Hunter’s POV
I took Sophia’s hand in mine as we were walking back into the cabin. I couldn’t believe that I was really going to let them do that.
What the fuck was wrong with me? I should have just grabbed her and run. I should have just taken her as far away as possible.
I will be back with you soon, my love. Sophia mind-linked me.
I was a bit taken aback at first. It was the first time she mind-linked me and hearing her voice inside my head did all sorts of funny things to my body.
She never called me her love before and that also did a number on me.
I love you. I mind-linked her back. I want to grab you and run.
She gave me a small smile and nodded.
I know. She said. That’s why I wanted to reassure you. I will be back with you soon. I have a good feeling about it.
I tightened my hold on her hand and took a deep breath.
“Soph!” I heard Mason’s voice.
We were already in front of that fucking room.
Mason ran toward Sophia and pulled her into a hug.
“I missed you,” he said, making Sophia chuckle.
“You saw me yesterday,” she said, making Mason roll his eyes.
“That’s way too long,” he said and Sophia shook her head at him.
I understood him, though. I couldn’t imagine not seeing her for an hour, let alone a whole day.
Beta Andrew walked out of the room and approached us. He had a small smile on his face as he hugged Sophia
“Hey, honey,” he said. “The room is ready. I hope we got you everything that you might need.”
“Thank you,” Sophia said, smiling at her uncle.
He kissed the top of her head and let her go. Sophia looked at the room and took a deep breath.
I pulled her to me and tightened my arms around her. I couldn’t believe that she was about to go in there.
“Are you sure about this, Fia?” Alex asked her. “You can change your mind. You can stay out here. You don’t have to do this.”
Sophia looked at her brother and sighed. I let her go so she can go hug him. She approached Alex and wrapped her arms around him.
“I am sure, Lex,” she said quietly. “I have to do this. I have to fight for my future.”
Alex took a deep breath and released it slowly. He looked at me and I saw fear in his eyes. I understood him completely. I was scared too. I didn’t want her to go in there too. I was terrified of the possibility that she wouldn’t come out of that room soon. I was so scared that she would be in there for a while.
Alex was afraid of that too.
“I already started researching,” Emma said and we all looked at her. “I will find a way. I promise.”
She looked at Sophia and smiled.
“Fia will be back with you very soon,” Emma added.
“Did you find anything?” I asked and Emma looked at me.
She shook her head and my stomach twisted painfully.
“I am thinking about creating a spell to destroy it,” Emma said. “If we can’t find a way to get rid of it, we can try creating one.”
My heart raced.
“It is tricky, though,” Emma added. “I will have to be careful. Darkness is a part of her and I don’t want to risk destroying anything else.”
My heart raced and I looked at my mate.
“You won’t be destroying anything unless you find a way to do it safely,” I said. “I already told her that I would accept her even with the darkness still inside her. I don’t want to lose her.”
Emma smiled at me and gave me a small nod.
“I won’t do anything until I am sure that the only thing destroyed will be the darkness,” she said. “I would never hurt Sophia.”
I knew that, but I still felt the need to warn her. I didn’t give a shit about the darkness. If the choice was between having Sophia with the darkness inside her or not having her at all, I would embrace every dark part of her.
I watched as Sophia started hugging and saying goodbye to her family members. She started with her uncle and cousin. Both of them hugged her tightly and told her that they loved her and that she would be out of there soon.
My heart started racing. It was really happening. I was really going to watch her walk in there.
“I love you, princess,” Alpha Logan said. “I will take you on a run when you get out of there. We can go to the lake.”
Sophia looked up at him and a huge smile spread across her face.
“I can’t wait, Dad,” she said and Alpha Logan kissed her cheek.
He took a deep breath as he let her go. I saw his jaw clench.
Sophia approached her mom. Emma hugged her tightly and whispered something I couldn’t hear. Sophia nodded and Emma kissed her cheek before letting her go.
Sophia looked at Alex and smiled.
“Stop being so grumpy,” Sophia told him as he pulled her into his arms. “Are you doubting Mom and me?”
Alex rolled his eyes and sighed.
“I’m not,” he said. “I just don’t know how long you will be in there and it’s driving me crazy. Who will leave my bedroom door open and annoy me constantly?”
Sophia snorted and looked up at her brother.
“Is that the only reason you want me out?” she asked teasingly. “I can hire someone to do it. Mason loves annoying you as is. He would probably do it for free.”
“I would,” Mason said, making Alex roll his eyes again.
The rest of us chuckled at them. Alex kissed the top of Sophia’s head. He told her something quietly and she smiled.
She hugged him tightly one more time before she looked at me.
My heart stopped beating. My whole body was screaming at me. My body refused to do it. It refused to let her get in there it refused to have that whole fucking wall between us.
She approached me and I wrapped my arms around her.
I love you. She mind-linked me. I love you so much.
I felt a lump forming in my throat, threatening to choke me. Letting her go in there would be the hardest thing I ever had to do.
