Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Sophia stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her face pale, her hair deliberately left loose around her shoulders. She looked exactly like the devastated Luna everyone believed her to be.

It was perfect.

It was late at night now, and she had somewhere to be. Someone to see. She reached underneath her bed and pulled out a dark cloak.

Sophia slipped out through the servants’ entrance at the rear of the estate, keeping her head lowered as she crossed the grounds. She didn’t notice the figure that followed her.

Several paces behind her, the head healer had also covered herself in a black cloak, carefully keeping to the shadows.

She had known something was wrong with Sophia ever since she’d seen her stepping out of Kael’s office earlier that day, her face tense and furious despite the weakness she had displayed before everyone else.

And Evelyn had given her very specific instructions: find out all that you can.

The healer hadn’t expected an opportunity to come so quickly, but when she saw Sophia slipping through the servants’ quarters late at night, she knew better than to let her out of sight.

She followed her, and for several minutes, Sophia walked quickly, never once looking back.

She left the main town behind and continued toward the woods.

The healer’s brows furrowed. Their Luna was walking into the woods at this hour, and alone?

What could possibly be so important that Sophia would risk being seen out here?

The healer pulled her cloak tighter around herself and continued after her, careful to maintain enough distance between them.

Sophia eventually slowed. The trees grew thicker around her, their branches blocking most of the moonlight. She glanced over her shoulder once.

The healer immediately ducked behind a tree.

Sophia looked around for a bit, but when she saw nothing, she continued. The healer waited until the sound of Sophia’s footsteps had faded before following again.

Eventually, Sophia reached a clearing. She removed her cloak as she came to a stop.

Someone was already there, waiting. A man stood under the shadow of the trees. He was dressed entirely in black, a long cloak covering his body, the hood pulled so far over his head that his face was almost completely hidden.

The healer stopped behind a tree, her heart beginning to pound loud.

"Took you long enough." The man said, his voice low. "You had me waiting here while you took your sweet time, didn’t you?"

Sophia’s shoulders stiffened. "I had to make sure I wasn’t followed."

"Well, were you?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"No."

The man stepped farther beneath the moonlight, though his hood remained low enough to keep his face hidden.

"You’d better be certain."

"I am." She nearly snapped but continued, her voice steadying, her jaw tight. "Why did you call me here?"

"You know why." The man lifted his hand, and the moonlight caught the dark tattoo around his wrist. "I want my payment."

Sophia’s eyes immediately dropped to the tattoo before she looked away. "I told you I would pay you."

"You told me a lot of things." His voice hardened. "You told me you’d have the money by now. You told me Silver Creek’s treasury was overflowing. You told me Kael would never notice a few missing millions."

Sophia swallowed. "He hasn’t." ℯ

"Not yet." The man stepped closer. "But now I hear Silver Creek is bleeding money."

Sophia’s expression tightened. "You think I don’t know?" she whispered. "Merchants are pulling out. Investors are abandoning the guild. Kael is barely keeping the pack standing."

"That sounds like your problem." He said.

"It is my problem!" Her voice rose before she quickly lowered it again, glancing around the clearing. "I can’t get you the money right now."

The man stared at her under the hood. "You have three days."

Sophia’s eyes widened. "Three days? That’s impossible."

"Then make it possible."

"How?" Sophia hissed. "You know what Silver Creek is like now. There is barely enough money to keep the pack running."

The man shrugged. "Find another source. There are dozens of Alphas in this realm. You’ve spent years making men believe you are worth protecting. Surely one of them would be willing to pay for your attention."

Sophia’s face twisted with disgust. "I am not going to throw myself at some random Alpha for money."

The man scoffed. He held her chin tight, forcing her to look at him while he mocked her. "What? Do you think of yourself as better than those who do?"

Sophia forced his hand off. "I won’t belittle myself to that extent. I’ll do whatever—I’ll—" She struggled to complete.

"You’ll manipulate him. You’ve done it before," he continued. "Do it again."

She swallowed hard, hands tightening into fists. "You don’t understand."

"Oh, I understand perfectly." His voice was amused now. "You’re attached to Kael. You’ve convinced yourself he still loves you, even after everything. But that doesn’t change the fact that his pack is collapsing."

"And if Kael discovers what you’ve been hiding?"

Sophia went completely still while the man chuckled softly. "Wouldn’t that be interesting? Would you like me to tell him myself?"

"No." The word came out immediately.

The man’s smile was invisible under the hood, but Sophia could hear it in his voice.

"Then pay me. You have three days, Sophia."

Sophia shook her head. "I can’t—that’s too close."

The man leaned closer. "Three days, Sophia. Find another Alpha. Steal it from the treasury. Sell something. I don’t care."

His voice dropped into a whisper. "Because if I don’t receive what I’m owed, the entire realm will know your secret. Especially Kael."

Sophia’s face drained of color. She looked at him with fear now.

A sudden crack sounded from the trees, and both of them froze. Sophia’s head snapped toward the darkness.

"Who’s there?" She called.

The healer’s heart nearly stopped. She had stepped on a fallen branch. She pressed herself against the tree, barely breathing.

Sophia took a cautious step forward. "Show yourself this instant!"

Before Sophia could take another step, a rabbit darted out. Sophia threw her head back in relief, seeing it was just a rabbit.

She looked back at the man. "It’s late. I should go."

"Three days." He wanted yet again just as she turned to leave.

"And Sophia?" He called, and she paused. "Don’t make me come looking for you."

She didn’t answer. She pulled her cloak over her head and hurried back through the woods.

Behind the tree, the healer remained perfectly still until both sets of footsteps had disappeared.

Her heart was hammering. She had no idea what Sophia’s secret was, but whatever it was, Sophia was terrified of the world discovering it.

And Evelyn needed to know.