Chapter 7

Sophia

This morning, Alex explained his plan to me in vivid detail. When he laid out the cover story he'd prepared for Lily and me, I didn't think it would work. But to my surprise, not only is it working, his pack is actually buying into the whole charade.

Alex is really playing the part of a concerned Alpha, trying to convince us to open up a shop in his village. It's quite impressive. I kind of feel bad for deceiving his pack members because I can tell how excited they are at the prospect of having a special clothing store here. I feel worse when Alex takes us to an empty building under the guise of showing us our "new store location" and a few of the nearby shop owners show up to offer us free food and drinks.

They're trying really hard to get us to stay here. I shared my reservations with Alex, but he told me not to think too much about it.

"I feel like a monster," I admit to Lily.

The witch looks at me as she munches on the meat bun in her hand. "Why?"

"Do you ever stop eating, Lily?"

She grins, her mouth full of food. "Now, why would I do that?"

I shake my head. "I've never seen somebody eat so much. It's a miracle you're so thin."

"Genetics," Lily beams at me. "I've got good genes. Now, stop worrying and try to have some fun."

I have to admit that it is kind of nice to be out of the room. The village is not as dismal as I had believed from Alex's description. It's a bustling hub of activity. There are a number of shops and other businesses operating here. It is only the number of people in this village that are limited. I would say that there are probably less than a thousand shifters in this place. Compared to the sprawling sizes of most packs, which can consist of anywhere from ten to twenty thousand shifters, Alex's pack is tiny.

I see no sign of Hilda, though, which is a relief. Even if Alex considers her a sibling, the fact that she does not reciprocate the feeling makes me even more adamant about not having that woman around him. Patrick's conversation with me has not been forgotten. I don't have a very positive view of Hilda, but I can tell that Alex would not appreciate my sentiments. Therefore, I'm keeping my thoughts to myself.

Alex hasn't left my side for even a minute today. As the afternoon hits, he asks me, "Are you hungry?"

I shoot a meaningful lock in Lily's direction. She still has crumbs on her face.

"I think I could eat," I say darkly.

Lily tries to look innocently shock, as if she didn't completely devour both my breakfast and the free food that we received earlier. I still don't understand where she's putting it all. She has such a tiny body.

"Oh, are we getting lunch?" The young witch looks cheerful at the prospect.

"Yes," Alex says as he opens the door of a bakery and ushers us inside. "But not for you."

"Why not?" she complains. "I'm starving!"

"In which universe?" I retort.

Lily gives me an unashamed look. "I'm a growing girl."

"I'm pretty sure you've eaten enough for ten people so far today!"

She doesn't look insulted at all and simply grins. "I'm a growing girl with a growing appetite. I need food. I think I'll faint if I don't eat. In fact, I feel lightheaded already. I'm seeing spots."

I have to chuckle at her antics. Lily has the ability to distract me from my worries with the way she behaves. It's kind of sad that once this whole thing with Alex's pack is sorted out, we're going to have to part ways.

"Nathan is going to pick you up here," Alex tells her. "You can have lunch with him and the guys. Sophia and I are going for a picnic."

"A picnic?" Lily can't seem to decide whether to look outraged or betrayed. "Without me?"

"Don't blame me." I lift my hands in a placating gesture. "It wasn't my idea. This is the first I'm hearing of this, as well."

"Why can't I come on the picnic?"

"Because I want some private time with Sophia," Alex replies bluntly.

"You can have private time in the bedroom!" Lily pulls no punches. "I've never been on a picnic before. What with me being an orphan, unloved—"

"We're all orphans here, Lily," Alex interrupts her dryly. "Playing that card won't work with us."

She makes a face of annoyance. "Drat. I keep forgetting that."

"I'm sure you'll have a nice time with Nathan," I assure her, wondering if Alex needs to discuss something with me without her hearing. "And if you really want to come with us—"

"Try it and see what happens," Alex growls at her.

Lily glowers at him before turning her head away, nose in the air. "Whatever. I have better things to do with my time anyway. Nathan better cook something nice for me."

"You know, for a witch that we rescued, you sure have an entitled attitude," Alex begins.

