E & Sophia


    E


    I had never attended the Spring Celebration before.


    To think that all these years, I had avoided such a beautiful and lively festival… And now, in what could perhaps be myst year alive, I was finally attending for the very first time.


    It broke my heart when I should have felt joyful.


    The celebration was held in the neutral territory between packs. The forest known as Evergreen de was located smack dab in the center of the three main packs in the region-Ashw, Stormhollow, and Moonshine.


    It was a beautiful forest filled with towering firs, cut through by a babbling brook that led to an impressive waterfall at the southern edge of the de. I often enjoyed walking through the forest trails when I had nothing to do, or having pics with Lilith by the brook.


    Back before my wolf went dormant, I even enjoyed racing through the woods in wolf form, feeling the moss beneath my paws and the cool breeze in my fur.


    I tried not to think about those memories, though. It hurt too much.


    In spring, the forest was particrly spectacr; blossoming wild hydrangeas lining the forest clearing, the grass soft and green, the scent of pine and dewy earth mixing with the fresh food being sold by various vendors at the market.


    Tonight, the center of the clearing would hold a bonfire to symbolize the burning away of the cold winter and the first sparks of spring. Therge fire pit was already set up, piled high with kindling, logs, and even scrap wood. People would dance and drink andugh until the sun came up in the morning.


    I inhaled deeply, savoring the smells and sounds, as Alexander and I stepped into the clearing. The soft white skirt I’d picked out tangled around my legs in the cool breeze, and I pulled my light pink shawl-which Lilith had knitted for me for my birthdayst year-a little closer around my shoulders.


    Perfect weather for a final spring. I hoped it wouldn’t be myst, though.


    “We should talk to Alpha Kristoff and Luna Maria,” Alexander said, pulling me out of my thoughts. He pointed toward a middle-aged Alpha and Luna standing near one of the concession stands. “They sent us a nice bouquetst month for the full moon, so we should say thank you.”


    I nodded and followed Alexander over, stering a smile across my face. Not that I needed to try very hard—I’d always liked Luna Maria. She was a kind and intelligent woman who I had asked for political guidance on a few asions, and her husband was a sweet man who treated everyone well.


    “E!” Maria threw her arms wide when she saw me approaching and embraced me tightly. But when she pulled back just enough to look at me, she furrowed her brow. “You look a little unwell, dear. Are you alright?”


    I nodded, even though I felt like I’d had the wind taken out of my sailstely. I couldn’t tell whether it was from my dormant wolf or the exhaustion of everything that had happened. Likely both.


    “Allergies,” I lied, still smiling. “How are you, Maria? How is little Francis?”


    Kristoff puffed his chest out at the mention of their new grandson. He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders, both of them beaming from ear to ear. “He said his first word yesterday,” Kristoff said. “Papa.’ I think he was talking about me. His grandpapa.”


    Maria rolled her eyes and nudged her husband with her elbow. “He’s not old enough for words yet, darling. Besides, even if


    he did say ‘papa, don’t you think he would be referring to his father?”


    The silver-haired Alpha merely shrugged, still grinning.


    I nced over at Alexander, surprised to see him smiling along with the exchange. The sight made my heart flutter traitorously. He had swapped out his usual neat suit for a simple white fisherman’s sweater and a pair of green cks, and his red hair was tousled slightly from the breeze.


    Just then, I saw movement over his shoulder and noticed two familiar faces working their way through the crowd. My father and my stepmother. Margaret.


    Great. Just who I wanted to see today.


    Normally, I would have hurried right over to them to say hello first-always the doting daughter. But not today. I pretended not to see them, instead asking more questions about Maria and Kristoff’s little grandpup.


    “E.” Margaret’s voice cut through our conversation. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.”


    It wasn’t said out of fondness. Margaret had never liked me, and my presence here at a more casual event likely chagrined her more than she had the guts to admit. She always cared deeply about whether I was being “good enough” for Alexander. Like the only thing I could do “right” was hide away in my mansion and y the role of a perfect housewife.


    “That actually reminds me,” Maria pointed out, “I’m also surprised to see you here, E. We’ve only ever seen you at more formal events.”


    “Yes. We assumed you didn’t like these sorts of things,” Kristoff added. “Usually Alexander attends with his Beta and Sophia.” He grinned impishly. “Or maybe it’s Alexander’spany that you prefer to avoid?”


    I couldn’t help but snort softly at that. Alexander shifted slightly beside me, but I could see his mouth twitch a little in response to the joke.


    “Well,” Margaret said, cutting me off before I could answer, “it’s simply in E’s sullen nature not to enjoy these types of lighthearted events. Let’s not me poor Alexander, who has done nothing wrong.”


    I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Leave it to Margaret to always do whatever she could to kiss Alexander’s ass. She cared little for my dignity, especially if it meant getting a fatter paycheck from Alexander.


    And after the amount I had seen on that receipt… It must have worked.


    In the past, I might have endured such barbs. But not anymore. When you’ve been given a year to live, you suddenly stop feelingfortable being trod all over.


    I was just about to speak when Alexander suddenly cleared his throat.


    “No, it’s my fault,” Alexander said, and his admission took me byplete surprise. “I’ve always kept E busy with her Luna duties. Meanwhile, I would avoid my own ande to the festival to rest.”


    My eyebrows shot up at that. I couldn’t tell if Alexander actually meant those words or if he was just saying it to make everyone happy.


    But then a familiar voice cut in, “E has always been perfect. Diligent, beautiful, capable.”


    I snapped my head up to see Liam approaching with his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. He came to stand next to me, on my other side opposite Alexander, and stared sternly at Margaret.


    “She’s ten times the Luna you make her out to be, Margaret,” he said coolly. “Maybe you should worry more about your son -who, might I add, is nowhere to be seen.”


    Margaret’s spine went rigid. I blinked. Alexander simply stared at Liam, just as surprised as I was.


    “Yes, where is Brian?” Kristoff asked, turning to Margaret. “I thought he mighte say hello by now.”


    Margaret nched. “He’s, um… Busy buying food at the stalls,” she admitted quietly.


    Maria threw her head back andughed.


    Sophia


    From a distance, Sophia watched the entire scene unfold. Her anger had been simmering just beneath the surface all day, but now… Now, it was practically radiating off of her skin.


    When did the obedient E suddenly be the center of attention? Even when she should have been embarrassed into submission, she somehow came out on top like a phoenix rising from the ashes.


    Sophia had been hesitant about her n before, unsure whether it was too risky after this morning’s failed attempt. She didn’t want to anger Alex further or get caught again.


    But now, as she watched Eugh alongside a smiling Alex, she knew she had to do it.


    Tonight, at the bonfire, Sophia would strike.


    E would be the center of attention once more-but not in the way she hoped.