He said, “Haley, Lexi got pushed into a tree…” A pop sounded and Haley and Eric were standing there. Haley shouted, “HOW THE FUCK DID SHE GET PUSHED INTO A TREE? YOU THREE IDIOTS STOP THAT RIGHT FUCKING NOW! You’re all lucky I felt that magic leave me earlier or it would absolutely lash out again.”

Heath and Chase were still fighting Alfred. An older man joined them, I was guessing that was Alfred Senior. Haley sighed, “Eric, go be the fucking idiotese translator for them.” Haley put her hands on me. I wished I knew Fealish so I could talk to her without anyone hearing us. I was worried about the twins.

I felt the peaceful calm take over me. Haley caught my gaze when I opened my eyes. She angled her body and mouth away from everyone else. She mouthed, “The twins are fine.” Out loud she said, “Don’t get thrown into trees, Lex.”

I explained, “He was attacking Heath!” She replied, “He’s a fucking moron.” Heath flashed over to me, “Why did you do that? I can handle a stupid Beta werewolf.” I shrugged, “Instinct. You’re my big brother. I’ve heard everyone knows that if you hurt the older siblings the younger one is going to get you.” Haley smirked, “Damn straight they do.”

Chase came to my side and helped me up. Sophia was staring at Heath sobbing. She pleaded, “Can I talk to you Lexi?” Sophia was thrown several feet away, but she landed gently which meant Haley used the wind to cushion her. Haley popped in front of her, “Did I not fucking tell you not to LOOK in her general direction?!”

I said, “Haley, it’s fine. I’ll talk to her.” Chase growled, “No!” I looked at my brother. He looked torn. Haley hissed, “Fine but if Lexi cries and I mean if she has ONE glistening fucking tear on her cheek I’ll go fairy hijinks on your ass, Alpha Sophia.”

I walked over to them. I requested, “Space unheard, Haley.” Haley growled. Eric laughed, “Impressive growl, Angel.” Haley did her chant. She looked at me, “Use our signal if you need me.” I nodded. She popped away.

I looked at Sophia, “Talk.” She started to say, “Chase and me…” I interrupted, “Not about Chase. Don’t you dare say his name. Talk about my brother.” She was startled, “I wanted to explain about Chase…”

I cut her off, “Chase explained, and I got the gist. You're a promise reneging bitch. I’m caught up. If you say my mate’s name in my presence again today, I’ll deck you harder than Haley did. Are we clear?” Sophia gulped and nodded. Good.

I asked, “You're my brother’s second chance string, right?” She frowned, “He wants to talk to you about that.” I said, “I will talk to him, but right now I’m talking to you.” Sophia said, “I didn’t know he was my mate until that meeting. He helped me though.” I said, “He does that because he’s an amazing guy.”

Sophia explained, “He gave me the information about my Gamma.” I said, “Your Gamma that you were having sex with? That Gamma?” Sophia flinched, “I didn’t know about Heath.” I said, “I don’t give a shit who you fucked since my mate is not on that list. I was clarifying. I’m not holding you accountable for your sexual relationship prior to meeting my brother. Supernatural’s are sexual beings, I could care less about your past partners. We all have bad judgement sometimes. God knows I wish my first wasn’t mine. He sucked and it sounds like your Gamma could’ve been his best friend.”

Sophia said, “I didn't know Heath was my mate, but he did. He said he had to take care of you, and that he has a position in the Shroud.” My head already hurt. I said, “In his position he and the people need someone they can trust. I’m not inclined at this moment to say that’s you.”

Sophia started, “I….” I spat, “Grow up, Sophia. Stop hiding behind your excuses. Bad things happen to people, but we find a way to get up and move on. You’ve stayed in the damn dirt crying woe is me. Get the fuck up and be better. My brother deserves better. So, you better fucking get it together.”

I turned to leave but she grabbed my arm. I looked down at her hand then into her eyes. What she saw made her drop my hand. She asked, “Are you going to tell him to reject me?” I snorted, “So I can be your next excuse for being a bitch? No. I would never stand in my brother's way of being happy. If you are his path, then I support him.” She was relieved.

I wasn’t done though, “I want to know if you would really make him happy though. I need to take some time before we have that conversation because right now, I can’t be rational about it. You tried to take Chase from me.” She argued, “No, I didn’t know he’d met you. We were never a thing. The Princess said she knew about you, but he didn’t. He didn’t tell me.”

I mocked her, “Woe is Sophia, no one told me. Alpha Eric knew. So did his brothers. I bet if you took your eyes off yourself and your own problems for five seconds you could’ve figured it out. The signs were there. You ignored them. Chase threw your Beta through a glass door for insulting me. Then a front door. Have you EVER known him to do that?”

