Chapter 55 Chapter 55
Marcus's POV
I stood at the window of my office, watching Sophia's car disappear down the road.
She came. She actually came to invite me personally.
A smile tugged at my lips. This was good. Better than good.
After everything that happened, after the divorce, after Lila's exposure and death, Sophia still reached out to me. That had to mean something.
Maybe she was finally seeing sense. Finally realizing that Ethan wasn't the right choice for her.
I turned away from the window and walked to my desk, picking up the invitation she'd left.
The paper was elegant. Expensive. Just like everything Sophia did now.
My Sophia.
No. Not mine anymore. But she could be again.
I sat down heavily in my chair, the weight of everything pressing down on me.
The pack was falling apart. Businesses were failing left and right. Trade partners were dropping contracts. Money was bleeding out faster than I could stop it.
All because of Lila.
That witch.
Anger surged through me at the thought of her. How she'd played me. Used me. Made me look like a fool in front of everyone.
I'd trusted her. Made her my Luna. And she'd destroyed everything.
My reputation. My pack's prosperity. My credibility.
All gone because I'd been blind enough to believe her lies.
I slammed my fist on the desk, making papers scatter.
Damn her. Damn her to hell.
But Lila was dead now. Gone. Her body might be missing but she wasn't coming back.
Which meant I had a chance. A real chance to fix this mess.
And that chance was Sophia.
She was thriving. Her jewelry business was booming. Orders pouring in from neighboring packs and even human territories.
Everyone wanted a piece of what she was creating.
And if I could get her back, if I could convince her to give me another chance, her success would become mine too.
Our packs could merge again. Stronger this time. Better.
I would have access to her resources, her connections, her reputation.
Everything I needed to rebuild Shadowmoon Pack.
I just had to make her see that we belonged together.
That Ethan was wrong for her.
That I was the one she should choose.
I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing with possibilities.
The exhibition. That was my opportunity.
A public event with all the Alphas watching. The perfect stage to show Sophia what she'd been missing.
But how?
I couldn't just walk up to her and ask her to come back. She'd laugh in my face.
No, I needed something bigger. Something that would make her see me differently.
Make her remember why she'd fallen for me in the first place.
I needed to be her hero again.
The thought struck me like lightning.
A hero. That was it.
If I could save her from something, protect her from some threat, she'd have to acknowledge that I was still strong. Still capable. Still worthy of being her mate.
And Ethan would look weak in comparison.
I sat forward, my mind spinning with ideas.
What kind of threat could I stage? It had to be believable. Had to look real.
An attack maybe. Some bandits crashing the exhibition.
No, too obvious. Too many guards would be there.
A fire? Some kind of accident?
That could work. A fire breaking out during the event. Chaos erupting. And me, swooping in to save Sophia while Ethan fumbled.
I smiled.
Yes. That was perfect.
I'd need to hire someone. Someone discrete who could start a small fire without it getting out of control.
Just enough to create panic. Just enough for me to play the hero.
I'd carry Sophia out of the burning building. Make sure everyone saw me protecting her.
The other Alphas would talk about it for weeks. How Marcus saved Sophia. How he was still the strong, protective Alpha she needed.
And Sophia, she'd remember what it felt like to be in my arms. To have me protect her.
She'd start questioning her choice. Start wondering if Ethan could really keep her safe the way I could.
I stood and began pacing, the plan taking shape in my mind.
I'd need to be careful. Couldn't make it too obvious that the fire was staged.
Maybe I'd have someone tamper with the electrical wiring. Make it look like an accident.
The building was old. These things happened.
And I'd make sure I was positioned perfectly. Close enough to Sophia to reach her quickly. Far enough from Ethan that he couldn't get there first.
Timing would be everything.
I stopped pacing and grabbed a piece of paper, scribbling down notes.
I'd need to scout the venue first. Find the best location for the fire. Figure out where Sophia would likely be standing.
I'd need to hire someone trustworthy. Someone who wouldn't talk. Someone who needed money badly enough to keep their mouth shut.
I had a few contacts. Rogues who'd do anything for the right price.
One of them could handle this.
I'd pay them well. Make sure they understood the importance of discretion.
And when the fire started, when the panic erupted, I'd be ready.
I'd push through the crowd. Find Sophia. Sweep her up and carry her to safety.
Everyone would see it. Everyone would know that I was the one who saved her.
Not Ethan. Me.
The thought filled me with satisfaction.
This would work. It had to work.
Because I was running out of options. Running out of time.
My Beta had shown me the latest financial reports this morning. We had maybe two months before we couldn't pay the pack's basic expenses.
Two months before everything collapsed completely.
I needed Sophia. Needed her success. Needed her resources.
And I needed her to want me back.
This plan would accomplish all of that.
I sat back down and continued writing, mapping out every detail.
The fire would start in the back corner of the exhibition hall. Away from the main displays but close enough to create real danger.
I'd position myself near Sophia throughout the event. Stay close. Be attentive.
When the fire started, I'd react immediately. No hesitation.
I'd grab Sophia and get her out while everyone else was still processing what was happening.
Ethan would be too slow. Too caught off guard.
And by the time he realized what was happening, I'd already be Sophia's savior.
I smiled grimly.
Yes. This was going to work.
I just had to execute it perfectly.
No mistakes. No room for error.
I folded the paper and tucked it into my desk drawer.
Tomorrow, I'd start making arrangements. Find the right person for the job. Scout the venue.
By the time the exhibition arrived, everything would be in place.
And Sophia would finally see what she'd given up when she divorced me.
She'd see that I was still the Alpha she needed. Still the mate who could protect her.
Still the man who deserved her.
I stood and walked back to the window, looking out over Shadowmoon territory.
Soon, this would all be fixed. The pack would recover. My reputation would be restored.
And Sophia would be mine again.
Where she belonged.
I just had to be patient. Just had to play this right.
The exhibition was in a few days. Not long to wait.
Not long until I could start putting my plan into motion.
I turned away from the window and headed for the door.
I had work to do. Preparations to make.
And a future to secure.
No matter what it took.