She leans her head on my shoulder. "You were wary of Tina from the beginning."
"Yeah, but not enough. I trusted her with you and that was a mistake. Maybe we're both schmucks."
When my mate laughs, I feel pleased.
"Come on." She tugs at my jacket. "Let's go. I don't want to stay here any longer."
My arm is around her as we begin walking back. I look over my shoulder one more time before silently promising myself that one day, I'm going to replace every one of Sophia's worst memories with good ones—ones filled with love.
There will come a day when she will look at this place and smile, rather than wear that lost expression on her face—the look of a heartbroken child.
Chapter 9
Sophia
Alex had everything in hand before we even reached the Red Rock Wolf Pack. It astounds me that we've not even been here a day, and he already has everything organized. I should pay more attention to what he's doing.
"Ready to go?"
It's dark outside and Alex is waiting outside the house where Elsa and my mother will be staying. I wanted to say goodbye to my mother before I left.
I close the door behind me and look around. Alex's men are stationed all around the house. I let out a breath of relief.
Throwing one last look at the house, I begin walking toward my mate.
He smiles down at me. "She'll be fine. Nobody will be able to get to her as long as she’s here. Now come on. We have to travel under the cover of darkness."
"It's just us?" I look around, surprised. "I thought you wanted to take a few soldiers.”
“I was planning to, but it would be faster with just the two of us. Besides, we'll be crossing the border from the South, so we don't have to worry about Karina attacking us."
He has a point, but I still feel a bit wary. However, the idea of more protection around my mother is also reassuring.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re going to leave here and use the free zones to travel. We're not going to let anybody from the Red Rock Wolf Pack know about our departure."
"And they won't suspect when they don't see us for days?" I stare at him.
"They'll think you're holed away looking after the pack affairs, which is what Patrick and the others will be doing in your stead."
That is something that had worried me, but then, Robert or Noah's people aren't going to seek me out for now. If there is anybody planning to get rid of me, they'll take their sweet time. With all the soldiers swarming the town, they'll need time to come up with a plan.
I reach into my pocket and bring out the rock that Brian gave me. “This is going to help us navigate our way in the Central Alliance.”
“Is this the one that Brian gave you?”
Alex studies the rock, picking it up and sniffing it.
“He told you?”
My mate nods.
“I checked the maps," I tell him. "Well, I had a little help from Jared too. We're going to be traveling for less than a week. We’re not that far away from the Central Alliance. Once we get the cure or the medicine, whatever it is, my mother will be fine. She'll wake up."
Hope is budding within me.
It's finally happening.