Chapter Thirty-Six: Accident

Sophie's POV

Marcus had somehow materialized on the opposite side of the table - too far to help, close enough to watch whatever drama was about to unfold. Katherine patted the seat next to her as she watched me approach, the gesture dripping with false motherly concern.

Damn. Looks like I'd be spending dinner in the shark tank.

My heart skipped a beat as I approached the elegant table setting. Then I noticed a young maid hovering behind Katherine's chair, cradling what appeared to be a sleeping... baby?!! My brain struggled to process this new development. The baby couldn't have been more than a few months old, all soft pink skin and wispy blonde hair that looked suspiciously like Katherine's.

Wow. Another replacement heir. Because this family drama wasn't complicated enough already.

Katherine's eyes met mine with that same arctic chill from last night. "Sophie, dear. How... lovely to see you again so soon."

I forced my lips into something resembling a smile as I took my assigned seat. "Likewise."

The maid shifted nervously behind us, and the baby made a soft fussing sound. Katherine's head snapped around. "Give him to me, Anna. Everyone should see what a proper family looks like."

The message couldn't have been clearer if she'd taken out a billboard: Look at me, the perfect mother. Not like your human one who got herself killed.

I watched as she expertly gathered the infant from the maid's arms, cooing in a way that made my teeth ache. The baby settled against her chest, and her triumphant smile saying everything: Here was the real Luna with her pure-blooded pup.

"Sophie." My father's voice made me turn. His usual commanding presence seemed to falter as he searched for words. "About last night... and everything else. I want to explain."

I glanced at my plate, my fingers tightening around the napkin. "Kind of late for that, don't you think?"

He didn't answer immediately, just sighed heavily. "There are things you need to understand-"

"Ladies and gentlemen!" A booming voice cut through the tension. Thank fuck for small mercies. "The moon rises high, and the hunt calls!"

My father squeezed my shoulder, returning to his seat before address the crowd. I caught Marcus watching our interaction from across the table, his dark eyes revealing nothing.

"Tonight," my father continued, "we celebrate not only the return of my daughter, but the ancient traditions that bind our packs together!"

The gathered wolves cheered, raising crystal glasses. I shifted in my chair, conscious of the athletic wear I'd packed in my bag. I'd spent hours choosing the suitable outfit for my first pack hunt, imagining myself running wild under the moonlight with... Marcus.

"Our champions!" My father gestured toward the forest's edge. Eight werewolves stepped forward. "These warriors will demonstrate their skills in pursuit of specially released prey. The odds are posted, and the betting window closes in thirty minutes!"

What?! The realization hit me like a slap. This wasn't a pack bonding experience - it was a fucking horse race with werewolves.

I unbelieable whirled around, catching Marcus watching me with that infuriating know-it-all smirk. He'd seen me pack that bag, watched me get excited about participating, and deliberately let me make a fool of myself. Bastard.

One by one, the "champions" shifted. Their bones cracked and reformed as fur rippled across their skin - one became a massive russet wolf with battle scars crisscrossing his muzzle, another became a timber wolf with shoulders that towered over the others, while a third shifted as a sleek gray wolf with blue eyes...

Their muscles rippled beneath thick fur as they paced with lethal strength. Looking at these wolves, I finally understood why Marcus hadn't warned me about my silly participation plans - these weren't just regular pack werewolves, they were elite fighters trained for combat. No wonder he'd let me embarrass myself with my workout outfit and naive expectations.

"Let the hunt begin!" My father's command boomed across the grounds. The wolves shot forward like bullets, disappearing into the treeline with explosive bursts of speed. The crowd erupted in excited chatter, pulling out their phones to place bets while servants circulated with fresh champagne.

I watched the empty forest edge, feeling hollow and foolish. So much for my romantic notions of pack hunting. After a moment's hesitation, watching the socialites gossip, I couldn't take it anymore.

"I need some air." I shoved back from the table, ignoring Katherine's disapproving look. On my way to the refreshment area, I glimpsed Victoria entering the main building with a woman I didn't recognize. Goddess, even at now, she was still working Marcus's social network.

"Sophie!" A cheerful voice stopped me halfway there. I turned to find three young women approaching, perfectly polished. "We've been dying to meet you again!"

The girl who'd spoken looked maybe a few years older than me, with the kind of effortless beauty that almost reminds me of... "I'm Lily! I actually attended your baptism! Of course, that was when I was a kid. Look at you now, you've grown into such a beauty!"

"Oh?" I tried to sound interested while calculating the fastest escape route.

"We all did!" Another girl chimed in. "Don't you remember us at all, little Soph?"

I froze. Little Soph. The last time I'd heard it was from Victoria's lips as we looked through my mother's photos. These strangers shouldn't know...

"We're all your cousins, actually," Lily continued excitedly, oblivious to my internal shock. "There are more of us who couldn't make it tonight - Aunts, and the twins from the West Coast pack-"

A hand landed heavily on my shoulder before I tried to think deeper. "There you are." Marcus's voice cut through my confusion. "Your father's looking for you."

"But we haven't even told her about the summer house yet!" Lily protested.

"Another time," Marcus's grip tightened slightly as he steered me away. Once we were out of earshot, he growled, "Stay away from them."

"They said they knew me as a baby-"

"Exactly why you should be suspicious." His eyes scanned the crowd continuously. "Too convenient, don't you think?"

Back at the table, I noticed my father and Katherine's seats were empty. The baby too.

"Where did they-"

"The young master became fussy," a nearby servant explained. "They've taken him inside to settle."

I nodded, trying to ignore the weird twist in my chest.

Boom!!

A deep, thunderous noise came from somewhere behind the trees. For a split second, everything went silent.

Then all hell broke loose.

The second explosion hit closer, the force of it knocking glasses off tables. Gray smoke billowed across the lawn like a tidal wave. Screams erupted as people scattered in panic.

"DOWN!" Marcus slammed into me from behind, his body covering mine as something whistled overhead. Glass shattered somewhere to our left.

"What the fu-"

"Smoke grenades," he snarled, already pulling me up. "We're under attack. Move. NOW!"