Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Sophia squeezed herself tighter behind Orion's broad frame, still clutching the candlestick with trembling fingers. Her blue eyes, wide and wary, flicked between Lysander and the tall alpha who now towered protectively in front of her. Not that it had been his plan because if Orion was given the opportunity, he wouldn't be standing guard for a woman whose mouth would likely be the death of her.

Lysander had a comical look on his face. It's funny how she had referred to Orion as a demon when he had been the one people often referred to as such, especially given the fact that he rarely cracked a smile. Although what people didn't know was that whenever he was with his friends, Orion and his crew specifically, he smiled. Because how could he not when Ronan was always fooling himself in one way or another. And there is the fact that Ronan had made it his mission to make Lysander smile whenever they were together. Hence, why this was comical.

Orion inhaled sharply, exasperation bubbling just beneath his sturdy exterior. He lowered his voice so only Sophia could hear. "Alright, Michele, or whatever you want to call yourself with that candlestick…why am I suddenly 'Mr. Demon'?" He cocked an eyebrow, trying to appear more baffled than annoyed, though his tone betrayed a mix of both.

"My name is Sophia. I already told you that." She said to him,

Orion replied with an eye roll. "And my name is Orion not Mr. Demon but we don't seem to care right?"

"You didn't tell me your name."

"You never asked. And again, since I seem to be repeating myself constantly around you, why the fuck am I Mr. Demon and why are you hiding behind me?"

Sophia's glare sharpened almost immediately, her eyes flashing in anger. "Because you're huge. Seriously huge. The kind of giant the books always talk about." Her voice carried a note of certainty that annoyed him even more than her candlestick-wielding stance. How the fuck does she even know about giants? "You look exactly like the demon guardian in a book I read."

Orion blinked, skeptical. "You're telling me you know how to read?" His voice was edged with disbelief. "Seems we are in for a lot of surprises."

With a glare, Sophia fired back, "I should be asking you that question. Pot calling kettle black, you look like you cannot even differentiate between a book and a scroll. Honestly, you look dumb."

Orion laughed, not even seeming offended by her words. "I'll tell you the difference between a book and a scroll. They are spelt differently."

Sophia gave him a look. "You really are dumb."

No one had ever dared call him dumb with such straightforwardness and twice in the span of a minute. For someone who didn't know who she was she was very mouthy especially knowing she may likely be in enemy territory. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could retort, turning to snap a biting comeback, a suppressed laugh burst from Ronan behind him.Orion shot him a warning glare.

Lysander, who hardly ever smiled could t help but let out a brief chuckle, which he quickly tried to hide with a coughing fit. Both men were biting back laughter at Orion's priceless expression.

Orion spun, eyes blazing. "Really? So glad that me being called dumb is comic relief for you guys."

Sophia's lips quirked in satisfaction. "The truth is bitter."

"Oh really?" Orion asked her. "You know, you sound extremely brave when speaking to me even if you are hiding behind my cloak?"

Sophia released him immediately, putting a little distance between them.

"It was a reflex action." She told him as her gaze focused on the floor.

"Reflex? Cute. Keep it up kid, at this rate, the candlestick's going to be the least dangerous thing in this room."

Sophia gasped in shock. "You're bluffing."

"Try me." Orion stepped closer, voice low and rough.

The defiance in Sophia's eyes softened ever so slightly. Her knuckles relaxed on the stick's handle, fingers curling loosely but not dropping it. Her posture shifted, just enough to betray weariness beneath the bravado.

Orion's gaze flicked away from the flickering candlelight, turning toward Lysander with a more serious expression.

"The man you are running from or ran away from is a doctor who is here to check up on you." Orion told her.

"That huge man?"she asked with wide eyes.

"Why the fuck is everyone huge to you?" Orion asked but then took in her height and paused retracting his statement. "I get it now."

"Just because I'm small doesn't mean everyone is huge to me." She said with a glare.

"Sure…shorty." Orion said with a chuckle.

Ronan and Lysander laughed also but Soohia glared at them making them cough instead.

"Now, could you let Lysander do his job?" Orion asked her.

Sophia's brows pulled down, confused. "But why would he need to check up on me?" Her voice softened with skepticism. "I feel okay."

Orion shrugged. "That's what I want to find out."

Sophia stomped her feet on the wooden floor. "Could you be straight with me for once?"

Orion gave her a smirk with his head tilted to the left. "Have I never been straight with you?"

"You…"

"You don't remember anything according to what Orion said, correct?" Lysander spoke up interrupting them because something told him these two could bicker for days without stopping.

Funny how even after the words exchanged, she turned to Orion first.

"What are you looking at me for? I only told him I suspect there's something wrong with you. I'm not the doctor." He told her.

"Of course," she said with a sigh. "Tell me," she turned to Lysander. "What position does he hold in this village really? Surely he is the fool of the village right?"

"And she doesn't even realize she is in a pack, not some village. And I'm the fool?" Orion asked them with a scoff.

Sophia's brows furrowed in deep thought. "What is a pack?"