Chapter 664: The Rest She Needed

The quiet didn’t feel as heavy anymore.

Not after everything that had been said.

Not after everything that had finally begun to make sense, even if that understanding came with more questions than answers.

Sophia sat where she was, her gaze still on Orion, her thoughts not entirely settled, not entirely willing to rest. She expected him to say more, given his... affinity towards the goddess, but then he turned to her.

"You need to get some rest," he said.

She just stared at him like he had grown two heads or perhaps even three.

Orion raised a brow slightly at the look on her face.

"Stop looking at me like that," he added, his tone calm but firm. "You need rest."

Her lips parted slightly.

"We were still talking," she pointed out.

Orion didn’t miss a beat.

"And we can continue that discussion later," he replied. "Preferably when the sun is up and you’re not running on whatever is left of your energy."

Sophia frowned faintly.

She opened her mouth to argue, but Orion cut her off before she could.

"If we keep going now," he said, "we’re just going to circle the same points over and over again."

"We already know enough to understand that nothing about this is simple," he continued. "And pushing through it while you’re exhausted isn’t going to change that."

Sophia hesitated. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

But she didn’t interrupt him again.

Orion shifted slightly where he sat, his expression sharpening just a fraction.

"And like Ronan said," he added, "I doubt your mother is just going to sit still."

"She knows where you are now," Orion continued. "And we both know she’s not the type to wait for things to just fall into her lap."

Sophia’s fingers tightened faintly against the blanket.

His gaze didn’t waver.

"She sent people after Dolion," he said. "That alone tells us enough."

A small pause followed.

"And if that’s tied to you," he added, "to your ability... then this isn’t something that’s going to slow down."

Sophia lowered her gaze slightly.

Orion exhaled softly.

"We have a lot to deal with now too," he said. "More than just your mother."

"We are so special that even fate itself is after us," Orion said with a smile.

He let it sit for a moment before continuing.

"And that’s exactly why we can’t afford to push ourselves too far," he said. "Not now."

Sophia stayed quiet.

Then, after a moment, she spoke up.

"...will they accept me?"

Orion blinked slightly at that. "Um... what?"

"When the others in the pack find out," she clarified softly, "about my connection to her, do you think they will accept me like they did before?"

There was no need to say the name.

They both knew who she meant.

Orion didn’t answer immediately.

And that alone said enough.

But he didn’t avoid it.

"I’m not certain," he said honestly.

Her fingers tightened slightly again.

"People will react differently," he continued. "Some will understand, like how Sam and Annabeth do now, but I also know that some others won’t."

"Some will see you as an opportunity," he added. "A way to get back at Victoria."

The words landed quietly.

"But that’s exactly why I told my friends," Orion continued. "So that when that happens, you won’t be alone."

A small silence followed that.

"And for what it’s worth," Orion added, his voice quieter now, "if anyone decides to hate you because of her..."

His gaze didn’t waver.

"They’ll have to hate me too."

Sophia stilled slightly.

"Because I’m not stepping away from you," he said simply. "I already told you that."

There was no hesitation in his words.

"I’m not going anywhere, shorty."

Something in her chest tightened again.

But this time, it didn’t hurt.

Not in the same way.

"...thank you," she said softly.

Orion didn’t respond to that directly.

He just gave her a small look, something almost amused, like the words weren’t necessary.

"You don’t need to thank me, shorty. I’m your oaf, remember?" he asked her.

"So now you like the name?" she asked.

"I like your voice," he told her, avoiding the question.

Sophia gave a soft chuckle and then exhaled.

"You keep telling me to rest, you oaf," she said, emphasis on the word oaf, "but I’ve been resting for hours now."

Orion looked at her properly this time.

"You were unconscious," he told her.

"That’s more accurate, but—"

"That’s not the same as resting, shorty," he cut in. "And besides, you need to rest those puffy eyes of yours. You’ve been crying for a while now, and even right now you look down, which I must say is not a great look on you. I prefer when your eyes are expressive and full of joy."

Sophia didn’t even have the energy to glare at him. She just stared at him instead.

Orion smiled faintly at that.

"Get some rest."

She held his gaze for a second longer, like she was debating whether to argue again.

Then, slowly, she gave in.

"...fine," she muttered.

Orion’s expression softened slightly.

Sophia shifted, and Orion assisted, pulling the blanket up a little more around her.

"You should join me," she said. "You need the rest too."

Orion blinked in surprise.

"I know you haven’t been sleeping properly," she added. "Not while I was unconscious."

There was a brief pause.

Then Orion’s brows lifted slightly.

"Is this you caring for me, shorty?" he asked.

Sophia rolled her eyes immediately.

"You know I care about you."

That earned a quiet chuckle from him.

Then he adjusted next to her on the bed, taking her into his arms.

"This will pass," he said quietly.

Sophia stilled slightly.

"All of it," he added. "This situation. The chaos. Everything that feels like too much right now."

His voice didn’t waver.

"We’ll get through it," he said. "Like we always do, so stop thinking about it."

Sophia nodded against his chest, and for all her insistence that she was well rested, the steady rhythm of his heart lulled her into sleep.