Chapter 16 Sofia
Sofia
The crashes and muffled shouts from deep in the house have me investigating cautiously.
I push open the study door and find Dad, red-faced, his chest heaving, cursing up a storm.
If it wasn’t in disarray, it would look exactly the same.
The dark red wood bookcases are packed with his old tomes.
His massive desk with its old lamp he’s had since before I was born is arranged so he can turn and stare out the window and see the lawn below.
The room is painted a dark forest green.
It’s a sanctuary that I have always held reverently in my mind because it represented safety, and if anything was wrong, this is where I came to hide.
“Dad?”
He startles and knocks his lamp to the ground.
“Are you okay?”
He glances around, then grabs me, pulling me into the study and shutting the door on Danger.
“Sorry, pup, but it’s not safe in here,” he says through the thick wood. Danger protests.
“What’s going on?”
“The thief has struck again!” he snarls. “I hate this, living wondering when they are going to be caught. It’s so disgusting.”
I cringe at the fury in his tone. “What’s missing?”
“A deed!” he cries. “To the lighthouse.”
“You own the lighthouse?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m holding onto it, but I went out a few hours ago, and when I came home, it was gone. It was right here on the desk.”
“But there will be other copies,” I remind him.
“Of course, there are; they just take a while to get them, and I was asked to give them back. They need them today.”
He spins around and yanks open a drawer, tipping it onto the desk and rifling through the paperwork.
“Ah. So, why are you freaking out so much about this?”
He’s made a mess of his study. There are books everywhere; his drawers are upside down, the contents on the floor.
“Because I hate thieves, and I need to know what else these slimeballs took.”
I nod, my gut tightening with unease. Danger takes my silence as a cue to start howling like he’s dying.
“This house is so loud,” Dad says.
I flinch. “Sorry.”
“No, not you. I don’t mean you. It’s just-”
“Dad, I get it. Let me go get Mum and she can-”
“No!” he almost shouts. “No, just take your pup and go relax. Forget about this. You saw nothing.”
“I can help you look.”
“No. You don’t need to do that. I’ll find it and or go and get a replacement copy this afternoon,” he mutters and scrapes a hand across his face.
His shoulders slump.
“Dad, it will be okay. These things turn up, and they work out.”
He glances up at me, wincing. “I don’t like to let anyone down.”
I laugh softly. “I know that feeling really well.”
“Yeah, well, you are our daughter.” His fond smile hits hard. I have missed him more than I can say.
I turn to the door.
“Hey, Sofia?”
I pause.
“These things work out. I just want you to know that. Even though we don’t know what’s happened or who made my baby sad, you’re safe here. And…these things work out.”
Tears burn in my eyes, and it’s suddenly impossible to talk. I jerk my head in a nod; it’s all I can do. I might fall apart if I do more.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I wrench open the door before I collapse and tell him everything. I catch up Danger, ignoring his struggles as I take the stairs two at a time.
I get to the key bowl, looking for Heather’s keys, but they are still missing.
I close my hand over air and grab a pair of my flip-flops instead, stomping outside, pacing around.
A needy whine slips out. Where are they?
Work, they are working today.
I need them.
I put a hand to my stomach, my heat is getting closer. I’m unsettled. Memories of the indifferent alphas from my last heats crowd my head, making me feel gross.
I want them to come back. I need Devon’s smile, Elijah’s scent, and Mack’s touch.
But what if they don’t come back? What if they find out—No, they won’t find out.
I hear a car and look up. Disappointment is a heavy rock on my shoulders when I spot the pastel pink bug with Betty’s stern countenance watching out.
I go outside to meet her, hoping the fresh air will take my raging scent with it.
She parks the car and gets out.
“Afternoon, Sofia.”
“Hey, Betty.”
She steps onto the porch, and her nostrils flare. She looks at me cautiously. “Looking forward to the second date?”
“Sure,” I say with a weak smile.