"We had a deal, remember?" Lily scoffs. "You have to feed me. That's part of the bargain."

"We need to—"

Alex stops mid-sentence as the front door opens and Nathan walks in. Behind him is another familiar face, one that has me tensing up.

Hilda is wearing a short, blue dress that clings to her every curve. She looks lovely and delicate. I can understand why Patrick fell for her.

"Alex!" She looks far too pleased to see him, but her expression sours when she sees me by his side.

Hilda inserts herself between us and tries to latch onto his arm, but Alex steps to the side, avoiding her touch, his eyes searching for mine. Even as my wolf bristles at her clinginess toward my mate, it is also satisfied by his attempt to put distance between them. I have to have faith in Alex. He's going to deal with the situation.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work, Hilda?" he asks.

When I look at him questioningly, he explains, "Hilda works as a teacher for the younger children."

"The students are on their lunch break," Hilda replies. "I just thought I'd get something to eat here at the bakery. I haven't seen you since you first arrived, Alex. Why haven't you come by to visit?"

There's a possessiveness in her voice that rubs me the wrong way. I want to shove her away from Alex. I want to stake my claim on my man. I have no sympathy for Hilda, especially after what Patrick told me. She broke his heart trying to make Alex jealous.

My expression may be giving me away because Alex casts one look my way and then takes a step back from Hilda.

He smiles at her gently. "I've been very busy, Hilda. You know there's a lot going on in town right now."

My wolf does not like the way he's making excuses. Although my human side understands that he cannot simply be abrupt with her, my animal disagrees.

My discontent must have shown on my face because Alex winces.

Hilda, however, does not like his reasoning.

"Surely you can't be so busy that you don't have time for me?" She latches onto his arm like a leech. "You've always had time for me before. What's changed?"

Her voice is sweet, but there's a hard edge to it. Nathan's brows lift, and Lily covers her smile with her hand. It seems that Alex is the only one who doesn't notice Hilda's ploys.

I can see how helpless Alex feels in this situation, and I decide to take pity on him. It's not like he hasn't kept his word; he's actively trying to keep Hilda at a distance. But all the responsibility doesn't have to fall on him. After all, he is my mate. I should also be protecting him from lecherous little tramps.

I clear my throat. "Alex, are we leaving or not?"

Hilda's eyes dart toward me, and there's irritation in them. "You cannot call him Alex. He's the Alpha. You should refer to him as Alpha Stone."

This is the first time I've squared off against a woman in such a setting. My lips curve in a dangerous smile. "He's Alex to me. And he's not my Alpha."

He's my mate.

Everybody around us has understood the implied meaning of my words except for Hilda. If she were in her wolf form right now, all her fur would be standing on end.

"How dare you disrespect him?!" Without another thought, she abandons Alex and gets in my face.

At least she's no longer touching him.

I keep smiling at her, and without removing my eyes from hers, I ask, "Alex, does it bother you that I call you by name? Should I be referring to you as Alpha Stone?"

The daring edge to my question does not escape my mate, and his voice is strange as he sticks his hands in his pockets and murmurs, "Alex is just fine."

Hilda whips around in outrage. "How can you let her disrespect you?"

"You're calling him Alex," I point out. "Are you disrespecting him, as well?"

Daggers in her eyes, the girl hisses. "We have a special relationship! He's my Alex."

My wolf goes still within me.

Whose Alex?

Does she want me to rip her head off? I can feel the tingling sensation in my arms as my desire to kill this girl on the spot intensifies. Where does she get off calling my mate "her Alex"?

Lily is the first one to notice my anger. She quickly grabs me by the hand and says in an overly bright tone, "How about we go outside and get some fresh air? Don't keep us waiting, Alex. We have a lot to get done, and my time is very precious."

Tossing in that last bit of disrespect for the heck of it, Lily nearly drags me out of there.

As soon as we pass the door, I burst out, "You shouldn't have done that."

"Right," Lily drawls. "What I should've done is let you make mincemeat of that poor girl."

"Poor girl?" I glare at the witch.

She seems more amused than anything about the situation. "Did I say poor girl ? Well, shoot me dead. I meant that backstabbing tramp ."

