Alexander’s POV
It felt like I locked a part of myself in that room.
I couldn’t stay there and watch that thing use my sister’s body. I had to leave. I had to get the fuck out of there.
I ran out of the cabin like my ass was on fire. I couldn’t look at that thing anymore. I wanted to break the glass and squeeze its neck.
But that was my sister! That was my twin! That was my best friend!
If I killed that thing, I would have killed her too.
I was having trouble breathing. It felt like a noose was wrapped around my neck. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t take a deep breath.
I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn’t want to turn around. I wanted to leave immediately.
I started panting hard as soon as I stepped out into the forest. I started grabbing my neck, trying to loosen the thing that was preventing me from breathing.
But there was nothing there!
I felt hands on my shoulders. Someone turned me around and pressed me against their chest.
“Breathe, buddy, come on,” I heard my dad’s voice. “It’s going to be okay, bud.”
I tried to breathe, but I sobbed instead. My dad’s arms around me tightened.
“She is…,” I mumbled, trying so fucking hard not to scream.
“She is still in there, bud,” my dad said, his voice breaking. “We will find a way to bring her back. I promise.”
Everyone kept repeating that. Everyone kept saying that we would find a way. Everyone was sure that we would bring Fia back. But what if there was nothing to bring back anymore? What if she was gone? What if I lost her forever? What if…
Alex! Stella screamed, making me flinch.
My dad pushed me back slightly so he could look at me. I saw worry on his face.
“It’s Stella,” I mumbled and he pulled me back into his arms.
I didn’t know who needed this hug more, him or me.
“Talk to her, bud,” my dad said softly. “She will calm you down.”
Alex! Stella screamed again when I didn’t answer her.
I am here, Stella. I said.
Oh, thank Goddess. She sighed in relief. Axel told me that you were panicking and that I needed to calm you down.
I felt tears in the corners of my eyes.
I just locked up my sister. I said. Of course I am panicking. What if we never get her back, Stella? What if she is gone forever? What if…
Stop it. Stella interrupted me. She isn’t gone. We will bring her back. I will do what I can from my end. You will do what you can from yours. Sophia will come back to us.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head on my dad’s shoulder.
Promise? I mumbled.
I promise, Alex. Stella said softly. Stop panicking, okay? You will give Axel a heart attack.
I chuckled a little. He was always very dramatic.
“What did Stella say?” my dad asked, making me lift my head and step back.
He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it tightly.
“That we would bring her back,” I mumbled. “She said that she will do everything she can from her end.”
My dad smiled. The smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“I trust her,” he said. “She is a very persistent wolf.”
I nodded and tried to take a deep breath. I glanced toward the cabin.
“I can’t believe that we had to lock her up,” I mumbled, my voice breaking.
Dad gulped and lowered his head.
“I know, bud,” he said. “I just want to go in there and take my daughter into my arms. I want my princess back.”
He looked back up at me and I saw his jaw tighten.
“And then I remember that that’s not my daughter in there,” he continued angrily. “I remember that my daughter isn’t there and I want to rip everything apart.”
I placed my hand on top of my dad’s.
“I know, Dad,” I mumbled. “Me too.”
I heard Mason approaching before I could even see him. Both Dad and I looked in the direction of where he was coming from.
“Did she wake up?” he asked as soon as he saw us.
“She did,” my dad said. “She pretended to be our Sophia.”
Mason’s eyes widened. He looked at me, seeking confirmation. I nodded, making him growl quietly. He looked toward the cabin and clenched his fists.
“Why are you out here?” he asked.
I gulped and took a deep breath. I was finally able to fill my lungs with fresh air. My dad and Stella calmed me down a little.
“I couldn’t stay there,” I said, making Mason look at me. “I started freaking out.”
Mason sighed and gave me a small nod.
“Where is Anna?” my dad asked Mason.
“On her way here,” Mason said. “She was making a potion for grandma.”
My dad’s mom wasn’t technically Mason’s grandma, but he and Mike grew up calling her that. My mom and Uncle Andrew’s parents died before we were born, and so did Daisy’s parents. My grandma was the only grandmotherly figure Mason and Mike had. She treated all four of us with equal love and care, never favoring one over the other. She did have a small soft spot for Fia, though. She was the only girl and we all had a soft spot for her.
“How is she?” I asked as my heart clenched painfully.
Grandma wasn’t well lately and what happened to Sophia only caused more issues with her health.
“A little bit better after Anna helped,” Mason said, making me sigh in relief.
“She is going to be okay,” my dad said as he glanced toward the pack house. “She is strong.”
“Go to her, Dad,” I said, making him look back at me. “We will stay here and call you if we need you. Our house isn’t far away anyway.”
We wanted Sophia close so we built her a room in the nearest abandoned cabin. It was only ten minutes away from our home.
My dad glanced toward the cabin. I could tell that he was using a mind-link.
“Okay, bud,” he mumbled after a few moments. “I will go check on grandma, and I will be back soon.”
He pulled me into another hug and kissed my temple.
“Go back, bud,” he said as he let me go. “Your sister needs you.”
I gulped and gave him a small nod.
I needed her as well. I needed her back. I needed her to hug me and call me Lex. I needed it and I would find a way to get it.
