The days blurred together in a haze of exhaustion for Sophia. Between her looming exams and the relentless double shifts at the bar, she barely had time to think, let alone rest. It felt like Luke had it out for her—assigning her the toughest shifts, always watching her with that strange expression on his face. Though he never said anything outright, Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being punished for something.
Maybe it was the tension with Ethan. Or maybe Luke just sensed that something had shifted in her life. Either way, the constant grind was taking its toll. Her feet ached by the end of every shift, and her brain felt fried from trying to cram in study sessions between serving drinks and dealing with rowdy customers.
But despite the exhaustion, Sophia couldn’t deny that the extra money was a relief. She needed every dollar she could get to chip away at the mountain of bills her mother had left behind. She just wished she had a few more hours in the day—time to breathe, time to think, and, most of all, time to spend with Ethan.
Though they hadn’t seen each other in almost a week, they still spoke every day. Their phone calls had become a lifeline, a small slice of calm in the chaos of her life. They’d talk late into the night, Ethan’s deep voice a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. He asked her about her studies, her shifts, her hopes, her dreams—and in turn, he shared more about his world, the weight of leadership, and the complexities of the pack.
It was strange how quickly he had become someone she trusted, someone she looked forward to hearing from. Even through the phone, she could feel the pull between them—the mate bond, as he called it—growing stronger with each conversation. But as much as she cherished their talks, Sophia couldn’t shake the growing ache of missing him. Texts and calls were one thing, but they weren’t enough. She wanted more.
Yet, she was too proud to admit it.
The end of the week approached, and Sophia was running on fumes. Her exams were right around the corner, and she still had two more double shifts to get through. Her apartment felt like a distant memory—a place she only stumbled into for a few hours of sleep before the cycle started again.
She had just finished another grueling night at the bar when she trudged up the stairs to her apartment, practically dragging herself to the door. Her body screamed for sleep, but the moment she turned the key in the lock, she froze.
Ethan stood at her doorstep, leaning casually against the doorframe with a bag of Chinese takeout in hand and a smile that sent a jolt of warmth through her exhaustion.
"Missed me?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mischievous glint.
Sophia blinked, too tired to process his sudden appearance. "What... what are you doing here?" she finally managed to ask, her voice a little hoarse.
Ethan chuckled, pushing himself off the wall and stepping toward her. "You’ve been running yourself ragged, and I figured you could use a break. I brought dinner," he said, lifting the bag in his hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Sophia’s heart swelled, and despite her tiredness, she smiled—a real, genuine smile that she hadn’t felt in days. "You didn’t have to do that," she said softly, but the gratefulness in her tone was unmistakable.
"I wanted to," Ethan replied simply, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "You’ve had a rough week."
That was an understatement.
She sighed, unlocking the door and stepping inside, holding it open for him. "Well, I won’t say no to Chinese," she admitted, her stomach growling at the thought of food. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until that moment.
They sat at her small kitchen table, unpacking the food and digging in. For a while, they ate in comfortable silence, the scent of fried rice and stir-fry filling the air. Sophia hadn’t realized how much she had missed this—having someone with her, sharing a meal, even if the rest of her world felt like it was spinning out of control.
"So, how’s pack business?" Sophia asked between bites, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Ethan wiped his mouth with a napkin, leaning back in his chair. "Busy," he said, the word loaded with unspoken responsibilities. "There’s always something to handle. But nothing I can’t manage." He paused, his gaze settling on her. "I’ve missed you, though."
Sophia’s heart fluttered at his words, and she felt heat rise in her cheeks. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that—missing someone felt so foreign to her, especially in this way. But as much as she tried to deny it, she had missed him too.
"I’ve missed you, too," she admitted quietly, her eyes lowering to her plate.
They continued to talk as they finished their meal, the conversation flowing easily between them. Sophia asked him more questions—about his life as Alpha, about his childhood, about the pack. He answered every question with patience, never shying away from the details, though she could tell there was still so much she didn’t know.
In return, Ethan asked her about her exams, her shifts, and how she was holding up. Sophia appreciated that he genuinely cared, that he wasn’t just asking out of obligation. He wanted to know about her life, about what mattered to her.
By the time they finished eating, Sophia’s exhaustion had eased just a little. Her body was still tired, but her mind felt lighter—less burdened by the weight of everything she had been carrying. Ethan had that effect on her. He made her feel... safe, even when everything else was overwhelming.
As they cleaned up the dishes together, Ethan suddenly stopped, turning to face her with a serious expression.
"You don’t have to do all of this alone, you know," he said quietly. "I’m here. For whatever you need."
Sophia looked up at him, her heart squeezing in her chest. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But I’ve spent so long taking care of myself, I don’t even know how to ask for help anymore."
Ethan stepped closer, gently tilting her chin up so their eyes met. "You don’t have to ask. I’ll always be here. No matter what."
The intensity of his words hung in the air, and for a moment, Sophia couldn’t breathe. The depth of his commitment—his belief in their bond—scared her. But at the same time, it gave her a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Without thinking, she reached up and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. Ethan didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest. For the first time in days, Sophia felt like she could finally let go of the tension that had been building inside her.
In his arms, everything felt right.
And for now, that was enough