I'd woken up energized, ready to take control of my life again and start making the changes that needed to be made, quickly now that I had a chance to make it all right.The meetings with the board representatives from another company who wanted to partner with us because they had ideas of expansion for a project that would benefit everyone had gone better than anyone expected. Thorne had warned them beforehand that I'd been in a terrible mood lately, and I was very prone to anger and harsh decisions that reflected poorly on the pack's leadership. But instead of the angsty Alpha they'd been prepared to face, they'd found me reasonable and easy to work with."The quarter projection revision looks so
Chapter 120: Riley's Last AdventureSOPHIA Riley didn't resist or cry out when I pulled him with a grip that would leave normal bones broken, which only helped to fuel my anger further. The compulsion spell was still working perfectly well, he couldn't disobey me directly, he couldn't fight back or run away. But somehow, he'd found a way to work around it, to strike at the spot where I was most vulnerable.In his room, I checked his necklace first, running my hand along the chain to make sure it was still well fastened and locked around his neck. The pendant was a bit warm against his skin, the magic was still humming with power. Whatever loophole he'd found to remove Xenois's necklace without me knowing, he hadn't been able to use it on his own."Did you think this was going to change anything?" I asked him as I aggressively pulled out clothes from his dresser, throwing together an outfit that was suitable for our trip to the woods. "Did you think being a little hero would someh
Chapter 119: The Necklace Is MissingSOPHIAI was humming softly to myself as I flipped the pancakes in the pan, the sweet smell of breakfast filling the kitchen. Everything was falling into place perfectly. Today was the day I would finally remove the last obstacle standing between me and my happily ever after with Xenois.The sound of footsteps on the stairs made me turn with a bright smile, expecting to see Riley coming down for breakfast. Instead, Xenois walked into the kitchen, already dressed in his business suit and looking more alert than I'd seen him in weeks."Good morning, darling," I said sweetly, gesturing toward the stove. "Breakfast is almost ready. I made your favorite pancakes."But instead of the warm greeting I was expecting, Xenois kept his distance, his expression oddly serious as he leaned against the kitchen counter."Sophia, I've found you a place to live," he said without skipping a beat, his voice sounding businesslike in a way that made my stomach clench wit
Chapter 118: In Another Life, I Would Be Your SonRILEYI nodded eagerly, scooting over to make room for him to sit on the edge of my mattress instead. The book was about a brave little wolf who went on adventures and learned important lessons about friendship and courage. Mr. Xenois had read it with different voices for each character, making me giggle despite the heaviness in my chest.When he'd finished the story and closed the book, I'd looked at him carefully in the soft light from my lamp."Mr. Xenois?" I asked quietly."Yes?""Are you sad that I replaced Ollie?"Mr. Xenois had looked confused, his eyebrows drawing together. "What do you mean, replace him?""I know you're my father," I'd said, the words coming out in a rush before the magic could stop me. Maybe because I was talking to him instead of trying to tell someone about Mommy, the necklace wasn't preventing me from saying this part. "I figured it out, and I want to know if you hate me for that.""Riley," Mr. Xenois had