"You're smiling too much," I grouse.

"Sorry," she replies unrepentantly. "But you need to cool down. She's Alex's problem. He'll deal with her if he knows what's good for him."

She chuckles at the last part.

It turns out that whatever Alex does say to Hilda has her storming out of the bakery in tears. She walks past me, and as she does, she spits at my feet.

Nathan, who is right behind her, growls, "Hilda! What the heck was that?!"

She flips him the middle finger, and Alex exits the bakery just in time to see her do so. "What happened?"

"She spat at Sophia!" Nathan looks insulted. "Are you going to let her get away with that?!"

Alex looks stunned by this revelation, and he stares at Nathan for a moment. He then looks at me. "Is that true?"

I silently point at the wet spot by my feet.

He closes his eyes, and disappointment is evident on his face. "I'm sorry. I'll handle her."

"Forget it," I tell him. I don't want him thinking about Hilda any more than he has to.

"She doesn't usually behave like this. It's so out of character for her," Alex attempts, his voice strained.

Nathan scoffs but doesn't say anything.

"Do you want to go after her, Alex?" I cross my arms over my chest.

He hesitates. "No."

My hands lower to my sides in relief. My wolf feels appeased. Alex chose me over Hilda. I've never been an overbearing sort, and while I can tell that I'm being very possessive and controlling, I refuse to feel bad. The words "my Alex" are still ringing in my head.

She laid a claim to my mate.

The audacity! Even thinking about it has me getting worked up.

Lily pats me on the shoulder, causing me to look at her.

"Easy there." Her voice is low.

She's right. Why am I behaving like this? Alex is clearly not interested in that girl. Why am I taking her remarks so personally? No matter what she says, Alex would never choose her. He's my fated mate.

He looks upset. And that makes me feel worse.

"Come on, Alex." I walk over to him "Let's go back inside and get what you wanted to buy. Forget about all this."

He lets out a gust of air before giving me a small smile. "Could you wait here with Nathan and Lily? I'll go get the food."

Maybe he needs a few minutes to compose himself.

When the door of the bakery closes behind him, I turn to Nathan. "What did he say to her in there?"

Nathan looks a little smug now. "He told her that he doesn't like her speaking to you in that tone. He basically implied that there was something going on between you and him. She didn't like that, and she said some things. And then he told her off."

"What did he say?" Lily grins, waggling her brows. "Give us the juicy bits."

Nathan shoots her an annoyed look. "There are no juicy bits. Hilda basically said that Sophia is unremarkable and is probably just trying to seduce Alex because he's the Alpha. You can imagine how he felt upon hearing that."

I don't know if he's telling the truth or not, but I suppose Nathan has no reason to lie.

"I don't understand why I'm getting so worked up over this," I mutter to myself, but Nathan overhears.

"Well, what did you expect?" He blinks. "You and Alex are in your courting phase. If any male tried to do what Hilda just did, trust me, he would be dead in the street right now. Courtships are a very sensitive time period. Our wolves are more feral during that phase. I'm actually surprised you showed so much restraint."

He sounds impressed.

"Besides," he continues, "Hilda was out of bounds, and she knew it. She had no business treating a guest of the Alpha like that. She crossed a line, and Alex told her off for it."

"He looked upset," I say slowly.

"Not over anything you said," Nathan says compassionately. "If he's upset, it's because his precious Hilda is behaving like a brat. She has no business talking to you or about you that way. But she doesn't seem to understand that Alex is not going to take any nonsense where you're concerned."

He looks entertained over Hilda's temporary fall from grace, but then he advises me, "If I were you, Sophia, I would watch my back. Hilda is known to be quite vindictive."

Half an hour later, I'm mulling over Nathan's words as Alex and I head into the forest surrounding his village. It's quite cold out. Back in Oakrest, which is located near the sea, the weather was growing warmer as spring took over. Here in the North, even though we're still quite close to the border with the South, it still feels like winter.

I pull my jacket around me tighter, shivering.

Alex has not said a word since we left the bakery. I haven't spoken either, lost in my own thoughts. But as we walk, he suddenly says, "I'm sorry for what I said."

Surprised, I glance at him. "What did you say?"

