Page 27 of Fear

Sofia let out a shaky breath. “It wasn’t.”

Alaska leaned against the railing; eyes sharp. “Are you going to tell me what he said, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?”

Sofia hesitated. Then, quietly, “He knows.”

Alaska stilled. “Knows what?”

“That I’m with the Wolverines.”

A slow exhale. Then—“Fuck.”

Sofia nodded, “Yeah. My thoughts exactly.”

Alaska crossed her arms. “Does Goliath know?”

Sofia shook her head. “Not yet.”

She wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him, at least not until this war with the Shadow Riders MC was over, because she knew exactly how he would react. With blood, and right now, they had enough battles to fight.

Alaska studied her for a long moment before finally nodding. “Fine. Your secret. For now.”

Sofia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, but the weight in her chest didn’t ease, because the truth was, she knewJason Rodes. And if there was one thing she could count on, it was this—He wasn’t done with her yet.

That night, the women gathered in the common room, fire crackling in the old stone hearth. Laughter filled the space, a small moment of light in the darkness.

Sofia sat between Mystique and Alaska, a blanket draped over her lap as she listened to the others talk, tease, and argue like sisters. It was strange, feeling a part of something. Strange, but not unwelcome.

She had spent so long just her and her sister, always keeping people at arm’s length. Then when her sister was killed, she thought she would be all alone. But now?

Now, she wasn’t just a woman on the run. She was one of them and she wasn’t afraid, at least, not for herself. Only for the man she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about.

Goliath. She whispered his name in her mind like a prayer, and hoped, wherever he was, that he was still breathing.

As the conversation deepened, the topic shifted. The women started talking about the club—its history, its men.

Siena smirked. “You’re now with Goliath. He’s a hard bastard.”

Dakota chuckled. “Yeah, but he’s one of the most loyal men I’ve ever met.”

Dawn nodded. “There’s a reason King trusts him. You don’t find loyalty like that often.”

Sofia listened, hanging onto every word as she learned what made the Wolverines the men they were. She was beginning to understand, she was beginning to see why, despite everything, she wasn’t afraid of Goliath, because somehow, in all this chaos, she knew he would always protect her.

Later that evening Sofia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She hated this. The space next to her felt too empty. Too cold. She had only known Goliath for a short time, but his absence felt like a wound she couldn't explain. She reached for her phone. Her thumb hovered over his contact. Should she call him? Would he be angry? Would he think she was weak?

Or worse, would he think she was distracting him when he had so much more to worry about?

Her mind warred with itself. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she hit the call button. The phone rang once. Twice. Then—

“Sofia, is everything okay?” His voice was rough, deep, and edged with exhaustion. Her chest tightened.

“I… I wasn’t sure if you’d pick up.”

A long pause. Then, “I’ll always pick up for you.”

Her eyes stung. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” His voice was firm, but she could hear the tension beneath it. Silence stretched between them. There was so much she wanted to say.

---