Chapter 92
*Victor’s side promised me he’d get rid of that nuisance Zane… once that tech patent’s in my hands,
it’s over.*
I felt a chill as his thoughts continued.
“And I’ve been slipping diluted wolfsbane into her food every day. A waste of a werewolf, one who can’t even sense her mate? There’s no other option for her but me.*
*As for her irritating wolf spirit, Sera… she’s gone silent. Did I finally dose her enough to disappear?
Well, that’d be a relief.”
My breath caught in my throat as the realization crashed over me. The reason I couldn’t feel the
scent of my true mate… it was because of him.
As I watched Ryan’s silhouette disappear into the distance, anger surged within me, each beat of my heart pulsing with a desire for justice. I clenched my fists, picturing the satisfaction I’d feel from confronting him, demanding answers.
If I could, I’d confront him right here and now, force him to his knees, and demand to know why he had betrayed me so deeply, why he had poisoned me and tried to destroy every chance I had at true happiness.
He was so determined to control me that he had even tainted me with wolfsbane, trying to sever my ability to connect with anyone else. But I swallowed the rage, fighting to keep my composure.
“Calm down,” I whispered to myself. “Your time will come.”
Still, as I turned back toward the villa, I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of Ryan suffering someday, feeling the sharp, relentless pain of a wolf slowly losing everything it held dear. That time. would come, and I would make sure he regretted everything he did to me.
When I looked up, I found Lirian watching me closely, his gaze serious and unyielding. “I’ll try,” he declared, a determination in his voice that caught me off guard.
Confused, I raised an eyebrow. “What will you try?”
“To be the best one. To make sure you never have a reason to look at someone else again,” he said, his voice both hopeful and possessive.
hook my head, a small smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. “Lirian, you don’t have to prove
The Alpha’s Substitute Luna:
A Soul Hel
yourself to me. Those standards are only for those I don’t love.” I softened, looking into his eyes.
You’re different, Lirian. Even if you didn’t have the status of an Alpha heir, even if you didn’t excel in everything you did. I’d still love you. You’re already enough.”
His eyes widened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of vulnerability. Then, a slow, relieved smile spread across his face as he gently pulled me into his arms. The warmth of his embrace calmed me, the steady beat of his heart grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I’ll always be by your side, Sophia,” he murmured. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
I promised him then that I would do everything I could to uncover the reason I couldn’t sense our bond, why my MATE instincts seemed dulled. “We will find a way to be true MATES,” I whispered. against his chest.
Just then, a loud, deliberate cough sounded from behind us, breaking our moment. Startled, I turned to see Ethan standing in the doorway, looking slightly annoyed.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said dryly, crossing his arms. “But would you mind explaining this whole MATE thing to me, Sophia? You do know that’s kind of a big deal, right?”
I felt my cheeks flush. “Brother, please believe me,” I said earnestly. “There’s so much to explain, but right now, I need your help. I have a friend in Vancouver who’s in danger. Can you gather some qghters to come with me?”
Ethan studied me for a moment, his expression hard, but he nodded. “T’ll mobilize the best I can.” He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’ll have the backup you need.”
Lirian chimed in, his jaw set with determination. “I’m coming with you, Sophia.”
On the way, my fingers shook slightly as I tried to call Zane, but each time, his phone went straight to voicemail. Anxiety gnawed at me, and Lirian must have sensed it because he reached over, taking my hand in his own.
“Don’t worry,” he said softly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “We’ll get to him in time.”
I took a deep breath, but my mind was reeling.
