Chapter 131
Sophie’s Perspective
Lunch was an unusually quiet affair, save for the occasional clinking of silverware against plates. Normally, there would be chatter between Fatima and me, or perhaps one of Jake’s dry remarks that I’d have to counter with a sarcastic quip. But today, the tension at the table was so thick it could’ve suffocated me.
I sat there, absently picking at my salad, my phone clutched tightly in my other hand. My thumb hovered over Ayla’s name on the screen. Her last text was two days ago, nothing special, just a quick note about how the twins had been extra fussy. Since then? Silence.
“Come on, Ayla,” I muttered under my breath, sending yet another message. **“Hey, are you okay? Call me ASAP.”**
No reply.
I sighed, my heart heavy with worry. It was unlike Ayla not to respond to me. We always replied to each other, no matter how busy things got. And her phone—it had been going straight to voicemail every time I’d tried calling.
Jake sat across from me, looking far too composed for someone who’d recently tossed his mate out of the pack. He ate his steak with the detached calm of someone who didn’t have a care in the world. It made my blood boil.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I set my fork down with a sharp clink and crossed my arms. “Was it really necessary to kick her out like that?”
Jake didn’t even look up. “Sophie, respectfully, mind your own business.”
I scoffed. “My own business? Jake, she’s my friend, and you’re my cousin. This *is* my business.”
“She lied,” Jake said coldly, his tone devoid of emotion. “And a Luna who lies is a threat to the pack.”
“Oh, spare me the righteous Alpha nonsense,” I snapped. “You didn’t just confront her, you humiliated her. You told the entire council about it! Did that make you feel like a bigger man?”
Jake’s jaw tightened, and I knew I’d struck a nerve. Good.
Fatima, sitting at the end of the table, set her juice down with an exaggerated sigh. “Honestly, Sophie, Jake made the right call. Secrets like that are dangerous. The pack deserved to know.”
I turned to her, incredulous. “Fatima, are you serious? Ayla isn’t dangerous! She’s—she’s kind, and loyal, and—”
“She’s an omega,” Fatima interrupted, her tone matter-of-fact. “And she lied about it. That’s not something you just sweep under the rug, Sophie.”
My hands clenched into fists under the table. “So what? She’s an omega. Does that suddenly make her less worthy? Less capable of being Luna? Of being a mother to those twins?”
Jake’s fork clattered against his plate as he set it down, finally looking up at me. His eyes were hard, unyielding. “You don’t understand the stakes here, Sophie. The twins’ safety comes first, always. And she put them in danger by hiding the truth.”
“That’s bull, and you know it,” I shot back, standing up from the table. My chair scraped loudly against the floor. “She loves those kids more than anything. And you? You’re just looking for an excuse to push her away because you’re too damn stubborn to admit how much she means to you.”
Jake’s expression darkened, but he said nothing.
I grabbed my keys from the counter. “If you’re not going to check on her, then I will. Someone in this house needs to have a shred of decency.”
I stormed out before either of them could say another word.
The drive to Ayla’s house felt longer than usual, despite the fact that I was speeding. My chest felt tight, my hands gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white.
Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my bones.
Ayla wasn’t the type to just ghost people, especially not me. And as upset as she must’ve been about everything, disappearing without a trace? That wasn’t like her.
Her house came into view, a large, well-kept family home that always seemed a little too perfect. Like one of those magazine spreads where everything looked picture-perfect but lacked any real warmth.
I parked and walked up to the front door, my heels clicking against the pavement. Knocking firmly, I waited, my heart pounding in my chest.
The door creaked open, revealing a tall, lean man with sharp features and an unsettling smirk. His dark eyes raked over me, making my skin crawl.
“Can I help you?” he asked, his voice smooth but laced with something... off.
I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the way he was looking at me. “I’m here to see Ayla. Is she home?”
He leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms as his smirk widened. “You must be her cute little friend.”
I frowned. Something about him felt wrong. “And you are?”
“Steve,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “Ayla’s brother.”
Brother? She’d never mentioned having a brother.
“She never told me she had a brother,” I said, my tone cautious.
“Stepbrother, actually,” he corrected, his smirk never faltering. “And Ayla isn’t here.”
“Do you know where she is?” I pressed, crossing my arms.
Steve shrugged lazily. “She left the country. Packed her bags and just took off. Didn’t even say goodbye.”
My stomach twisted. “She left? Just like that?”
“That’s what I said,” Steve replied, his tone mocking.
“That doesn’t sound like Ayla,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “Are you sure she didn’t tell you where she was going?”
He chuckled, low and condescending. “Why would she tell me? I’m just the stepbrother, remember?”
I took a step back, the unease in my gut growing stronger. “Right. Well, if you hear from her, tell her to call me.”
Steve gave me a mock salute. “Will do.”
As I walked back to my car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. I glanced back at the house, at Steve’s figure still lingering in the doorway, his smirk sending shivers down my spine.
Ayla wouldn’t just leave. Not without telling me.
I got into my car and sat there for a moment, staring at the house. The windows were dark, the curtains drawn. The perfect family home felt more like a prison.
Something wasn’t right.
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