CHAPTER 7

SONYA'S POV

Landon turns out to be surprisingly normal.

He's funny, easy to talk to, and doesn't make me feel like prey the way Reign does. 

We run the trail at a comfortable pace, and he points out different landmarks, the pack training grounds, the northern border, the lake where they hold summer gatherings.

But even as he shows me all of them, I can't stop thinking about what Reign said about punishing me. 

And I'd be lying if I said I didn't know exactly what he means.

Fuck.

"So," Landon's voice interrupts my thoughts as we're cooling down, "how are you handling all this?"

"All what?"

"Living with Reign. The contract. The whole 'fake mate' situation." He gives me a sympathetic look. "I know my Alpha can be... intense."

"That's one word for it."

Landon laughs. "He's not as bad as he seems. Well, actually, he is. But he's got reasons."

"Like what?"

"That's not my story to tell." We stop by the front steps, and he hands me a water bottle. "Just... give him a chance. Reign doesn't let people in easily, but when he does, he's loyal to death."

Before I can respond, a car pulls up the driveway. An expensive black car. 

A woman steps out, and I know immediately she's trouble.

She's beautiful. Blonde hair, perfect figure, designer everything. And the way she's glaring at me makes me think she’s one second away from clawing my face off.

"Who the hell are you?" she demands, stalking toward us.

"Vanessa," Landon says warningly. "Don't start."

"Don't start?” She scoffs. “Some random girl is living in Reign's house and you're telling me not to start?" She turns those cold eyes back to me. "I'm Vanessa. Reign's girlfriend. Who are you?"

My stomach sinks. Girlfriend?

"I'm Sonya."

"Sonya." She looks me up and down like I'm something she found on the bottom of her shoe. "Let me guess. Another one of Reign's charity cases. How pathetic did you have to be for him to take you in?"

"Vanessa…" Landon tries again.

"No. I want to know." She steps closer. "What makes you so special that Reign's letting you stay here? Because unless you're warming his bed, which I doubt, looking at you, there's no reason for you to be on this property."

Heat floods my face. Not from embarrassment, but from anger. "I don't owe you an explanation."

"The hell you don't. Reign and I have been together for two years. I've stood by him through everything. So if you think you can just come in here and…"

"Vanessa."

We all turn. 

Reign's standing in the doorway, and he looks pissed.

"Reign! Thank goodness." Vanessa immediately eases, her voice going soft and sweet. "I came to surprise you for breakfast, but apparently you have a houseguest you forgot to mention."

"I don't owe you explanations about who stays in my home." Reign's voice is ice as he moves towards us. "We've been over this."

"Been over what? The fact that you're shutting me out? That you won't even return my calls?" She glances at me, and I see real pain under her anger. "Is it because of her?"

"Sonya is none of your concern."

"So it is about her." Vanessa laughs bitterly. "Unbelievable. Two years, Reign. Two years I've been waiting for you to…" Her voice breaks. "And you replace me with some nobody omega?"

"Nobody?" I say before I can stop myself. "At least I don't show up at someone's house uninvited and throw a tantrum."

Vanessa's eyes flash. "You little piece of…"

"Enough." Reign's intense Alpha aura rolls out, making both of us flinch. "Vanessa, leave. Now. And don't come back unless I invite you."

"You can't be serious."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

For a moment, I think Vanessa might actually cry. But then her expression hardens, and she looks at me with pure hatred.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," she sneers. "Reign gets bored easily. And when he does, he throws his toys away."

She storms back to her car and peels out of the driveway, leaving us all standing in awkward silence.

"Well," Landon says eventually, "that went well."

Reign ignores him, his eyes fixed on me. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," I lie.

He steps closer. "Rule number one, Sonya."

Damn it. "I'm not fine. Happy?"

"Not particularly." He glances at Landon. "Give us a minute."

Landon wisely disappears inside.

"Vanessa and I aren't together," Reign says once we're alone. "We haven't been for months."

"She seems to think differently."

"Vanessa has trouble accepting reality." He cups my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "But let me make this crystal clear, you are the only woman living in my house. The only woman sharing my meals. The only woman I'm thinking about when I lie awake at night wanting things I shouldn't want."

My breath catches. "Reign…"

"And if she or anyone else makes you uncomfortable, you tell me immediately. Understand?"

I nod, not trusting my voice.

"Good." He releases me, but his eyes stay dark and hungry. "Now go shower. You smell like sweat and it's driving me crazy."

"Is that a bad thing?"

He smiles sinfully. "That depends… do you want me to test your limits?"