Chapter 32

Sophia Hope

Elsa leaves, and I throw some things together in a small backpack, along with my money. As I sit on the couch and stare at the bag in my hand, I realize that even now, I don't trust Alex. I don't trust this bond between us. My wolf, who has always been desperate to be near him, is quiet now. The mistrust is not only coming from me, it seems.

Elsa's logic about the Silver Wolf certainly makes sense, but how do I broach the subject with Alex? What do I say to him?

I have a sinking feeling that if I tell him to forget about the Silver Wolf, he will think I'm simply trying to convince him to leave town with me.

Miserable, I try to think through this mess.

"This isn't the time to be dwelling on my emotional problems," I say loudly, trying to convince myself to move. "I have to warn Alex and tell him that I'm going. I can't…It has to be his decision. I won't force him. But I need to leave. With or without him!"

His cell phone is with me, so I call the motel and get put through to his room. As soon as somebody picks up, I say, "Alex, I need to see you right now. Where are—"

"And who would this be?"

It's Julia's voice.

I should slam the phone down, but I can't. "Where is Alex?"

"Right beside me," she titters. "But he's sleeping. I think our activities tired him out."

"What?" I stare blankly at the table, the phone clenched to my ear. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh, do I need to spell it out for you?" Julia laughs delightedly. "Alex and I are in bed together."

She's lying. She has to be.

Alex wouldn't do that to me.

But my hands are shaking.

He hates her. He told me so.

Still, I can't stop my eyes from turning wet. A wave of fury passes through me.

"Give him the phone," I snap through gritted teeth. "I need to talk to him."

"I just told you, he's asleep."

"I don't give a fuck what you told me. I'm telling you to put him on the phone," I snarl.

"Well, I'm not obliged to listen to you. I think I recognize your voice. You're the waitress, aren't you? You're that girl who came to our table the other day."

I end the call.

I know she's lying. I've heard the way Alex talks about her. She's just messing with my head.

But this feeling of mistrust and hurt within me is demoralizing at best. I should have faith in him, but I don't. I want to trust him, but something inside me stops me, something watchful and guarded.

I call the motel two more times, trying to talk to either Nathan or Saul, but neither of them picks up the phone. Frustrated, I ask for Jared's room next, but the receptionist gets annoyed and hangs up on me.

Muttering nasty words under my breath, I walk over to the window. I may have to go over to the motel myself.

But when I look outside, I see three members of the pack security sitting across the road in full view. They're not even trying to hide their presence.

Oh, no.

I won't be able to leave the building. Not till it gets dark.

But I have to go now. What am I going to do?

It suddenly occurs to me that I told Noah I would be babysitting Tim today. An idea sparks within me, and while it is risky, it could work. I make a call to Elsa before I grab my backpack and head next door. I knock, and Drew opens the door a few minutes later in his pajamas.

He blinks at me and rubs his eyes. "It's my day off, Sophia. What do you want?"

"Can I come inside? I need to talk to you."

"Sure." Drew yawns, moving aside to let me in.

He looks at my backpack. "Going on a trip?"

I give him a small smile. "I need a favor from you, Drew. Do you mind if I borrow Tim for an hour or so, and then you can pick him up from the bar?"

"My son?" Drew looks confused. "Sure. What do you want him for, though?"

"Noah has the pack security watching me. I need to leave the building without raising suspicion."

All the sleep vanishes from Drew's eyes, his face turning serious. "What's going on, Sophia? Is this about the other night?"

He and I haven't talked about what happened to Wyatt or to him. Drew looks like he has recovered just fine, though.

"I'm going to meet my mate." I watch my friend, gauging his reaction. "I want to be with him, but Noah isn't going to let that happen. I need to use Tim as an excuse to be going somewhere."

Drew gives me a long look. "You've decided not to be with Noah?"

"Yes. I…After what he did to Wyatt, I can't—" I take a deep breath— "I can't look at him the same way."

He smiles at me. "Attagirl. I'm glad you've worked things out. But what's with the bag?"

"I—" I suddenly remember Elsa telling me not to trust anybody. But this is Drew! Just to be on the safe side, I say, "I have some things to drop off with Elsa. Tim will be fine. You can pick him up when she calls."

"Sure." Drew gestures with his hand. "You can take my son to the bar."

I grin. "Thank you so much."

"I'll go get him. He's watching cartoons in the other room."

I wait by the door, and a couple minutes later, Tim is running toward me. "Sophia!"