"When I introduced you to Hilda, I referred to you and Lily as nobody important. I simply didn't want anyone to pay more attention to you than necessary. Karina's people are still in the village, and if they figure out that you're special, they will come after you."

I close my eyes briefly and then open them to look forward.

"It's over and done with, Alex. I don't want to dwell in the past."

"I know. But it set the tone for how Hilda was talking to you today. It was my fault."

My first instinct is irritation, and then I sigh, saying, "Hilda isn't a child anymore, Alex. I'm not telling you to be angry with her, but I would like to point out that she's an adult now. And if she behaves in a certain way, you cannot blame yourself. Life doesn't work that way. You may have raised her, and she may be important to you, but that doesn't mean you should excuse her actions. If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that actions have consequences. I've faced enough of them to know what I'm talking about. Hilda knows exactly what she's doing. The problem is that she also knows that nobody will hold her accountable. And when people are not held accountable, they cross lines that should never be crossed."

As I say these words, I have a very specific person in mind.

It's Freddy, the son of one of the senior lieutenants of the pack security team in my old town. Freddy was never taught that actions have consequences. I never found out what happened to him after he crossed paths with Noah Black, but I never saw him again after Noah showed up.

Alex is quiet.

When I look at him, I can see the tense expression on his face. It looks like he doesn't like what I'm saying.

It doesn't matter to me. Sooner or later, he's going to find out that I'm telling the truth.

"Hilda's very sensible child…" he begins halfheartedly.

I chuckle, but it's an angry sound.

"You just can't stop defending her, can you? She spat at me, Alex. No sensible person does that. And you keep referring to her as a child. She looks to be a few years younger than me, if even that. She's not a child. She's an adult. And if you start treating her like one, maybe you'll understand why her actions are not acceptable. But it's fine. She's your problem, not mine."

"Do you have to be so harsh?" The irritability in his tone is hard to miss. "She lost her parents—"

"So did I," I say quietly. "Do you see me spitting at people?" Alex is silent, and I continue. "Not to compare trauma or tragedy or loss, but I would say that I have been dealt a pretty bad hand in life. I don't claim to know what Hilda went through, but I can guarantee that she was protected by you. You shielded her from everything. So don't give me the excuse that she lost her parents. From what you've told me, most of the people in your pack lost their parents. Including you."

His arguments are falling apart, and Alex stops talking. It's my turn to feel frustrated now. I don't want Hilda to come between us. I don't want to talk about her or have her intrude on our private time. But Alex can't seem to stop bringing her up. Does he expect me to agree with him and declare Hilda to be some sort of saint?

Is Hilda someone I'm going to have to contend with for the rest of my life?

These thoughts are troubling.

The fact is that she will always be a part of Alex's life. If I approach her with such an aggressive attitude, Alex will start having a problem with me very soon. I have no plans to let that girl walk all over me, but maybe I can try to take the high road. First, though, I need to make something clear to Alex.

"I know she's important to you, Alex," I begin carefully. "While I stand by what I said, that her interest in you is more than just familial, I'm not telling you to cut ties with her. But I am telling you to remember that I am your mate. And I expect to take precedence in everything. You wanted me to communicate with you, so I am. I consider Hilda to be a threat to our relationship. I find her attitude toward me deplorable. And if you were smart, you would try not to bring her between us."

My words may sound harsh, but ultimately, I need Alex to know where I stand. My wolf is not happy with him defending another female. My human side is not pleased that he treated the fact that she spit on me so lightly. But I'm trying not to let my anger get the best of me.

When Alex doesn't say anything for a long time, I want to turn around and go back to the village. My heart hurts. I don't like this situation. It feels like I'm the only one fighting for this relationship, while he is busy defending the woman trying to get between us.

"That's not what I'm doing."

When Alex speaks, I realize I must have been thinking out loud.

He comes to a stop and sets down the bag he's carrying. Turning to face me, he says, his tone serious, "I understand what you're saying. I'm not happy with what Hilda did today. But there's no way I'm favoring her over you. I meant what I said, Sophia. No one takes priority over you."

