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
Chapter 117: The Last DinnerRILEYThe grandfather clock in the dining room chimed at midnight, its deep, resonant tones echoing through the quiet house. I'd been lying in bed since dinner, staring at the ceiling and thinking about everything that had happened today – and everything that was going to happen tomorrow.Dinner was different tonight. Mr. Xenois had come home just as we were sitting down to eat, which surprised both me and Mommy. He'd been staying away from the house ever since he got out of the hospital, and I'd started to think he might never come back.But tonight he'd sat across from me at the big dining table, asking me questions about how I was doing, what I'd been playing with, if I was sleeping okay. His attention felt warm and genuine, not like the distracted way he sometimes looked at me when Mommy was around."I'm sorry I haven't been here more," he'd said, cutting his food but watching my face carefully. "I know I should have been spending time with you, especi
Chapter 116: Fractured Royalties LUMINAI left the office quickly, my mind filled with a lot of conflicting emotions. The conversation with Xenois had shaken me more than I wanted to admit, especially when he'd mentioned that dream about us dying in a car accident.My steps faltered in the hallway as the memory of that terrible night crashed over me.The rain, the desperate need to get away from the pain of watching Xenois choose Sophia and Riley over us again, trying to make Ollie feel better about the broken promise by taking him to get ice cream as an additional treat. the way the car had skidded on the wet pavement, the moment of absolute terror before the impact, Ollie's heart not withstanding the pain and pressure before dying, me dying in his arms...But that was my previous life, my previous death when Sophia had won. How could Xenois have dreamed about it? Was it possible that somehow, in some way, he remembered about it? Or was it simply a coincidence, his subconscious fe