Chapter 191

Chapter 191
Sophia's POV:
I ended the call and set my phone down on the side table, a complex swirl of emotions washing over me.
I found myself genuinely happy for Lucas.
Despite everything that had happened between us, despite all the pain and heartbreak, I truly wanted him to find peace.
To the outside world, Lucas was the powerful Alpha of Starlight Pack—strong, successful, in control. But so few people knew the truth of what he endured behind closed doors.
Lucas had been raised to be the perfect Alpha puppet from childhood. Shaped, molded, and controlled from the moment he could walk. Every decision, every reaction, every emotion had been carefully managed by James and some pack elders.
The family he'd tried so desperately to please, the people whose approval he'd spent his entire life chasing, had never seen him as Lucas the man.
His family's love came with conditions, and his pack's loyalty was contingent on his performance.
Lucas had so little that was truly his own. His position as Alpha was everything to him because, in many ways, it was all he had.
But when you cling so desperately to one thing, you inevitably lose sight of everything else.
The sad truth was that no one could save Lucas from his circumstances.
People could only be saved if they chose to save themselves, if they found the courage to walk away from the patterns and relationships that were destroying them.
A soft knock at my chamber door pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.
"Come in," I called out, trying hard to calm myself down.
Instead of the castle staff I'd expected, Michael stepped through the doorway, and my breath caught.
He held a beautiful bouquet of lisianthus, elegant yet simple.
"I thought you might like these," he said softly, his blue eyes searching my face with concern.
"They're beautiful," I whispered, happily accepting the flowers and bringing them closer to inhale their delicate fragrance.
"The purple ones are particularly lovely," I continued, my voice carefully modulated to sound normal, cheerful even. "They'll brighten up the room beautifully."
But despite my efforts, he seems to see straight through the mask I was trying to maintain.
"Sophia," he said gently, taking a step closer, "what's wrong? You seem to have something on your mind."
I shook my head quickly, instinctively wanting to shield him from my complicated emotions. "It's nothing, just overthinking things."
"About Lucas, isn't it?" Michael said softly, his voice free of judgment or jealousy. Just gentle understanding.
The accuracy of his guess made me freeze for a moment. I opened my mouth to deny it, to offer some other explanation, but the words wouldn't come.
Michael watched the internal struggle play across my face, and instead of pressing for details or demanding answers, he simply nodded with quiet acceptance.
"You don't have to tell me anything you're not ready to share," he said, his voice warm and patient. "When you're ready to talk about it, I'll be here to listen."
The fear that he might misinterpret my silence, I reached out to touch his arm. "I don't want you to misunderstand."
"I just got off the phone with Lucas," I said quickly. "We had our final conversation. He's letting me go completely, and I'm genuinely happy about that. Happy for both of us."
Michael nodded, his expression remaining calm and patient as he waited for me to continue.
"I suppose I'm just... feeling sentimental about it all." I took a deep breath, knowing I needed to be completely honest. "And I have to admit, Michael, that my feelings for Lucas won't just disappear overnight. "
I looked up at him. "Is that terrible of me?"
"No," Michael said firmly, moving closer until he was standing just in front of me. "It's human. You loved him for three years, Sophia. It would be impossible to just... turn that off immediately."
His understanding made my chest tighten with emotion.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You don't need to—"
"Stop," Michael interrupted gently, reaching out to tilt my chin up so I had to meet his eyes. "You don't need to apologize, Sophia. "
His blue eyes were steady, warm, completely free of the jealousy or insecurity I had feared seeing there.
"I chose to pursue you," he continued, his voice low and sure. "And if I want to be the man in your life, if I want to be the one you turn to, then it's my job to earn that place. It's my responsibility to show you that choosing me was the right decision."
His thumb brushed softly across my cheek, and I realized I hadn't even noticed the tear that had escaped.
"All you need to do is be yourself, Sophia," Michael said, his voice tender but firm. "Don't try to hide your feelings from me, don't apologize for having a past. Just be exactly who you are."
His words broke something open inside me.
"Michael," I whispered, my voice breaking slightly. "You're so patient with me,"
A smile played across Michael's lips, sending gentle creases fanning out from the corners of his bright blue eyes
"Because you're worth it," he said simply.
I draw deeper into his blue eyes, seeing myself reflected in them.
Now I have someone who loves me exactly as I am.
Without thinking, I rose up on my toes and pressed my lips to his.
I could feel my heart hammering against my ribs as I searched for his response.
For a heartbeat, Michael's arms tightened around me, one hand sliding to the small of my back while the other remained cradled against my cheek. He drew me closer and kissed me back with a warmth that sent heat spiraling through my entire body.
He kissed me like he savored this moment was more important than anything else.
When we finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Michael rested his forehead against mine, his blue eyes dark with emotion.
"Are you sure?" he whispered, his voice rough. "I want you to be completely ready, not just caught up in the moment."
I looked into his eyes, seeing the genuine concern there.
"Michael," I said softly, my voice steady despite the way my heart was racing. "I'm not going to make decisions I'll regret anymore."
Without another word, I rose up on my toes again and kissed him, this time with more certainty, more intention.
Michael responded immediately, his arms pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved against mine with a passion that had been carefully restrained before, and I could feel the depth of his feelings in every gentle caress.
—The End—