Chapter 26

Rath.

Victoria's pack had the negotiation skills of a toddler refusing broccoli—relentless, unreasonable, and impossible to sway. Thanks to Dahlia, the rift between us and them had widened into a canyon. My brilliant solution? Exile. Not exactly a vacation in paradise, but at least she'd be safe there, away from more trouble. Hopefully.

Drag.ging my tired self to my room, I passed by Dahlia's door and froze.

Inside, Raider was hugging her. Yes, Raider. Hugging Dahlia. It was like catching a wolf spooning a sheep—disturbing, confusing, and definitely against the rules of nature. His eyes shifted to mine, and with the confidence of someone caught red-handed but clearly didn't care, he smirked.

A smirk.

I bit back a growl, made a mental note to add "smirk eradication" to my to-do list, and continued to my room.

As if the night couldn't get weirder, Billie materialized in front of me like some ninja butler. She thrust a file into my hands with the urgency of someone delivering life-changing gossip.

"You might want to see this, Master," she said, her face deadly serious.

I opened the file and found... blurry photos. Very blurry photos. They showed a shadowy figure lurking inside Theo's house. For all I knew, it could've been Bigfoot on a midnight snack run.

"Who's this supposed to be?" I muttered, squinting at the smudged outlines like they might magically come into focus.

Billie didn't reply, just stood there like the ever-patient guardian of my sanity. With a sigh, I patted her head like one might pet a particularly efficient dog.

"Good girl," I said, because really, what else could I say?

As I flopped onto my bed, I realized two things: I had a blurry mystery figure to track down, and Raider's smirk was going to haunt my dreams. This house was turning into a soap opera, and I wasn't sure if I was the star or just the exasperated side character doomed to suffer.

~~~~~~~~

Raider strolled into the cabana like he was starring in his own cologne commercial.

"Good morning. I hope you had a wonderful night," he greeted with that infuriatingly smug smile.

Cheeky little ba.stard.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I snapped, trying to keep my voice low. No telling where Dahlia was lurking.

He eased into a chair, lounging as if he'd just claimed squatters' rights on my patience.

"I'm just taking a seat," he said, all casual-like.

"Bullshit. Why are you slithering around my wife?" The words came out sharper than I intended, but damn it, I was done playing nice.

"Pardon?" he asked, tilting his head. "You'll have to be clearer than that."

I leaned in, voice a low growl. "What was that thing you were doing with my wife? Hugging and all that crap?"

He had the audacity to laugh. "She hugged me first," he said, as if that explained everything. "Honestly, you should try being nice to her. Maybe learn some sign language? The girl's been through enough."

I glared at him. "And you care... why? You were dead set against me marrying her in the first place."

Raider shrugged, all nonchalant. "I told you before: I was against you marrying a human. I never said anything about her. She's… different. Sweet."

I knew that tone. It was Raider's "I've found something interesting to toy with" tone. It grated on my nerves more than nails on a chalkboard.

"Raider," I said slowly, trying to keep my te.mper in check, "why are you so damn fond of her all of a sudden?"

That smirk of his deepened, like a cat who'd just spotted a particularly fat mouse.

"I just like her," he said, shrugging. "Her scent is… fresh. Clean."

That was it. That was the moment I knew he wasn't just here to make my life hell; he was gunning for something bigger.

I shot to my feet, and he followed, the playful glint in his eye turning r.azor-sh.arp.

"Back off," I warned, my voice low and dan.gerous. "Her soul is mine."

Raider raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "You didn't think I'd find out about that little golden ticket you've been hiding, did you?"

I clenched my fists. He was poking the be.ast, and he knew it.

"That soul is mine," I repeated, my voice hard as steel. "She's my wife. So stop this non.sense and step aside."

"Only on paper," Raider shot back, stepping closer. "And don't forget: her soul has to be willingly given. I'll make sure she gives it to me."

I bared my teeth in frustration. "She's my wife. I found her first. I married her. And I will claim her soul."

Raider grinned, all teeth and mischief.

"May the best man win," he said smoothly before turning and strolling out like he hadn't just declared war.

The b@stard was going to be the de.ath of me.

~~~~~

Dahlia.

That's what it's all about, my soul. I was so foolish to think Raider was being friendly to me out of kindness. It seems like my life is always about being someone others want to take advantage of. They don't see my worth beyond what I can give them.

I watched them from my window, every word they exchanged digging deeper into the pit in my stomach. It hurt to know that my soul was the prize they were after.

"Good morning, did you sleep well?" Billie signed, her fingers moving with concern.

"Good morning. Yes," I signed back, offering a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, sensing the weight on me.

"What's so special about my soul? Please tell me," I signed, the question hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

Billie hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the consequences of answering.

"You possess one of the rarest and purest souls to ever exist," she signed finally. "Anyone who obtains it would become the most invincible person in the world. They would gain abilities that no one has ever possessed."

I stared at her, stunned. I had no idea my soul held such power. Is that why I was excommunicated by the church? Because they feared what I might become?

"I don't understand. Why haven't you tried to take my soul?" I asked, my thoughts barely a whisper.

"Only Alphas can harness that kind of power," Billie signed solemnly. "Your soul would only benefit them."

I blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. "What happens if I agree to sell my soul?" I signed back.

Her expression softened, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "Whoever you sell your soul to would have to k!ll you before midnight on a full moon. As your soul departs, they capture and d.evour it. Only alphas can capture a departing soul," she explained.

I exhaled heavily, the finality of it all settling deep in my chest. It felt like my fate had been sealed from the moment I arrived in this world, as though I had never truly been in control.

"Thank you," I signed quietly, my voice barely a breath. I walked past her, leaving the weight of our conversation behind, heading to the one place where I felt a semblance of peace: my little garden.

Sitting on the bench, the world seemed to fall away. I didn't feel the need to do anything else. All that was left was for Mother Nature to do her work. Billie had been kind enough to bring me strawberry seedlings, carrot seeds, coriander, and bell pepper seeds. They would grow here, just as I would—slow, steady, and with purpose.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the balance of the garden around me. The air was warm, yet cool, like the calm after a storm. Even though I couldn't hear the sounds of nature, I could feel the peace in the rustling of leaves, the sway of the plants. If I ever decided whom to sell my soul to, I would ask him to bring me here one last time. I wanted my garden to be the last thing I saw. A simple, peaceful ending.

~~~~~

Raider.

I knocked on her door to see if she slept well.

"She heard everything you guys were talking about. She knows you are both after her soul. I felt her aura—it was one of hurt and sadness," Billie said, emerging from the dressing room with an almost mystical aura of her own.

Shoot! I didn't mean for her to overhear that. It was like one of those moments where you accidentally leave the conversation playing out loud, and it's all downhill from there. I hurried out of the house, following the sweet, almost-too-tempting cranberry scent that could only belong to Dahlia.

I was surprised to find her in the garden. Rath had always been ridiculously strict about who got access to this place, but I guess today was an exception. Perhaps he was busy not being a giant pain in the a$$ for five minutes.

Dahlia sat on a bench, surrounded by flowers and butterflies, looking like she had wandered straight out of a fairy tale. If I didn't know any better, I would have sworn there was a Disney princess vibe going on. Her eyes were closed as I approached, and just when I thought I might start questioning my sanity, she sensed my presence. Without missing a beat, she moved aside and patted the spot next to her, inviting me to join her in this little slice of paradise. "Well, someone has a lot of room in their garden for awkward moments," I thought.