Chapter 52 Chapter 52
Marcus's POV
I stared at the ledger in front of me, the numbers blurring together.
Red. Everything was red.
The pack's finances were bleeding out. Businesses failing. Trade agreements falling through. Partners pulling out left and right.
All because of Lila.
Because everyone now knew I'd been mated to a witch. A deceiver. Someone who poisoned an Alpha and nearly started a war.
My reputation was destroyed.
I slammed the ledger shut and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.
How did everything fall apart so quickly?
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in," I called.
One of my advisors entered, looking grim. "Alpha, another merchant has withdrawn their contract. They said they can't afford to be associated with the Shadowmoon Pack right now."
Of course they did.
"Fine," I said tiredly. "Add it to the list."
The advisor hesitated. "Alpha, if this continues, we won't be able to sustain the pack. The treasury is nearly empty."
I waved him off. "I'll handle it. Just go."
He bowed and left.
I sat there in silence, the weight of everything pressing down on me.
Lila's body was still missing. Gone without a trace.
It had been days since I'd discovered it. Days of searching. Questioning every guard, every palace worker, every person who had access to that hall.
Nothing.
No one saw anything. No one heard anything.
The body just vanished.
And the only clue was Sophia's hairpin. Right there on the floor where Lila had been.
It had to be her. It had to be Ethan.
They stole the body to hide evidence. To cover up whatever they'd done.
But then Violet's words kept echoing in my head.
"Stop looking outward. Start looking inward."
What did she mean by that?
Was someone in my own pack involved? Someone close to me?
I'd questioned my Beta. My guards. Even my advisors.
All of them denied knowing anything. And I couldn't sense any lies.
So either they were telling the truth, or someone was very good at hiding it.
I stood and walked to the window, looking out over the territory.
The Shadowmoon Pack used to be strong. Prosperous. Respected.
Now we were the pack everyone whispered about. The pack led by the Alpha who'd been fooled by a witch.
My jaw clenched.
I needed to fix this. I needed to restore my pack's reputation.
But how?
The Alliance meeting was held at neutral territory. A large hall where all the regional Alphas gathered to discuss trade, boundaries, and disputes.
I arrived late, deliberately. Didn't want to deal with the stares. The whispers.
But the moment I walked in, I felt them anyway.
Eyes following me. Voices dropping to murmurs.
I kept my head high and took my seat.
The meeting droned on. Trade routes. Border disputes. Nothing that concerned me directly.
Then Ethan stood to speak.
"I'd like to announce that Wolfalpine Pack will be hosting a jewelry exhibition next week," he said. "Showcasing the work of our newest designer."
My attention sharpened.
Sophia.
"The collection is already generating significant interest from neighboring packs and human territories," Ethan continued. "We're expecting it to be quite successful."
Of course. Sophia's jewelry business.
I'd heard whispers about it. How her designs were becoming popular. How orders were pouring in.
While my pack crumbled, hers thrived.
The irony wasn't lost on me.
After the meeting ended, I stood to leave, but a voice stopped me.
"Marcus."
I turned.
Sophia stood there, looking composed. Confident. Nothing like the uncertain woman I'd divorced.
Her auburn hair was styled elegantly. Her green eyes were clear and steady.
She looked beautiful.
And completely out of my reach.
"Sophia," I said carefully.
"I wanted to personally invite you to the exhibition," she said, holding out an envelope. "Next Saturday. At Wolfalpine's grand hall."
I stared at the invitation in her hand. "Why?"
"Because despite everything, we were once mated," she said simply. "And I think it's important to move forward. To show that we can be civil."
Civil.
Was that what this was?
I took the invitation slowly. "You want me there."
"I want all the Alphas there," she corrected. "But yes, I'd like you to attend."
I studied her face, looking for any sign of deception. Any hint of what she was really thinking.
But she just smiled politely and turned away.
"I hope to see you there, Marcus," she called over her shoulder.
I stood there, holding the invitation.
Why would she invite me? After everything that happened between us?
Unless...
Unless she was ready to let go. Ready to move past our failed marriage.
Lila is dead now. Gone. That meant there was no one competing for the Luna position anymore.
No one was standing between us.
Maybe this was Sophia's way of reaching out. Of opening a door I thought was permanently closed.
I looked down at the invitation again.
Sophia's jewelry show. A public event. With all the Alphas watching.
If I went, if I showed support for her business, maybe I could start rebuilding bridges. Start repairing the damage Lila caused.
And maybe, just maybe, I could win Sophia back.
She is successful now. Her business was thriving. Her reputation was strong.
If I could convince her to give me another chance, to consider reuniting our packs, it would solve everything.
Shadowmoon would be saved. My reputation restored. And I'd have Sophia back where she belonged.
By my side.
The more I thought about it, the more sense it made.
Lila was gone. Dead and buried, or whatever happened to her body.
That chapter of my life was over.
Maybe it was time to focus on what I'd lost. On who I'd pushed away.
Sophia was my first mate. My true mate, according to some.
We had history. We had a bond, even if I'd damaged it.
But bonds could be repaired. Trust could be rebuilt.
I just needed to show her I'd changed. That I regretted how I'd treated her.
I folded the invitation carefully and slipped it into my pocket.
Yes. I would go to her exhibition.
I would support her publicly. Show everyone that I respected her success.
And then, quietly, I would approach her about reconciliation.
About giving us another chance.
She'd invited me personally. That had to mean something.
Maybe she was tired of being alone. Tired of running her pack without a proper mate.
Ethan was her fated mate, sure. But fated mates didn't always work out. Sometimes practical partnerships were stronger.
And Sophia was nothing if not practical.
I headed back to my territory, my mind already planning.
I'd need to prepare a gift. Something meaningful. Something that showed I understood her now. I appreciated her.
Maybe a piece of jewelry from her own collection. Bought at the exhibition in front of everyone.
Yes. That would send the right message.
I'd show up. Support her business. Buy something expensive. And prove to everyone that I was serious about making amends.
The other Alphas would see it. They would talk about it.
And Sophia would see that I'd changed.
That I was ready to be the mate she deserved.
Back at Shadowmoon, I called my Beta into my office.
"I need you to prepare a substantial amount of funds," I told him. "I'm attending an exhibition next week and I plan to make a significant purchase."
He frowned. "Alpha, with respect, our finances are already stretched thin."
"I know," I said. "But this is an investment. Trust me."
He looked uncertain but nodded. "As you wish."
After he left, I sat at my desk and pulled out the invitation again.
Sophia's elegant handwriting was on the envelope. Simple. Classy.
Just like her.
I'd been a fool to push her away. A fool to choose Lila over her.
But I could fix this.
I had to.
Because without Sophia, without her success to bolster mine, Shadowmoon Pack would continue to fall.
And I refused to let that happen. I'd go to the exhibition. I knew I’d win her back.
And everything would return to how it should be. I just had to be patient and play this right.
Sophia invited me for a reason and I intended to make the most of it.