Third Person POV


    An hourter, Jackson left ckwood Manor looking like the cat who''d gotten into the cream. The second his carriage disappeared, Sophia bolted for ke''s study,


    She copsed into a chair the moment she


    walked in. "I think I''m gonna


    throw up."


    ke rose to close the door, but Ava touched his arm. "Give us a minute?"


    ke nodded, understanding. ''I''ll be right outside."


    Once they were alone, Sophia''s carefully constructed mask finally cracked. She buried her face in her hands. "God, Ava, you were right. You were right about everything."


    Ava moved closer, her voice gentle. "Sophia..."


    "No, let me say this." Sophia looked up, tears streaming down her face. "I had doubts. Deep down, I always had doubts about him. There were moments when something felt... off. The way he''d look at other women, how he''d dismiss my opinions, how everything always had to be about his career." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "But I told myself I was being paranoid. That love meant trustingpletely.


    Ava sat down across from her. "Your instincts were trying to protect you."


    "Women always know, don''t we?" Sophia let out a bitterugh. "That gut feeling that something''s wrong, but we talk ourselves out of it because we want so badly to believe in the fairy tale." She shook her head. "He''s not with me because he loves me. He''s with me for Dad''s influence, for the power thates with being your son-inw."


    "I''m sorry," Ava said softly. "I know how much that hurts."


    Sophia studied Ava''s face. "You tried to warn me, didn''t you? Not directly, but... the way you looked at him, the way you tensed up whenever he was around. You knew what he was."


    "I knew what he was capable of," Ava confirmed. "But I also knew you had to see it for yourself."


    "Smart." Sophia managed a watery smile. "If you''d told me outright, I would have defended him and hated you for it."


    "We women... we have this incredible intuition," Ava said, leaning forward. "But we''re taught to doubt ourselves, to prioritize being nice over trusting our gut. Your instincts were screaming at you about Jackson. You just needed permission to listen to them."


    Sophia nodded, something shifting in her expression. "From now on, I trust my gut first. No more making excuses for people who don''t deserve them.


    ke knocked softly on the door. "Everything okay in there?"


    "Come in, Dad," Sophia called, wiping thest of her tears. "We''re good."


    ke stepped inside, Tyler close behind him. Aya moved back to her original seat, but the air between her and Sophia felt different n warmer, more solid.


    "You almost had me convinced there for a minute," ke said, settling back into his chair.


    Ava smiled at Sophia. "She did great."


    Sophia rubbed her temples like her head might explode. "ying along with his BS... I wanted to punch him in the face so bad.


    ke perched on the edge of his desk. But it worked. He bought every word."


    Sophia let out a bitterugh. "Even told him I''d sweet talk Dad for him. She shook her head. "And he''s all worked up about the wedding timeline."


    ke frowned. "Means he''s in a hurry."


    Tyler cut in right then, carrying fresh intel. ''Boss, our guys confirmed Jackson''s heading back to Shadow Creek this afternoon."


    ke stood, walked to the window again. "He''s rushing back to lock everything down."


    Ava''s voice was thoughtful. ''All our pieces are where they need to be."


    ke stared out at the mountains. "Everything''s ready..."


    "Just waiting for the north wind," Ava finished.


    Sophia looked confused. "North wind?"


    ke turned back. "Lyra''s intel. The border stuff about William''s case."


    Hope flickered in Ava''s eyes. "Once thates through, we hit Jackson from both sides."


    Understanding dawned on Sophia''s face. "His new crimes and his old ones."


    ke''s smile was all teeth. "Then we strike back."


    That evening, Sarah worked in the Hayes family''s littleb, grinding herbs that masked werewolf scent. The powder got everywhere-her clothes, her skin, even under her nails. She didn''t think much of it until she heard carriage wheels outside.


    Jackson was back.


    She finished up, dusting off her hands, then headed down the hall to clean up. That''s when she heard voicesing from Richard''s study. She paused, realizing something weird-she couldn''t smell herself anymore. The herb powder had killed her scentpletely.


    Jackson''s voice drifted through the door, excited as a kid on Christmas. "Dad, it''s going even better than we hoped!"


    Richard''s voice came back, satisfied. "Tell me everything."


    "Sophia''s totally convinced. Even offered to put in a good, word with ke."


    Richard chuckled, low and pleased. "After all these years, our patience is finally paying off. You know, originally... William was actually our best


    bet."


    Sarah''s heart jumped. William? What are they talking about?


    Jackson''s voice turned nasty. "William? Guy''s done for. Who''s gonna believe him now? Can''t even protect himself, let alone fight for Alpha."


    Richard''s voice dropped to almost nothing. "You did good. Long as nobody digs into that whole mess, William''s never getting back up.


    Sarah''s hands flew to her mouth. What mess? Could William''s situation really be....


    Jackson sounded like he was smiling. “All the evidence is gone. As long as we keep our mouths shut, nobody''s ever gonna suspect us.


    ''The next words hit Sarah like a truck.


    "Honestly? I thought William would die in that battle. Was surprised he made it out. The way we set it up, Carter a whole squran vase supposed to have any survivors."


    Sarah''s eyes went wide. Holy-they set up the whole squad to die? William was framed?


    Richard''s response carried an icy undertone. "Too bad he lived, but it doesn''t matter. We''ve gotplete control now.


    Jackson''s voice grew more animated. "Tomorrow I head back to Silverpeak, speed up the wedding ns. Once Sophia and I tie the kant, my spot in Shadow Creek''s locked down tight."


    "Good, Richard agreed. "And remember-about William''s situation? We never talk about it again."


    Sarah stood frozen in the dark hallway, whole body shaking. The herb smell was starting to fade. She needed to get out before they caught her


    scent.


    Oh my God, William was framed! They didn''t just frame him-they wanted everyone to die! And Ava... poor Ava has been carrying this burden all alone. I thought I was helping by staying here, trusting Martha, believing the Hayes family would actually help us. But I was so wrong.


    Sarah''s throat tightened with guilt. Ava was right to be suspicious. She was right about everything, and I chose to trust the very people who destroyed William. I should have stood by her side instead of believing their lies. I have to make this right. I have to get this information to ke and


    Ava!


    She crept back to her room, mind racing. Hayes Manor was crawling with Jackson''s people, but somehow she had to get this information out. William''s life-


    his innocence-it all depended on her now.


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