Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Gentle Hands in the Storm
SONIA’S POV
Before I could pretend I was sleeping, the door opened, and Alpha Liam came in. The soft creak of the hinges broke the quiet in the room. Sunlight from the window caught his face, making his blue eyes look even brighter.
"Can I talk to you?" He asked as he drew closer to me. His voice was calm and low, like he didn’t want to scare me.
I didn’t know why I became so nervous. My fingers trembled against the blanket, and I found myself moving back a little on the bed. The sheets felt cool under my palms, but my skin grew warm with sudden anxiety.
He walked to the bed and sat at the edge. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight. He kept some space between us, like he knew I needed it.
"Are you okay?" He asked. His eyes searched my face gently, full of real concern.
"I don’t know," I replied with honesty. My voice came out small. I knew how I felt deep inside, but I just didn’t know the right words to express what I felt. He wouldn’t even understand. Whatever the situation was, he was still friends with Ramon. That truth hung between us like a shadow.
"It’s going to sound like I’m defending Ramon, but I’m not," he said carefully.
"Oh," I replied. I pulled the edge of the blanket between my fingers, twisting it slowly.
"Ramon is more than you’ve probably seen recently. It may hurt you to be at the receiving end of his venom, but he’s not a bad person."
"I know."
From the way his brow lifted, I could tell he was surprised by my admission. His eyes widened just a fraction.
"It’s good you know. I’m not saying you don’t have a right to feel horrible. Forgive him."
"Have you ever had to forgive someone?" I asked. All of a sudden, I found myself wanting to talk to him. My initial response was flight, but I was beginning to find out he was very easy to talk to. His presence felt steady, like a quiet river that didn’t rush or judge.
"A lot of times," he nodded. "I’m not the kind to burden my mind with irrelevant things. Not everyone is the same."
"I know. If I can forgive all the horrible things Alpha Ramon does to me, why can’t he forgive whatever my father did to him? What if he doesn’t have the full story? I know everyone considers my father a tyrant, and it may seem like I’m defending him simply because he’s my father, but he isn’t ruthless. Strict? Extremely, but not a tyrant."
Alpha Liam chuckled dryly. The sound was low and short, without much joy in it.
"I would naturally take Ramon’s side in the great debate of him versus your father. You’re too young to know the evil your father has done."
"It’s well documented and I know how to read. I still don’t believe it. There has to be some missing factor. If there’s good in Ramon, and I know there is, there’s also good in my father."
"Sonia," he shifted closer to me on the bed. The mattress dipped again under his movement. "There are different versions of people. Someone could be the best thing that ever happened to you, and the worst to happen to another person. You can’t judge a character when there’s already bias in place. And even if there are other factors in the previous great defeat of Bloodmoon, it still doesn’t stop how brutal things went down."
My face fell. I truly wanted to believe that there could be redemption in this story. The way things were going, there wasn’t any redemption in sight. The weight of it pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe evenly.
"Hey, don’t be sad."
I saw he wanted to touch my hand, but kept it in place. Perhaps he was scared of how I would react. His fingers hovered for a second before he lowered them.
"Thank you for talking to me. Aside from Ivy and Alpha Daisy, I don’t really get to talk to a lot of people. It gets really lonely," I chortled softly. The sound felt weak even to my own ears. "You’d think I would be used to it after being stuck in a tower for such a long time. It just gets really lonely." A single tear fell down my face, and I sniffled. The drop felt warm as it slid down my cheek.
He grabbed my hand firmly into his. His palm was large and warm, calloused from years of training. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes please," I answered, wiping off my eyes with the back of my hand. The skin there felt damp and slightly swollen.
"Have you ever thought about leaving? Not trying to put ideas in your head, but have you ever thought about running away?"
I wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be a trick question. I was afraid that if I answered that question honestly, the door would open and Ramon would storm in. He would strike me in his anger, and I didn’t want to feel more physical pain. My stomach twisted at the thought.
"Be honest with me," he pressed when he sensed the withdrawal I was going through. His thumb moved gently over the back of my hand. "Ramon is nowhere around. Would you run if you had the opportunity?"
I couldn’t lie to him. He had saved me and was also nice to me. It wouldn’t be proper to lie to him. The kindness in his eyes made the truth feel safer to say.
"He’s my mate," I began. I could see disappointment flash through his eyes because he knew I was holding back. "He’s my mate, and I don’t think that bond can be easily severed. Regardless, there’s a part of me that wishes I could leave. A part of me that would rather be under the tight security of my father than this man who can’t even be straightforward about his desires."
"Hmmm," he squeezed my hand tightly. His grip was comforting, not tight enough to hurt.
"I understand you. I’ve been in a similar situation. A different kind of relationship dynamic though. But doesn’t the moon goddess have a peculiar sense of humor?" The corner of his lips twitched.
I could tell he wanted to smile. He didn’t just know if I would be offended if he gave in to his whims.
"She does. I just wished she’d stop playing so much with my fragile heart. I miss my mum I never got to experience. If she was alive, maybe my father would never have attacked Alpha Ramon’s pack. This cold tussle would never have occurred. Maybe my destiny would be different."
I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. It was too overwhelming. It rocked my entire body, making my shoulders shake. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks freely now, wetting the front of my dress.
He drew me into his body and hugged me tightly. His arms wrapped around me with surprising gentleness for someone so strong. I could smell the faint scent of pine and fresh air on his clothes, like he had been outside recently.
"Hold on," he whispered into my ear. His breath was warm against my skin. "You can’t give up now. Ramon is going to change. It would take a while, but I know my friend. I know the kind of person he is. Just be patient please."
"I know! It’s just taking too long," I sobbed silently into his shoulder. The fabric of his shirt felt soft against my wet cheek.
"Shhh," he patted my back, still hugging me. His hand moved in slow, soothing circles. "Don’t cry too much. You’ll get a headache. Your wolf would grow weak, and you’ll suffer the consequences. You’re a healer, you should know better."
His belief in my abilities warmed a special place in my heart. It felt like the first kind word I had heard in days that wasn’t mixed with suspicion.
"Thank you."
The door suddenly kicked open, and heavy footsteps filled the room. The sound was loud and angry, like thunder breaking close by.
"Liam!" Alpha Ramon’s voice filled the air. It was deep and sharp, cutting through everything.
Alpha Liam let go and turned around at the same time I looked up. My heart slammed against my ribs in fear.
In a twinkle of an eye, Ramon shot forward and punched him in the face. The sound of the impact was sharp and brutal, flesh hitting flesh. Liam’s head snapped back from the force.
