“You should get some rest,” Natalie spoke up for the first time, her voice strained and her words barely audible.
“It's okay, I'm fine,” I replied.
We'd rushed her to the infirmary, where Callan's warriors had already taken control of the situation. They brought my sisters and mother from the vault back up and were now being treated in a different section of the infirmary.
Natalie turned to look at me. “You are not fine, Sophia. You fought Silviu, and you almost defeated him. Do you know what that means? Silviu fled, Sophia. He ran away from you like the coward he is not. You did that, so no, go get some rest because you deserve it."
I shook my head. “I didn't do it alone…”
“You did, I was useless. He was stronger than I thought.”
I settled down next to Natalie and took her hands in mine, noticing her stiffen at the touch. "You are not useless. You fought hard, and I couldn't have done anything without you."
"He ran away, but he’ll be back," she muttered quietly.
I remained silent at this because I knew she was right.
“He's going to return,” Natalie repeated.
“We don't know if he has escaped successfully. Some men are still after him," I said, trying to offer some reassurance.
She chuckled bitterly. “They won't get him, I know that for sure.” Her face took on a determined expression. “But I will.”
“What are you planning?”
“I'm going to go after him myself and I won't rest until he’s dead.”
“Natalie, I don't think that's a good idea. Look at you..."
"Go to bed, Sophia," she replied, turning her back to me.
I got up and stepped outside the room just as someone new entered the infirmary, his figure so towering he bent his head slightly at the door.
“Alpha Nikolai,” I greeted.
His eyes scanned my battered appearance, and I could see concern in his gaze. "It must have been a rough battle."
“It was,” I admitted.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I'm fine, thank you once more for your help.”
He nodded and glanced over my shoulder at the closed door of Natalie's room. "Who's in there?"
"My sister, Natalie. She was hurt during a fight with my uncle," I explained.
Nikolai’s eyes took a darkened look that piqued my curiosity before he nodded sharply and turned away. “I see,” he said as he walked away, I followed him.
“When did you arrive?” I asked.
“I just did. I came to assess the damages done to my warriors.”
I nodded. “Hopefully not so much, there weren't too many casualties."
He glanced at me, a small twitch in his lips. “I heard of your bravery. You did well.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling a surge of pride.
“I'll be leaving now,“ he said abruptly.
“B-but…” I stumbled over my words. “You just got here, isn't it dangerous? Perhaps you should consider spending the night…”
He shook his head. "It's fine, Sophia," he reassured me, his gaze briefly flickering towards the infirmary. "I hope your sister gets well soon."
“Thank you," I whispered, watching his long strides whisk him away, knowing that this wouldn't be the last I'd hear from Alpha Nikolai.
****
Returning to the manor, which was in a state of ruin, I carefully sidestepped broken glass and debris as I made my way upstairs to my old room.
At the entrance of the room, I froze.
I had known Callan was around; his warriors had arrived before him, and Luther had informed me at the infirmary that they had just arrived. Callan was inspecting the damages. I had sensed his anger from the moment he hadn't come to find me as soon as he got here, but to see him here, in this room...
“Callan,” I called quietly. In the darkness, my eyes found him sitting on top of my bed with an unreadable expression.
I took a step closer to him.
“Callan…”
“Don’t.”
One word spoken with such harshness, it caused my heart to sink in my stomach.
He got up, his frustration evident. “You should have listened to me, Sophia. Why didn't you simply do as I said?”
“Because I couldn't receive the news I did and do nothing! My family's life was on the line, Callan. If I hadn't come, Silviu… He would have killed everyone. Alexander had you thinking he was attacking the Night Blood pack, but it was all a trap."
“And you think I didn't consider that being a possibility? I sent some of my warriors here at the same time I sent you to Alpha Nikolai's. I sent my men just for extra safety. Of course, I wouldn't leave your family hanging. My men received instructions to standby until there was a need for them to fight and protect your family, but you arrived with a different army that got them confused, and…” He took a deep breath and shut his eyes, trying to collect himself.
I steeled my shoulders and faced him. "I am sorry for not doing as you said because I know you sincerely wanted to keep me safe, but you must know, Callan, that I do not regret coming here today and fighting for my family."
“Sophia—”
I stopped him. "No, Callan, listen to me. You've protected me, tried to shelter me, and I appreciate that, but what I did today made me feel better than I've felt all my life. Today, I fought for myself, today I protected myself, and today, I was able to save my family. It might not seem like much to you, but to me, it is everything. You have no idea what it means to have suffered as I have in the hands of Alexander all those years, and you will never know. But today, I put an end to it and to him by myself. For the first time in my life, I didn't have to sit and wait for someone to do it for me."
I inched closer until I was a breath’s space away from him.
“Today, I killed Alexander and caused my uncle a damage so severe, he won't be forgetting it in a long time, so no, Callan, I will not be apologizing for standing up for myself.”
When Callan spoke, it was with a voice filled with amazement. “You killed Alexander?”
I nodded. "It felt exhilarating to," I admitted. "I would do it a million times over."
Silence lingered between us and I saw the anger in his expression slowly dissipate.
“I just…” He cleared his throat. “I was worried, Sophia. My method might have not been the best but I did what I thought would be best for you, I was thinking of you and my first instinct would always be to protect you.”
I said nothing.
“I was stupid and prideful but…” He reached out a hand to touch me. “It is because I cannot imagine a life without you, it’s because in all of the losses I have suffered, there would be no greater loss than losing you and I simply couldn’t bear the thought of that.”
My lips went dry and I found myself licking them. My heart was pounding, I wanted to be mad at him, to tell him he shouldn’t have sent me away without my consent... but in the same breath I could see things from his perspective and I could see why he would be mad.
He took a closer step and rested his hands on my waist. “Forgive me, Sophia, will you? Forgive me for being an idiot and not seeing, for not realizing that it was selfish to try to stop you. I should have trusted you more and I see that now.”
When I spoke, it was with a cracked voice. “I can see why you wouldn’t.”
He shook his head. “No, you are my mate. My future Luna. I should have trusted in your abilities, realized that the goddess made you so for a reason and against all odds, love, you’ve managed to prove yourself and there’s no bigger regret I have than not realizing this and trusting you earlier.”
We were close now, so close his warm breath fanned my face when he spoke, so close, so close…
I stood on my tiptoe and cradled his face in my hands. “If you really are sorry, maybe you’d best show it.”
I had no idea where those words came from but they took me by shock when they escaped my lips and even Callan had the look of surprise flash in his eyes before they darkened with lust.
He took me in his arms, his lips pressed against mine in a hungry kiss that made my head swoon and snatched the very breath from my lungs.