“Your mother was worried about picking that pack for you, but we all can see it’s the absolute best choice, even though she fought against it.”
“She fought against it?”
“At the start, I think she was worried you might get hurt again. It’s never easy letting one’s children make mistakes that we ourselves can see clear as day.”
I lean against the railing. Mum was against our being together?
“Well, have a nice evening. We’ve got a Pack Maker meeting here, so we’ll be taking over the kitchen.”
Ugh, I will happily be anywhere but here, then.
“Okay, I might head out, see if Asher or Felix are free to have dinner with me.”
“Or you could take that nice young alpha out,” she murmurs.
I turn and spot Mack walking up the street. My heart jolts, and butterflies burst free of their jar and swarm in my chest. His hair lifts in the light breeze, his shirt is rolled up to his elbows, and he’s in jeans that are tight in the right areas. He looks incredible.
I don’t know when Betty leaves, only that she’s gone by the time Mack gets to me.
“Did you have fun with Asher and Cordie?”
I tilt my head to the side. I can’t believe that was only this morning; it feels like ages ago. Warily, I watch this alpha, wondering why he’s so happy. “I did.”
“Good. Come on, Elijah and Devon are waiting for us.”
“I’m not dressed-”
“You look perfect, Secret.”
He holds out his hand. That gesture feels like he’s asking for something totally different, but I can’t find it in me to walk away from him anymore than I could turn away from him when we were teens.
His voice, low, measured, and deep with such calm authority, has held all the chaotic pieces of me together.
It took months before I could work up the courage to talk to him.
I reach out because I can’t help myself. It’s like part of me needs him. That calm pulls me in like the wind that brings the first hint of summer. Relief, excitement, routine. Summer is here.
“Mack, I-”
“We don’t need to discuss anything. You need to eat, and I simply want to be by your side. No stress, no strings, no drama. Just you, me, this little monster,” he pats Danger’s head, “and a good night.”
“Why? Why are you happy with just that?”
“Just that? When I haven’t been able to see you all these years, not knowing where you were, if you were safe, if you were okay.
Just wanting to hear your voice? Sofia, just being with you is the miracle here.
You came back and, god, all my alpha side of me wants to do is pull you into my arms, find out who hurt you, hunt them down and kill them, then come back and do everything I can to make sure that you never feel that again. ”
“That was beautiful!” Kylie pretends to swoon, only for Sara to catch her as they appear from the side of the house.
Why are there always people interrupting? I let out a frustrated huff, but Mack just shakes his head, amused.
“Damn, if you don’t want him, I’ll take him,” Kylie says with a wink. “That was some sonnet, Mack.”
“Thanks,” he says and chuckles.
“Are you staying?”
“No, no. We have dinner plans, if I can convince Sofia to come with me.”
“Convince? Sofia, you would be leading the charge, what’s there to convince you?
Look at him. Mack did a glow-up. He’s gorgeous; go and have fun.
Youth is fleeting. Before you know it, you’ll be forty and looking back with fond memories and a distinct pain in your joints when you get up in the morning. ”
“Forty isn’t old,” Mack protests.
“No, it’s not. But romance when you’re young is fun. Live. Love. Eat good food, drink great wine, stay up all night, kiss. Hold hands. Romance is a gift, and the young know how to do it right.”
I look up at Mack. He’s not looking at me, but I get lost in this strange sensation of not knowing him at all.
Then he turns his head, smiles, and winks, and it’s the same Mack I dated so proudly for two days.
Who held my hand everywhere we went, who told me in that quiet way of his how happy he was.
“Okay, let’s go to dinner.”
Mack grins. “I’ll take that subdued enthusiasm gratefully.”
He holds his hand out again, and this time, I don’t hesitate; I take it.
Mack leads me to his car and opens the door for me, waiting until I get in it before shutting it carefully. I absolutely do not want to admit how much that just touched me.