Sophia admitted, “No.” I asked, “Did you want a letter? You’re a selfish bitch. Like I said grow up!” Sophia admitted, “I want to. Heath said that he’d wait for me to find himself.” I said, “He would. He’s the best. I want you to do something though. Find yourself great. Be a better leader and stop being a selfish bitch. Do all those things. Be an amazing female in power she wolves can look up to. Look inside yourself first though and find some answers. Do you really want my brother? Can you really make it work with my him? Don’t make him wait if that answer is no.”

She nodded, “I want to be better.” She’d already said that. I said, “I know Chase isn’t married to you anymore.” She nodded, “Everything was filed. I got a notice from the Conners attorney when it was resolved.” I sighed, “It should’ve been YOUR damn lawyer, but whatever. Did you agree to sign when you found out about Heath being your mate?” Sophia paled.

My eyes widened. I yelled, “YOU DIDN’T?!” She said, “I had a pack member that we thought was kidnapped. Heath found my Beta Alfred, but his stepmother was missing. I was protecting my pack member.”

I punched her, “WHO PROTECTED HEATH?! Your first meeting with him, and you don’t pick him!” She shouted, “He didn’t pick me either!” I stalled asking, “What?” That didn’t sound like my brother. She explained, “He’s known about me for three years. He wanted to kill Ch…. my husband. He met your goddess and she told him my husband was important to someone he loved.”

He’d have known who that was. Sophia continued, “He said your heart got broken at your string ceremony the next day.” Ok his entire demeanor at the ceremony made so much sense now. She sighed, “He’s had this ring enchanted to conceal himself from me.”

I surmised, “He wanted you to stand on your own.” She frowned, “He said your goddess told him how I would act, but that’s not fair. I didn’t get the chance.” I opened my mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come out to deny her claim. I agreed, “I respect our goddess, but you’re right. You can’t be blamed for something you didn’t actually do. Someone saying you’d do something isn’t the same as you doing it.”

She nodded, “Thank you. He wants me to find myself.” Heath and I had a lot to unpack when we talked. When I was calmer about the entire Sophia situation. I evaluated her and acknowledged, “There is a path here where we become family. Right now, everything is raw but if you so much as think about treating my brother badly I’ll…”

Sophia cut me off, “I know, kill me.” I shook my head, “No, not kill. My brother has gone through that pain before. I had to take care of him when he lost Dani.” Sophia flinched when I said her name. I said, “He lost her alone, but when I came home, I put everything aside and took care of him. I will not kill you or let anyone else kill you. I will never see my brother in that kind of pain again. If you treat him badly, I’ll ask one of the Hackura Princes for a favor. You’ll spend time in their realm with them. Their specialty is torture, but I won’t have them kill you.” Sophia gulped.

I turned again to leave. She said, “I didn’t used to be this person.” I turned, “Our War Goddess had a purpose for putting you with Heath. I’m positive the woman standing before me isn’t who you were meant to be. I know there’s greatness in you because that’s what he needs. I honestly don’t know enough about you to judge you other than I know you kept MY mate in marriage he didn’t want to be in. I can’t comment on much else.” She nodded.

I warned, “Tell Alfred if he ever raises a hand to my brother again him, I WILL kill.” Sophia pursed her lips, “He’s in trouble for that. I didn’t want Heath to be hurt.” I asked, “Why did he yell at him?” Sophia said, “Heath and I were talking. I asked if we could date while I figured my stuff out. Heath said no. He said that we could see each other every so often but not dating. He wants me to be on my own and figure out myself.”

I was dumbfounded, “What the HELL is your Beta’s problem with that? It’s a good idea.” Sophia wiped her tears, “I know it is, but it’s hard for me.” I pointed out, “Chase did it. He was going to stay away from me until I was attacked, and he couldn’t sit back. Heath did it for much longer with you. He even protected you from afar.” I sighed and I closed my eyes.

I admitted, “I think you have to be a good person outside of all this shit because my brother deserves the fucking world. I think that could be you. I honestly have basic questions for both our goddesses about logistics because yeah you guys have a hard road with the whole my brother’s string was married to mine soap opera we have going on.” She bit her lip.

I continued, “Outside of that your road together is hard. You have your pack, and he has our people. I think this is going to be hard on both of you to be honest. I’m really not seeing the wisdom in the match, but like I said if he chooses you; I’ll be on his side. I won’t stand in your guy’s way, but I WILL ask hard questions, and I already have several. Some I’ve said to you, just think about it.” She nodded and I walked away this time she said nothing.

Haley complimented me, “Nice punch.” I said, “She hurt two people I care about.” Haley nodded. Heath asked, “She told you?” I said, “No, she didn’t. I already figured it out.” Heath sighed, “I didn’t want you to find out this way.”