The idea of never being able to see him again makes me emotional. I give him a tight hug. "Hey, kid. Wanna go out with me for a bit?"

"Sure. Can I have ice cream?"

"No ice cream," Drew interjects sternly. "You just had some last night."

"No ice cream," I repeat, winking at Tim.

He looks positively gleeful.

"Thanks for this, Drew." I look at the man, and for a moment, my heart overflows with sadness. I give him a hug, as well.

Startled by the contact, Drew stiffens at first, and then I feel his arms wrap around me.

When I pull away, he whispers, "I don't know what you're up to Sophia, but I trust you. And I want you to be careful."

I nod.

When Tim and I are on the stairs, I check the window that overlooks the back side of the building. I see two men standing there, smoking. I know them: pack security. Noah doesn't trust me one bit. Smart of him, but I don't have any intention of being caged.

I crouch down and help Tim put on my backpack. "Can you carry this for me?"

"Okay." He beams at me. "When do we get ice cream?"

"I'm going to get you something better than ice cream," I promise. "A big, fat slice of chocolate cake!"

His hand wraps around mine, and his eyes are wide. "You mean it?"

"Of course. Have I ever lied to you before?"

"Can I have two slices?"

"You can have three slices, and a trip to the dentist."

He giggles.

I smile down at him, but my heart is hammering against my rib cage. When we walk outside, the men out front see me, and one of them begins following us.

Just like I expected.

We head toward the center of town, and I stop to purchase a balloon for Tim. Then we see a hot dog cart, and I get one for each of us. We also go to the park, and I let the boy play on the swings for half an hour. After all, I have to make this look believable.

Noah's man is still watching us, but he's losing interest.

After some time, I call out, "Come on, Tim. Let's go. I have to pick up my new uniform at the Dancing Bear. We'll get you that piece of cake, too."

Tim doesn't argue with that.

I made sure my voice was loud enough for the man to hear. He follows at a safe distance, but he stays outside as we enter the restaurant. The "closed" sign is on the front door, and Elsa is waiting for us behind the bar. We lead Tim to her office, and I ask him to wait for me there before I close the door and face her.

Elsa takes my hands. "I've managed to contact Alex. He's going to meet you here, and you two can talk in my office. I've made sure nobody else is coming in for work. Now, it would not be smart to leave town in broad daylight. If you are going to leave, do it once the sun sets. And go through the forest. If I were you, I would take a boat. The beach isn't going to be guarded."

She has a point, but the sea has been quite unpredictable this week, and while competent, I'm not the strongest of swimmers. "What about the friends you told me about?"

Elsa gives me a piece of paper with an address and a phone number written on it. "Once you get to safety, you can call them. But like I said before, it would be better if Alex goes with you."

I wet my lips, trying to muster up my courage, recalling the phone call I had with Julia earlier. "It's good to have a backup plan, though, don't you think?"

She knows what I mean. "Yes, it is."

I take a shaky breath. "Elsa, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"What does it mean if I don't entirely trust Alex? I know he would never hurt me physically, but…" I trail off, and she purses her lips.

I expect her to scold me or talk about how he's my mate and that's reason enough for me to have blind faith in him, but instead, she cups my cheek, her voice gentle. "I know it's hard, Sophia. You and Alex had a rocky start. He kept pushing you away. In a couple bond, first impressions lay the foundation for everything that follows. That foundation was broken for you two, but give it time. You'll be able to build it again."

When she lets go, I ask, "How do you know so much about all of these things?"

She gives me a secretive smile and puts a finger over her lips. "Now, now. Some things are best not revealed."

My lips curve in response. "Alright. Keep your secrets. Listen, I told Drew that you would call him to come pick up Tim, but I didn't tell him what I'm doing."

Elsa gives me a pleased look. "Don't you worry about Tim." She hands me a change of clothes and says authoritatively, "Change into this and give me what you're wearing."

Wondering what she's up to, I go into the bathroom and change. I'm now wearing a dark shirt with matching leggings. Elsa holds out her hands for my own clothes when I walk out.

What I didn't expect was for Elsa to change into my clothes.

"What are you doing?" I ask her, beyond confused.

"Making your story more believable." She pulls the hood of my sweatshirt up to shield her face and straightens her back as she walks away from me. "If you were looking from a distance, would you believe I was you?"

"Maybe," I admit.

Elsa opens the door to her office. "Come on, Tim. Change of plans. You and I are going for a walk."

"But I was promised cake!" Tim looks back and forth between the two of us. "Elsa, why are you wearing Sophia's clothes?"

