All Chapters of Not Your Backup She-Wolf: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The Stormborne pack's bonfire festival reeked of berries and smoke.I gripped the Sootheleaf in my hand, fingers brushing the edges. Climbed the back ridge at dawn just to get it. Liam—our Alpha—took a silver cut during a clash with a rival pack. This herb was the only thing keeping the swelling in check. He needed it daily.He didn't even glance at me.His eyes? Glued to Chloe, the visiting Alpha's daughter."Liam, will you peel this berry for me?" she purred, clinging to his arm, dragging her nails along the seam of his coat.Liam looked down, and his smile went soft—so soft I'd never seen it in our eight freaking years."Careful, don't stain your dress."He peeled the berry slow, handed it over. Juice smeared his fingers. Chloe whipped out some lacy handkerchief and stood on tiptoe to blot his hand, her fingers lingering way too long."Liam, your herbs—" My grip crushed the Sootheleaf."Wait, can't you see I'm busy?" Still didn't look at me. Eyes locked on a jewelry stand.

The stage blew with a loud bang.Sparks flew, hit the linen curtains—and boom. Fire tore up fast. Smoke rolled in thick, choking the air with the stench of burning fabric.Wolves screamed. Bodies shoved. Someone slammed into my back—I hit the stone hard. Pain ripped through my arm as my wrist cracked loud.I tried to get up—too slow. Another wolf's foot crushed down on my back mid-sprint. My chest caved under the weight—I almost spit blood."Liam! Help me!" I yelled, voice raw.Through the smoke, I saw him—just a few yards away, wrapped around Chloe. She clung to him like her life depended on it.He looked at me. Just for a second—hesitation in his eyes.Then Chloe buried her face in his chest, sobbing. "The fire's huge! I'm scared! If we don't leave now, we'll die!"He didn't think twice. Wrapped her up, threw his coat over her head, and bolted for the exit.As they passed, I reached out—grabbed his pant leg.He kicked me off.His boot smashed right into my busted wrist. I

I stepped into my room and popped open the suitcase, folding each piece of clothing like I was sealing off a chapter.Liam's gray jacket—bottom of the pile.Then Grandma's herb journal, untouched anti-inflammatory bundles, and the half-finished wrist guard.Every item made me freeze for a second. Eight years packed into a carry-on.From the next room, Chloe's sugary voice floated out. "Liam, will you tell me a story?"His reply? Quiet. Too damn soft. "Sure. Lie down. I'll tell you one."My fists clenched, nails biting into my palms. Just enough pain to keep me from falling apart.That wolf? He wasn't mine anymore.When the last zipper sealed, I dragged my suitcase into the living room.Chloe stepped out, spotted the suitcase, and plastered on a guilty face like she practiced it in the mirror. "Sophia, you're leaving? I'm so sorry—I never meant to come between you two. I'll go back to my pack. Just don't leave Liam, okay?""Cut the crap." My voice? Ice-cold. "You won. He's you

Chloe wouldn't quit.When picking fights didn't stick, she switched tactics—ran her mouth all over Stormborne pack, trashing my herbs, hinting I was messing around with Noah, claiming I'd crumble without him holding me up.What she didn't count on? Most wolves weren't blind.They saw through the act. Knew who was real and who was fake as hell.Her lies didn't break me—they backfired. Wolves started backing me harder... and turning on her.The real hit? That landed at the Pack Assembly.Normally, it's a chill once-a-month meeting for pack stuff. But this time, Liam was all set to crown Chloe as his Luna.Then Noah stepped in—calm, steady—and dropped a fat stack of receipts."Take a look," he said, laying out photos and recordings. "Proof Chloe's been stirring the pot, spreading lies, and scheming with Wildgrove wolves to jack our herb formulas. She even planned to break Liam and Sophia apart."The photos? Chloe, mid-whisper with two shady Wildgrove she-wolves.The recording? C

Liam found out about Noah's confession.He panicked and showed up, desperate for one last shot."Sophia, I know Noah treats you well, but I'm not him! We've got eight years together. I know your habits, your favorite things—I can love you more than he ever could!"I stared him down, calm and cold."Those eight years? You wrecked them yourself. Sure, you knew my habits—but you forgot my allergies. You knew what I liked, but never gave a damn. Noah hasn't known me long, but he actually sees me. He gets it. He respects me.""I can change!" he blurted. "I've already changed. I'm not arrogant anymore—I listen, I—""Changed?" I laughed under my breath."You changed because you LOST me. Because guilt's eating you alive. But if Chloe hadn't been exposed, would anything be different? No. This whole 'new you' isn't for me. It's just damage control."He froze.Mouth open. No words.He knew I was right.If Chloe hadn't been exposed, he'd still be at her side—still blind to me."I know