Chapter 36

Sophie POV

Stepping outside was the best feeling. I could breathe again. I didn't look back, I headed straight for the groves. Dove was anxious, I guessed she wasn't comfortable leaving Eric. I felt drawn to the clearing that was just beyond the line of trees. Dove paced nervously.

"I don't like this, Sophie. It's not safe without mate."

Don't be silly Dove. It's daylight no one will hurt us. I just need to get over there…

Dove growled so I pushed her to the back of my mind. What was her problem. I went around the trees feeling the bark. They looked old and weathered and each had its own character. I wanted to feel connected to the earth, so I took off my shoes letting the lush grass spring up between my toes.

Out here I had no one angry at me, no one wanting high expectations. It was just me, the sun and the earth. I smiled and let out a sigh. Why couldn't life be simple like this? I reached the clearing and sat down on the grass. Looking up the sky was a brilliant blue. The sun shone warmly on my face, so I lay back watching the butterfly's dance. There was something familiar about this. Dove whimpered in the back of my mind.

"Sophie…Sophie! Where are you?" I immediately shot up to find Luke calling out my name. "Sophie! There you are. You have everyone so worried." He grabbed me in a tight embrace

"I told Eric I was going for a walk." I said trying to breath.

"Yes, but you then put up a mental block. He couldn't reach you to find our where you had gone for your so-called walk." He stopped and looked around. "Isn't this where?..."

I nodded, "Yep. It's where we saw the Black Wolf." I stood up brushing bits of grass from my legs and dress.

"Why come here?" Luke asked extending a hand.

I took his hand before snaking my arm through his and we set off towards the house.

"I felt drawn to it." I smiled and shook my head, knowing how stupid that sounded.

Suddenly we both froze as Eric's growl ripped through the air. He was standing metres away from us. I rolled my eyes. Then a devilish thought crossed my mind. I would teach him for letting me be alone with his evil mother. Luke had stopped, his head bowed not looking at either of us. I grabbed his face and made him look at me.

"We haven't done anything wrong. Remember that." I could feel the pure rage that was emanating from Eric. I grabbed Luke and gave him a big hug.

Suddenly, I heard material rip and Blaze was bounding towards us. I jump out of Luke's arms and into Blaze's path.

"Don't!" I yelled with all my force.

It was like time stood still for the briefest of seconds. As if I could move within time while everything else around me froze. But with the shock I let it go making Eric and Luke fall back as I let my relenting force wash over me. Luke stood up as Eric phased back into his human form.

"What the hell was that!" he yelled marching towards us.

The anger and rage were still evident on his face. He glared fiercely at Luke who backed away slowly. Eric's fists were balled up and I jumped in between the two men.

"Eric, calm the fuck down!" I scream at his face.

"Not until you explain to me why you were hugging him and what the fuck happened!" His eyes blazed with anger. His face inches from mine.

"I'M YOURS! So stop acting like I'm cheating on you. It's Luke's job to be with me." I poke my finger into his chest. "You told me that. As for that…thing, I don't know. You made me so angry, I just exploded." I yelled at him.

We stood staring at each other for what seem like forever. Eric's breathing was heavy and laboured as if he'd been running a marathon. I look down and see he is fully naked. My eyes widen before I try to stifle my laughter.

"What is so damn funny?" He growled.

"You're naked." I tease trying to get him to relax.

I extend my arms out to him and pull him towards me. Not just to hide his manhood but also to try and relax him. He finally relaxed into me and hugged me back. Luke moved towards us and handed him a pair of shorts. Eric looked up at him and nodded a little apologetically towards him before slipping into the shorts.

Three figures could be seen coming towards us. I recognised them to be Dr Sven and Gavin. The third figure was a girl with very long, golden coloured hair. It billowed in the breeze that blew every so often. As they got closer, I could see she had sea green eyes and her flawless skin was milky white. She truly was captivating. Dr Sven started jogging over while looking around. When they finally reached us, the trio didn't look happy.

"We have to go." Sven urged.

"What? Why?" Eric was still on edge and I could sense he was just as confused as I was.

"My brother." The beautiful said. "He's here. He wants you." I look at her, she was pleading for me to go with her.

Eric growled again, "This is just great." He ran his hands through his hair before grabbing my wrist and marching me back towards the pack house. I tried wriggling free, but he held onto me tightly. "For once Sophie just cooperate." He barked through gritted teeth.

Dove growled at his comment, but I calmed her by saying he was just annoyed with the situation and that he still loves us. He never once let go of me as we marched to his office. I presumed we were having a meeting to discuss this so call brother that wanted me. James joined the entourage before Eric unlocked his office door. Seven bodies piled into the small room and the chatter grew.

