SONIA’S POV

My father sat beside me on the bed and pulled me into his arms without a word. His embrace was strong and warm, the kind I used to crave as a little girl when the world felt too big.

I melted against his chest, the familiar scent of pine and leather wrapping around me like an old blanket. For the first time in what felt like forever, the tight knot in my chest loosened.

Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this—not just the hug, but the quiet proof that someone still saw me as his daughter.

Up until this moment, I had questioned his love for me. Never in the presence of another, but only deep in my heart, late at night when the doubts crept in. Right now, I was just glad I could hug him again.

"What did that bastard do to you?" He pulled me away just enough to look at me, his hands cupping my face. His thumbs brushed the tears from my cheeks, but his eyes were hard, scanning every inch of me like he was searching for wounds. "Why do you look so emaciated? Did he lock you up? Starve you? I’ll kill him!" The words tumbled out fast, his voice rough with barely contained fury.

"Father, it’s not like that," I said, my voice cracking as fresh tears spilled over.

"I have eyes, my gorgeous girl," he stroked my cheeks again, gentler this time. "You’re not the girl he kidnapped," he said, his brow furrowed deep.

"But—"

"No buts." He stood up abruptly, the bed shifting under his weight. "All I need is for you to rest. You’re home now, and you’ll never leave my sight again."

"But father—"

He had already risen to his feet before I could get another word in. He clapped once, sharp and loud, and the door opened. One after the other, familiar faces began to troop in. These were my maids, and the servants who had waited on me for years. Their eyes widened when they saw me, a mix of shock and relief flashing across their faces.

"My daughter has returned home, and you’re to return to your duties starting now. Whatever she wants, she gets. By the morning tomorrow, I want her sparkling. Understood?"

They all nodded in unison as my father dished out the orders, his voice leaving no room for argument. The servants bowed low, murmuring "Yes, Alpha" before filing out quietly, their footsteps soft on the stone floor.

All I could think of was Alpha Ramon, Ivy, Blane, Alpha Liam, Moon, Carl, and Bloodmoon. It was crazy because I had dreamt of returning to my pack as a free woman. I was back home, and all I could think about was Bloodmoon, and how I had gotten here in the first place.

"Father, I need to talk to you in private," I said desperately, reaching for his sleeve as he turned to leave.

He walked up to me and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. "We’ll talk, princess. But first, you have to look like you again."

He rose to his feet and walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him with a finality that made my chest tighten.

I felt naked in the presence of my old companions, despite being clothed. As much of a prisoner as I was in Bloodmoon, being in this room again made me remember what it was like to be a real prisoner.

"Do you want something, princess?" Lydia, my closest maid, asked softly, her voice gentle as she stepped closer.

"I just want to be left alone," I replied, burying myself into the bed, pulling the covers up to my chin.

I waited, and relaxed only when the footsteps began to fade away, the door closing with a soft click.

"Everyone’s gone now. You can talk to me," I heard Lydia say from the side of the bed.

I straightened up and hugged her tightly. As I held her, she wrapped her arms around me as if I were fragile glass, her hand rubbing slow circles on my back.

"You changed a lot," she said after we pulled away, her eyes searching my face.

"How?" I asked in a cracked, broken voice.

"Oh don’t cry. Why do you keep crying?" She asked, wiping the tears that rolled down my face with her fingers, her touch warm and familiar.

"I don’t know, Lydia. I thought I would be ecstatic about returning home, but it’s been so overwhelming. I don’t know how to feel. I’m questioning everything," I cried, letting the words spill out like water from a broken dam.

"Don’t be this way, princess. I think you just need time to adapt again. Or do you miss Bloodmoon that much?"

"I don’t know, Lydia. I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know if they’re in trouble in Bloodmoon. I don’t know anything, and I hate not knowing."

"Alright, I need you to calm down, and breathe with me, okay?"

I nodded my head, and followed her lead as we practiced some breathing exercises, slow inhales and longer exhales. I felt myself calming from within, and soon, it reflected outwardly too, my shoulders dropping, the tightness in my chest easing.

She suddenly stopped, and stared at me with a weird expression on her face, her head tilting slightly.

"What is it?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice.

"There’s something different about you. At first, I thought it’s because you look skinnier. But that’s not it. It’s your wolf. I can’t feel her. What happened to your wolf, Sonia?" She asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

I sighed tiredly, because I had the same question. What happened to my wolf?

"I don’t know, Lydia. I had a death scare and when I finally woke up, she was gone. I still get glimpses of her, but she refuses to stay longer than a few seconds," I explained as best as I could, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You poor thing," she patted my head gently. "You’ve gone through a lot, haven’t you? Was it hard?"

"At first, yes. It got better though. I made a friend. She’s a maid. Very pretty, and helpful. I owe her my life."

I smiled as I talked about Ivy. She would check on me later, and discover I wasn’t in the room anymore. I wasn’t even in the pack.

It made me wonder how she’d react. She’d go to Ramon first, of course.

Would he come find me though? Did he care enough? Would I return to him if he came for me?

All questions I didn’t actually have an answer for.

"You sweet thing. You’ve always had a soft spot for us maids," Lydia said, her voice warm.

"Lydia, can I ask you for a favor?" I asked in a serious voice, sitting up straighter.

"Anything for you, princess," she replied, her eyes steady on mine.

"I don’t know what the future holds. Hell, I don’t even know what is going to happen tomorrow. But as long as I’m here, I can’t live the way I lived before. I just can’t do it. Promise me you won’t force me to live that way?"

I knew it was basically asking her to go against the alpha’s orders. It was asking her to step on my father’s toes. But I didn’t have a choice.

I could only rebel if I had someone by my side.

"You really grew up, didn’t you? I heard he’s your mate. Do you love him?"

I blinked in confusion at her sudden change of the conversation. It took me a few seconds to realize she was talking about Ramon.

"I don’t—"

"You don’t have to reply. I’ll help you. And if he ever comes for you, and you want to go with him, I’ll do everything I can to make it possible."

I pushed forward and embraced her tightly, my arms wrapping around her as fresh tears stung my eyes.