"We're playing a game," I tell him hastily. "But you can't tell anybody, or you lose."

Tim eyes me suspiciously. "What do I get if I win?"

"Chocolate cake." I look pointedly at Elsa.

"As much chocolate cake as you want," she promises. "Now, come with me." Tim happily takes her hand, and they leave through the front door of the bar.

I wait anxiously once they're gone. Everything is moving too fast. I've managed to uncover who Rita's murderer was, but there are still so many things I can't figure out. Why did Noah have people waiting outside her cottage? Why was he trying to pin the murder on me? Was I the only person he expected to go there?

If Noah wants me to be his mate, why is he trying to trap me in something so horrifying?

Then again, he was blackmailing Rita, using Elmer's murder against her. Did Noah plan to blackmail me by pinning her murder on me and then forcing me to mate him? Is that what he was planning? It still doesn't explain why he wants me as his mate.

And what about Eve? Who is she working for? She had a similar phone to Rita's. Is she also working for Noah? If Eve is the Silver Wolf and she's working for Noah, that means she will not help Alex. And if Alex reveals his identity to her, she may betray him.

I am building myself into a panicked state at this point. All of a sudden, somebody puts their hand on my shoulder, and I let out a startled scream. Alex's other hand immediately clamps over my mouth.

"Stop shouting!" he hisses.

My eyes drink in the sight of him. I remember every single thing I have to tell him, but when I remove his hand from my mouth, the first thing that pops out is, "Were you with Julia this morning?"

Alex stares at me, dumbfounded. "What?"

"Were you with Julia, Alex?" I know I sound ridiculous, but I can't stop myself.

"Do I look like I have a masochistic streak?" he shoots back. "Why would I be with that woman? Don't even joke about that!"

I search his eyes, and my own close in relief when I realize he's telling the truth.

"What happened?" he asks, gaping at me. "What prompted this particular line of questioning?"

"I called your motel room a couple of hours ago. I needed to talk to you urgently. Julia picked up, and she told me she and you had been…getting busy."

"And you believed her?"

I can hear the hurt in Alex's voice, and I lower my gaze, ashamed. "No. But in the back of my mind, I was getting mad at you."

I expect him to have a few sharp words to say to me, but instead, he sighs. "I was out dealing with some matters and making arrangements to leave soon. But I understand why you asked. I'll earn your trust yet, Sophia." When I look back up at Alex, he's smiling at me. "Give it time. There will come a day when you trust me completely."

"Why aren't you angry with me?"

"I can't be angry when your lack of trust in me is my own damn fault." His thumb caresses my cheek. "To be perfectly honest with you, Sophia, I'm grateful you're giving me this much of a chance. I've wondered what you would do if you had another option. I mean, you do have one, with Noah, but—"

"Don't mention his name anywhere near me," I scowl. "He's why I was calling you this morning. Come on. Let's go in the office and talk."

I pull him into Elsa's office and lock the door behind us. Filling him in on the entire situation, I see the growing shock on his face, especially when I get to the part about Noah telling me to move in with him. The shock is followed by rage.

"That bastard. Is he ordering you to live with him?"

"That seems to be the case," I reply. "But I won't do it, Alex. I'm leaving town. I can't do this anymore. I don't know why Noah is so desperate to have me, but I do know I need to get out of here. I'm not going to try to convince you to come with me, but if you stay here, you have to be very careful. I'm pretty sure Noah is on to you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Alex snaps. "Of course I'm coming with you. I've been thinking about what you just told me Elsa said about the Silver Wolf, and she has a point. But if you're correct about Eve working with Noah, that means we never had a chance. The fact that both Rita and Eve had the same phone and the conversation you overheard Eve having in the alley make this whole situation rather suspicious. I think you're right; both of them were working for Noah. And if Alpha Black is arriving tonight, we need to leave before then."

"It's strange, though. Noah was insistent that he and I leave for the city tonight. Do you think it's because he knows his father is coming and he doesn't want me to cross paths with him?" I ask slowly. "Maybe he knows something that I don't."

Alex watches me, and I can see the wheels in his head spinning. "I'm not sure. But Elsa was also desperate to get you out of here before the Alpha arrives. I have a feeling he's coming with a purpose in mind, and whatever it is, you are at the center of it all. Elsa hasn't shared much with me. Did she say anything else besides what you just told me?"

"Not really. So, what do we do now?" I ask.

"For now, you keep a low profile here. I'll go get the guys, and together, we'll formulate a plan to get out of here as soon as darkness falls. I agree with you that we should not leave by boat. The water has been rather choppy, and I can sense a storm coming."

