SONIA’S POV. It was already so late in the afternoon, I drew a pair of brown leather trousers up over my legs and settled them on my hips where they molded to my body. Leathers help prevent injuries during battles so my grandpa told me and ever since, it has been my favourite. Not that I was always ready for a battle, but for the fact that I feel safe in what I wore. As I pulled the black corset, I glanced around my room. It was a mess but I did not have the time to clean up, hoping one of the maids will do that before I return. I began to slip a few weapons into the specially made compartment and loops in my leather pants. Throwing stars with razor sharp edges. Several knives. A little something for my training later in the day. And just then I finally put on a very long skirt. The long skirt not only hid the leather pants, but also helped me to blend into the local population. Satisfied I looked as much like a local as possible, I stepped out of my room. I rested my hands on the

Sonia's pov "Michael, I need to leave this castle. I can not breath in here!" I said for the seventh time, hoping he would at least respond.With uttering a word he kept on walking. He didn't stop, or even slow down. He just kept walking away as if he hadn't even heard me.I was shocked. No man had ever ignored me that way before. Amazed, then with a rush of determination, I lifted my skirts and stumbled after him. "Wait! Please wait!"That stopped him. He turned, thrusting out one hard hip and resting his weight on the wall. He waited.I paused when I was still a good distance from him. There was no expression on his face. Nothing. And the way his hips were cocked, so arrogantly. Frowning, I came forward so I would not have to shout, but remained far enough away to dodge him if need be. "Excuse me." I tried out a brilliant smile, but there was no response."Could you at least just let me out of the castle?" He stared.When he did not respond, I grew uncomfortable and began to have s

Chapter 16Sonia's POVIt was the biggest shock of my life. Seeing Michael standing there was a terrible shock. Just then I felt so uneasy, what if he had figured out my escape plan with Joe? Somehow I felt the need to be very worried.I came into moonlight pack, confident of my victory, confident that I had seen a new part for myself. My victory hadn't come cheaply, but my secret was more important than money. I knew I should be ecstatic. But I wasn't. My mood was restless. That entire night I could not sleep. Reading did not help. I kept seeing him as I'd last seen him in the Governor's Suite, his face handsome even when enraged, his body with its sheen of sweat as carefully and perfectly sculpted as a Michelangelo statue. I began to eat imported chocolates from the neighbouring pack, but they failed to satisfy me, too, and I gave them to the tiger-striped cat. I could not sleep. I lay on my bed, determined not to cry. Never had I been so abused, and I was thoroughly shaken from a

Sonia's POV Not until we had ridden to the outskirts of the forest did we stop. The moment we got back to the castle, Michael pulled up the steaming stallion. I abruptly slid from his lap, took two steps, and sank onto the ground. Michael leaped down after me. "Are you all right?"I was no longer trembling, but my breathing was shallow and very fast, I felt my heart threaten to explode. I thought about almost being killed in that forest and I shuddered. Then I turned my gaze to Michael.He was scowling and grim, and his eyes were sparking with anger. He was sweating, his grey cotton garment half open and clinging to his hard torso. His legs were braced apart hard, straining taut the fabric of his trousers as he loomed over me. "Dammit, what the hell were you thinking? Are you that stupid?"I forgot about my near brush with death. All I could think of was that I was back here in this castle with Michael. I should be happy he saved my life. On the contrary, I was furious. Slowly, I go

Sonia's POV I stood there, frozen in shock, as Ava's voice echoed through the walls of the room. "Stay away from me," she spat, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that made me take a step back."What happened? Ava you have to calm down okay?" I said, even though I couldn't process what exactly went wrong. Just moments before, she had been laughing and chatting with me, and now...now she was screaming hysterically, her face contorted in fear and I could tell she was really scared of me.I tried to reach out to her, to calm her down, but she pushed me away with a strength that surprised me. I stumbled backward, my mind racing to understand what was happening. What had triggered this sudden outburst? Ava got up from her seat, moving back with trembling legs, fingers still pointing at me while her face was flooded with tears.Before I could even process my thoughts, the door burst open and Michael rushed into the room. He swept past me, his eyes fixed on Ava, and enveloped her in a