An uncomfortable expression crosses his face. "Let's say I do believe that Hilda has romantic feelings for me. That doesn't change anything. I don't look at her that way, and I never will. And you know that. The only way she's going to come between us is if you let her. For me, you are the only one."

He sounds almost resigned. "And you're right. What she did was unacceptable. Even if she was angry, she went too far. I was hoping that, as you became more visible in the village, she would get used to you. I'm not sure about that now. I'm not blind. I did sense the hostility from her toward you. I'll deal with it. I won't let Hilda come between us as long as you do the same."

I study him, feeling oddly tense.

That's it? There's not going to be any shouting or fighting?

I thought he would be angrier with me. I was sure he would defend Hilda till his very last breath. But he agreed with me so easily.

A small chuckle leaves me, and I cover my face with my hands.

"What is it?" Alex asks, concerned.

I lower my hands and give him a shaky smile. "Is this what healthy relationships are supposed to look like?"

He catches on to what I'm saying and grins nervously. "I suppose so. I much prefer that we talk things out rather than get angry with each other."

I silently agree. I know the topic of Hilda is going to come up between us again, but as long as Alex and I work on strengthening our own bond, I think we should be alright.

Alex looks around before taking a step back and letting out a sharp, loud whistle. A moment later, I hear two whistles from opposite sides.

"What's going on?" I asked, wary.

"It's a sign that we're alone, and not being followed," Alex tells me. "We can shift here."

"Shift?" I ask uncomfortably. "You didn't say anything about shifting."

Alex catches the reluctance in my voice and says firmly, "You have to keep shifting, Sophia. The more you do, the more natural it's going to feel. Avoiding it isn't the answer."

Scowling at the light scolding, I close my eyes and allow my wolf to come forth. While it is easier this time, as he said it would be, the shift is still slow. As for Alex, he shifts within the blink of an eye.

Once I'm in my animal form, Alex approaches me and rubs against me. I lift my paw to study the silver fur before looking around anxiously. Alex lets out a rumble to comfort me.

Picking up the bag with his mouth, he begins to walk before looking over his shoulder at me. I trail after him. Once he is certain that I'm following him, he breaks into a run. I try to match my speed to his.

Running in the forest in my animal form is something I once only dreamed of. I never thought it would happen. This freedom fills me with an excitement that I've never experienced before. I push myself faster and faster, enjoying the feel of the sharp wind against my face, my body swift and limber.

I want to keep running forever.

Before I can help myself, a howl of happiness leaves my mouth.

I expect Alex to stop me, but instead, he howls with me, conveying his own happiness for me.

I don't know how long we run for, but when we come to a halt, it is in front of a small waterfall. My heart is pounding in my chest as I watch Alex trot over to the small body of water underneath the waterfall and drink from it. I study him before I mimic the action.

The water is crisp and clear and incredibly refreshing. Alex has already dropped the bag beside him, and once he's done drinking the fresh water, he shifts to his human form.

"Beautiful," he breathes, running his hands over my fur, awe and delight in his eyes.

In my wolf form, I tower over him, but when he caresses my fur, my wolf preens with pride. Listening to Alex admire it, I can sense the delight it feels.

Vanity is a sin, I tell my wolf, who just huffs and pushes me aside.

When Alex begins unpacking our lunch, I try to shift back. My wolf isn't willing; it wants to play in the water or run around some more. Ignoring its resistance, I force the change.

"So," I say, watching him rummaging through the bag, "what are we doing here?"

"Having a picnic."

Alex's unbothered tone has me looking around. "Be serious."

He must have sensed the doubt in my voice because he lifts his head, his gaze meeting mine. "I am being serious. I thought it would be nice to go on a picnic with you. I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to spend time with you, Sophia. And Lily is wrong: private time isn't always in the bedroom. I need this, us together, having a nice meal and forgetting our worries for a bit."

When I hesitate, he lifts an eyebrow. "You don't want that?"

"It's just, with everything going on…"

"The world can take a breather for a few hours while you and I enjoy a nice picnic." Alex takes my hand and pulls me down next to him. He hands me a beef sandwich. "Want to try relaxing for a change?"

There's laughter in his eyes, and as I take the sandwich from him, I fall a little bit more hopelessly in love with him.