Sophia’s POV
I could feel how tense Hunter was. I could feel his anger and fear.
“What happened, mom?” I asked again when Hunter didn’t respond to my question.
He only tightened his arms around me and pressed me closer to his body.
“Hunter overheard us talking about the possibility of him being your cursed mate,” my mom said, making me tense up.
What?!
A sharp pain in my chest made me clench my fists. Why would they talk about that? He wasn’t my cursed mate. I was sure of it.
“I am not her cursed mate,” Hunter said, his voice laced with pain. “She is mine. There isn’t anyone else for her.”
I rubbed his back gently, but he didn’t relax, not even a little bit.
“You broke the curse mom,” I said, trying to remain calm.
“I did, honey,” my mom said. “That’s why I don’t think this is a curse.”
Hunter raised his head and turned around to look at my mom. His hold on me loosened. I took the opportunity to step away from him and look at my family. I understood their fear, but I was angry at them. They had no right to come between us. They had no right to hurt him like that.
I loved them all so much and I had to make sure that they knew how much I loved them. I had to make sure that they knew that I understood their fear and suspicion.
I looked at my uncle. I loved him so much and I knew how much he loved me. He was an amazing person, but everything that had happened to my mom and aunt Daisy made him very suspicious and careful.
I knew that out of all my family, he was probably the most worried and the angriest. I knew that he would have the hardest time coming to terms with this. He was the only one I wanted to reassure right now. Everyone else could wait.
“Uncle Andrew I know this is hard for you,” I said, making him look at me. “I know that all you want to do is protect your family and make sure that we are all safe. I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been for you to watch someone threaten your mate and your sister.”
I stopped to take a deep breath.
Just thinking about someone hurting Lex…
I couldn’t even think about that. Just the thought of it made me want to scream and unleash the darkness inside of me. I forced myself to focus and finish what I wanted to say.
“But that someone wasn’t Hunter,” I continued. “I love you, uncle Andrew, and I will never stop loving you, no matter what decision I make.”
His jaw tightened. He looked from me to Hunter.
“But I have to be the one who makes the decision,” I said as I looked at the rest of my family. “None of you have the right to do it for me. Even if he was my cursed mate, it is my right to choose if I want to accept him or not.”
Hunter growled quietly. He took my hand in his and pulled me closer to him.
My mom and dad were watching me with small smiles on their faces.
I am proud of you, princess. My dad mind-linked me.
I didn’t respond. I looked at the rest of my family. My aunt was smiling at me and my uncle was looking at me with a worried expression on his face. Mason looked pissed off. Mike kept glancing at Mason with a worried look on his face. Uncle Jake was looking at Hunter, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“You are right, honey,” my uncle spoke after a few moments of silence. “You have to be the one who makes this decision. You are a smart girl and we all trust you to decide what is best for you.”
I gave him a small smile.
I love you so much, honey. My uncle mind-linked me. I am so sorry. I know that Hunter isn’t his father, but I am so scared. If something happens to you…
I watched him close his eyes and take a deep breath.
Nothing will happen, uncle Andrew. I mind-linked him back. I will be okay.
He opened his eyes and looked at me. He gave me a small smile and took aunt Daisy’s hand in his.
“I talked to my parents,” Hunter said, making us all look at him.
The tension in the room increased.
“What did they say?” I asked him, trying to stop my voice from trembling.
Were they angry? Did they tell him to reject me?
Hunter looked down at me and smiled. “They were a bit surprised, but they are so happy that I found you.”
My eyes widened a little. They were happy?
“Of course they are happy,” Mason scoffed. “Your father will get his revenge through Sophie.”
I looked at Mason with a shocked expression on my face. Hunter and Lex growled. Our parents and Jake gave him a disapproving look.
Hunter tensed up. I could tell that he wanted to say something, but Lex interrupted him
“Can I talk to you outside, Mason?” Lex said angrily.
Mason looked at him and narrowed his eyes. Lex was standing behind me, so I could see his face, but a few seconds later Mason moved and walked out of my dad’s office. I heard the door close and I took a deep breath.
“I am sorry, Alpha Hunter,” my aunt said. “Mason is very protective of Sophia and he sometimes has trouble controlling his temper.”
“I understand,” Hunter said, but I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was pissed off.
I squeezed his hand, making him look down at me. The angry look in his eyes disappeared immediately.
“How about we go back downstairs, Alpha Hunter?” my father said. “The other Alphas are probably wondering where we are.”
Hunter looked up at my dad and nodded.
I wished that he didn’t have to go, but I needed some time to myself. I needed to think. Most importantly, I needed to talk to Anna as soon as possible. It was harder and harder for me to control the darkness, especially now that my emotions were a mess. I needed her to help me. I needed to be sure that I would never hurt anyone. I needed to be sure that I wouldn’t put Hunter in danger by accepting him as my mate.