"What if we take the bus that leaves every night?" I ask.

"No chance." Alex shakes his head. "All the buses are checked for shifters upon departure and arrival."

"That leaves the forest, then."

"If the storm does come tonight, the pack security team may not be combing the forest for the black wolves. That would give us a head start," Alex muses.

"What about Julia?"

"We're going to leave her here." Alex smirks. "And we'll send an anonymous message to the pack security about her identity. I need to get that woman out of my life as soon as I can. This seems to be a good way to accomplish that."

He turns around to leave, but I touch his elbow. "Alex, I have to talk to Mathew. If he reveals my identity, I will become a fugitive."

His back stiffens. "Don't worry about Mathew." Alex faces me and then takes me in his arms. "You never have to worry about that man again. I've dealt with him."

"What did you do to him?" A strange sense of foreboding comes over me. "Alex?"

He looks away. "I don't think you want to know. But rest assured, it was quick and painless. Considering the kinds of plans he had for you, he deserved it."

"You killed him," I murmur.

Alex studies me. "Does that upset you?"

It doesn't, I realize. Which is odd. When Noah killed Wyatt, I was horrified. But when I find out Alex killed Mathew, I feel nothing.

"No. Thank you." I go up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his mouth.

He freezes, and before I know it, he has me pressed against the wall. The heat between us is intense.

"Don't do that," Alex breathes. "Not unless you want to ‘get busy,' as you so eloquently put it."

Laughter spills out of me, but his blue eyes darken with want. "Sophia, I mean it. Don't toy with me. You have no idea how much I've been restraining myself. I'd like nothing more than to pin you underneath me."

I swallow, the sheer intensity of his gaze igniting something deep and primitive inside me.

"But not today," he says regretfully, his eyes heated and torn. Taking a long breath, he growls, "Stay put. Don't leave till I come back for you."

When he releases me and walks out of the room, I feel my body burning on every inch of where he touched me as he held me against the wall. Is this the sensation he has been repressing? My lower body throbs in desire.

I have vivid memories of what he was like in bed. His hands, his mouth…They were so greedy. He held me open for him as he—

I take a deep breath and try to dispel the image. I need to focus on the present. We have to get out of this town. Hiding out here isn't the way I want to spend my day. I would rather be out in the forest, leaving Oakrest behind.

I'm glancing at the clock to check the time when the door opens. I jump to my feet, realizing too late that I never locked it after Alex left.

Eve walks in.

"Sophia?" She stares at me. "What're you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm waiting for—"

"Are you going somewhere?" she asks abruptly, her eyes on the backpack on the chair.

"No!" I say too quickly. "That's Elsa's. I'm just waiting for her."

"Really?" She doesn't seem to believe me. "Why wait in her office? You could hang out in the break room."

It's not like Eve to be so confrontational.

"She asked me to." I watch her, my body tense.

"I see."

She looks at the backpack once more before walking out just as abruptly as she came in.

What in the heck was that all about?

I'm starting to get worried now.

Stepping out of the room, I look up and down the hallway. Nobody's there.

I hear a howling sound and head to the back door that leads into the alley. I crack it open. The clouds have turned dark black, and a whistling wind is blowing. A storm really is coming.

It's a sharp contrast from the sunny day we started off with. Alex was right. This will be the perfect cover. But it could also be a hindrance. Depending on how bad the storm is, we may not be able to make it very far.

I hope Alex hurries. I don't like the look of those clouds.

I head back to Elsa's office and lock the door behind me. I wait for over an hour before hearing the sound of frantic knocking.

"Sophia, open up!" Recognizing Alex's voice, I let him in. He looks agitated. "We have to leave."

"OK. Let me grab my bag."

I quickly pick it up, and Alex grabs my wrist. He begins leading me toward the alley.

"What happened? It's still light out. You said we should leave at night."

"Change of plans," Alex says harshly. "I fucked up. I fucked up big time. I should have realized."

"What do you mean? Realized what?" When he drags me outside, I pull my hand away from him. "Tell me, Alex! What happened?"

"The person that…When I went to see Mathew, he was on the phone with somebody. I didn't know—" Alex makes a sound of frustration. "You were set up, Sophia. It was all a setup. Everything. Including you joining the cage fighting ring."

"What?" I don't understand what he's babbling about. "How was I set up?"

"I don't have time to explain. But your identity was leaked. Your Alpha knew the whole time. He knew everything you were doing!"