Chapter 90: Chapter 90
Sophie’s POV
I was halfway through reviewing patrol schedules when Marcus practically kicked down the office door.
"We have a problem," he said, holding up an envelope like it might explode.
Christian looked up from his laptop. "What kind of problem?"
"The kind with Harold’s seal on it." Marcus tossed the envelope onto Christian’s desk. "His messenger just delivered it to the border. Refused to elaborate."
My stomach dropped. Nothing good ever came in fancy envelopes with wax seals.
Christian picked it up slowly, turning it over in his hands. The red wax bore Harold’s personal mark—some pretentious family crest thing that probably cost more than my car.
"Want me to open it?" I offered.
"No." Christian’s jaw tightened. "I’ve got it."
He broke the seal and pulled out a thick piece of paper. Actual paper. Not an email or text. Harold was really going for dramatic effect.
I watched Christian’s face as he read. His expression went from neutral to dark in about three seconds flat.
"That bad?" I asked.
"Worse." Christian’s voice was cold. "Listen to this."
He read aloud, "*Christian, your recent behavior has demonstrated a clear inability to lead Shadow Ridge effectively. As your father and former Alpha, I am offering you one final opportunity to correct your mistakes. You will step down as Alpha immediately and acknowledge my authority. You may remain in the pack as a subordinate, provided you submit completely. Additionally, Sophie will be removed from all pack business and Luna duties, as she has proven to be a destabilizing influence. You have twenty-four hours to respond. After that, there will be consequences. —Harold Knight.*"
Silence filled the office.
Then I laughed. I couldn’t help it.
"Are you *kidding me*?" I stood up, anger burning through my chest. "He lost the challenge! He has no legitimate claim to anything!"
"I’m aware," Christian said, way too calm.
That calmness scared me more than rage would have.
"What consequences could he even threaten?" I demanded. "The council already ruled against him. He’s got nothing."
Christian set the letter down carefully. "He has something. Otherwise he wouldn’t be this bold."
"Christian—"
"Marcus, get Connor. Now."
Marcus nodded and left immediately.
Christian looked at me, and I saw absolute certainty in his eyes. "I’m not submitting to him, Sophie. Not now. Not ever."
"I didn’t think you would."
"I need you to understand something." He stood, coming around the desk to face me. "Even if Harold had a legitimate claim—which he doesn’t—I still wouldn’t submit. Because submitting means abandoning everything I believe in. It means betraying you. And that would destroy me more than any battle could."
I felt his determination through our bond, solid as steel.
"I know," I said quietly.
"Do you? Because Harold’s going to use you against me. He’ll threaten you. Hurt you if he can. And I need you to know that I’m not backing down. No matter what he does."
"Good." I grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer. "Because I’m not going anywhere either."
He kissed me hard, almost desperately. When he pulled back, his phone was already in his hand, texting Marcus.
Connor arrived five minutes later with Marcus.
Christian shoved Harold’s letter across the desk. "Read it."
Connor’s eyebrows climbed higher with each sentence. "Well. Harold’s certainly confident."
"Can he do this legally?" I asked.
"Absolutely not." Connor set the letter down. "He lost the challenge. The council upheld your Alpha status. Harold has zero legal grounds for any of his demands."
"So why make them?" Marcus crossed his arms. "Harold’s not stupid. He wouldn’t threaten consequences without having something planned."
My vision flashed through my mind. "The attack. This is connected to the attack I saw."
Christian nodded slowly. "The timing’s too convenient. He gives us an impossible ultimatum, then what? Attacks when we refuse?"
"Classic distraction technique," Connor said. "Make you focus on the letter while he positions his forces."
Marcus pulled out his tablet, frowning at the screen. "Rogue activity just spiked near the eastern border. Like, in the last hour."
"There it is," Christian muttered. "He’s already moving."
I looked at the letter again, seeing it differently now. "This isn’t a real ultimatum. It’s psychological warfare. He wants us scared and second-guessing ourselves before he attacks."
"Exactly." Christian’s expression hardened. "Which means we need to respond. Show him we’re not intimidated."
"You’re going to write back?" I asked.
"Oh, I’m definitely writing back."
Christian pulled out paper—actual paper, because apparently this whole thing was stuck in the 1800s—and started writing.
I read over his shoulder as he wrote:
*Harold, I reject your demands completely. You lost the right to make any claims on Shadow Ridge when you lost the challenge. Sophie remains Luna, and I remain Alpha. Any attack on this pack will be met with full force. Don’t test me. —Christian Knight, Alpha of Shadow Ridge.*
"Short and direct," Connor approved. "I like it."
"Sign it with me," Christian said, offering me the pen.
I took it and signed my name beside his, adding "Luna" after it just to piss Harold off extra.
"Send it back to him," Christian told Marcus. "Make sure the messenger understands this is our final response."
Marcus took the letter. "I’ll deliver it personally. With extra security."
After Marcus left, Christian immediately started giving orders.
"All warriors to battle stations. Lockdown protocols for non-combatants. I want—"
"Double my guard?" I interrupted. "Already planning it, aren’t you?"
He had the grace to look slightly guilty. "You’re my Luna. And Harold specifically threatened you in that letter."
"I’m not hiding while everyone else fights."
"Sophie—"
"No." I crossed my arms. "I trained for this. I have Luna abilities that can help. I’m not sitting in a bunker while my pack goes to war."
Christian looked like he wanted to argue. But he knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t back down.
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But you stay close to me. Always within sight."
"Deal."
The next hour was organized chaos.
Christian sent out a pack-wide alert through our bond connections. Not a drill. Real threat. Battle stations now.
I felt the pack’s response—fear mixed with determination. Warriors reporting to positions. Families moving to shelters. Everyone was preparing for what was coming.
Marcus returned and started coordinating defensive positions. Connor pulled up contingency plans. Diana arrived with her medical team, preparing for casualties.
And through it all, I kept having flashes of my vision. Fire. Screaming. Christian falling.
I was reviewing a map with Marcus when the vision hit hard.
My knees buckled. Christian caught me.
"Sophie? What did you see?"
"Harold’s not alone." The words tumbled out. "He’s with Vanessa and Tom. They’re allied. All three of them."
Christian went very still. "Say that again."
"I saw them together. Planning. And there are rogues—*lots* of rogues—surrounding the territory. The attack starts with explosions at the borders."
Marcus swore. "A three-way alliance? That’s worse than we thought."
"How many rogues?" Connor asked.
"I couldn’t count. But it looked like thirty minimum. Maybe more."
Christian’s expression was grim. "So Harold has backup. Vanessa’s bringing rogues, and Tom’s probably funding it."
"That makes sense," Connor said, pulling up files on his laptop. "Vanessa has history with your family, right? Her father challenged your grandfather?"