"Silence!" Eric ordered and the room became still. The tension however was thick. I looked towards the girl and realised she must be the one called Rhea. I studied her refined features and how perfect she was. I didn't know if I should hate her or not. All the men in the room were clearly captivated by her mere presence. It then hit me, someone was paying more attention to her than the others and she was very unsettled. She kept looking over at Luke who was almost bright red in the face. His gaze hadn't left her, and it was making her uncomfortable.

"Alpha, Sophie this is Rhea." Gavin said gesturing towards the girl. I smiled at her and her looks of worry and fear disappeared into a huge grin.

"Oh Sophie! It's so lovely to meet you. We're like cousins. She giggled nervously.

"Cousins?" I asked.

"Well not really. Your mother was mated to my uncle. I'd like to call you family though." She grinned a little childishly, but I couldn't help wanting to go to her and hug her.

She launched into a spiel about my mother Diana and how she had been Luna of the Golden Sun Pack. How she ran away because of the Alpha's plans to mate her with other creatures in an attempt to make a 'master' race. She then talked about how her family came into power after the alpha had been defeated by Eric's father. She claimed her brother was now a very powerful Alpha who was hell bent on making me his Luna.

"But why?" I asked after a few moments of silence.

"That…. I'm not sure." She sighed and turned to Gavin giving him a shrug. "I suppose it could be to do with my uncle and his ultimate race of creatures. But he knows as well as I do that the moon goddess made us so we could only possess the powers of one other creature, not multiple."

My attention is diverted momentarily when I look over at Luke who is sweating profusely. I get up quickly and walk over to him. He's burning as if he had a fever. He's trembling and I grab hold of his arm. Eric of course growled again.

"Bite me, Eric! Can't you see there's something wrong?"

Suddenly, I see Luke and Rhea, hand in hand. He leaned in and kissed her. She turns and I see she's pregnant. Luke's hand touches her belly and his face lights up. He's incredibly happy. She is so radiant and in love. The vision fades and I'm left with Luke trembling and dripping with sweat.

"Why haven't you said it?" I ask him, searching his eyes for answers.

"I can't." He spits out, almost in a whisper.

"You're hurting yourself and her. I know this is painful for you. Just talk to her. Besides I need my Gamma." I smile at him. I turn to see Rhea looking shocked. I nod to her and she smiled back at me. "Rhea would you mind taking Luke for a walk? He needs some fresh air."

Rhea nods enthusiastically. She holds out her hand and I stand aside as Luke takes it. He immediately stopped shaking and the two of them walk out of the room together. I smiled to myself. I felt empowered. I helped my friend find true happiness.

"Uhh… Don't we need her?" Eric asked. He looked very annoyed.

"No, we don't need her. She doesn't know anything more than we do. She told us what she knows but as far as she's concerned her brothers don't want her in the loop." I say walking back over to Eric. "She and Luke need some time together." I wink at him and he finally gets it, forming a 'o' with his lips.

"She's his second chance?" I nodded and he smiled at me.

"That was incredible! How did you get so…WOW!" Gavin said with a look of surprise on his face.

I look over at Eric not sure what Gavin is talking about. Eric's hands move around my waist and pull me towards his lap. He placed a kiss on my lips. I'm still confused by Gavin's comments.

Am I missing something? I project to Eric forgetting we now can mind link.

I chuckled at me. "That's why she is going to be an incredible Luna." He kissed the tip of my nose. Our earlier fight now a distant memory. I kind of got it now. Gavin was impressed that I managed to calm Luke down just like a successful Luna would. Or maybe it was my ability to see things. I kept forgetting Gavin and Dr Sven had been missing from our lives for over five weeks and had yet to witness my 'talents'.

James cleared his throat. We had partially forgotten we had company. "Alpha what are we going to do about Alpha Blake?" James was always to the point.

"At present not a lot." Eric said nibbling on my shoulder. "However, if he's on our land without permission then we have a problem. How is he getting past our patrol?"

James shook his head. "We don't know. No one sees him come past. It's as if he's using some kind of stealth shield that prevents us from picking up his scent. By the time we smell him he's nowhere to be found."

"If he's a siren that wouldn't be a problem for him. He can block senses, can't he? I mean look what happened to Dove." I said looking from face to face.

"I think we should double our patrols. Ensure there are enough warriors out there in case of attack." Eric pats my back as James nods in agreement. "Don't worry baby. I won't let him hurt you."

I smiled sweetly at Eric. But deep down inside there was a niggling feeling. Was Blake really that bad? It was as if my mind was split in two. Part of me was hoping he'd be caught and tortured while the other half of me feared his capture. What was Blake doing to me?