He drives us onto Main Street and parks in front of the café.
It’s a gorgeous little place, with wrought-iron blue chairs that have twisted metal hearts in them.
Its name, The Sandy Heart, was based on an old story of a couple that moved here years ago.
Her name was Sandy, and everyone called him Heart.
Their love story and how they both defied their families to come out here is often talked about.
They lived quiet, peaceful lives and passed away decades ago, but the heart of their love story is still a part of Sunshine.
“Yolanda is keeping the café open for us, just for an extra hour.”
I glance at him sharply. “What happens after an hour?”
“Well, that depends on you.”
Yolanda smiles as he opens the door. A bell rings sweetly, and the interior is filled with warm, sweet smells of desserts. She is wearing a black apron and smiles when I come in.
“Long time no see, Sofia.”
“It has been a while. How are your parents? You look so different, I didn’t recognise you. I love the hair!”
“Oh, they are on a cruise at the moment. Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, living lives of luxury.”
I chuckle, and when she comes around the counter, we hug.
Yolanda was in my brother’s year at the school we all went to in the next town over.
She’s got long brown hair which is now streaked with pink, a beautiful smile, and the prettiest brown eyes.
She was Sebastian’s girlfriend for almost twelve months, and I really liked her.
I think I cried more than Sebastian when they broke up.
“Lucky them.”
She shrugs. “I got my café; they got their retirement. It’s a win-win.” She clears her throat and glances at Mack. “But you’re here to pick out something to take with you.”
“I am?”
I glance at Mack.
“You are. Whatever you want.”
I study the menu. “What’s your favourite?”
Yolanda hums in thought. “I’m a simple girl. I love the toasted chicken, bacon, salad ranch roll.”
“Okay. That sounds great.”
Mack grins. “We’ll take four of them and the lamingtons.”
I peek up at him and find that knowing grin on his face.
“Yes, I still remember those were your favourite.”
“How?”
“Probably for the same reason you knew all that weird stuff about me: I was obsessed with you. Creepy to the nth degree.”
Yolanda smiles. “You four make the perfect pack. We’re all so happy you came home, Sofia.”
Danger barks, and I startle, scratching his chin. “Uh, can I grab a bottle of water for Danger?”
Yolanda grabs it and puts it and a bowl up on the counter.
I fill it up and then set it down on the ground, letting him drink. He laps at it, then runs straight for Mack, who swoops him up and kisses the spot between his eyes.
“You are gorgeous, too,” Mack croons at my pup.
“He is lovely, everyone is talking about him. What breed is he?” Yolanda asks, watching Mack’s smitten behaviour with amusement.
“He’s a miniature dachshund.”
“I love that dappled colour. He is really pretty,” she says with a soft sigh.
“Yeah, he is.”
Yolanda packs up our food and walks us to the door. “I’ve put some hunks of meat in there. They were cooked without oil and no additives.”
“Thank you so much, Yolanda. It’s so good to see you.”
“We’ll catch up,” she promises.
“Yes.”
I awkwardly give her another hug, then follow my mysterious alpha date to his car. I climb in, and he heads down to the beach car park.
He parks with the headlights facing the ocean.
“What are we doing now?” I ask a bit nervously.
“We’re waiting for Elijah and Devon.”
“Oh.”
Mack leans back in the seat, turning his head to watch me. “You’re really, really beautiful, Sofia. And I’m so glad you came home, I know I keep saying it, but it feels like a dream.”
I shift on the seat, but he just reaches out and covers my knee with his hand. Awareness surges through me, and I stare at it, my skin tingling.
“I know that you need to keep this as fake dating for a minute, but I’m curious. Would you like to see our home?”
I jerk my head up. “What?”
“I’d like to take you home tonight. I think you’ll really like it. Nothing has to happen. I just want to show you where I live.”
I hesitate, but he’s looking at me like that, and I can’t say no. “Okay, Mack. I’d really like to see your home.”
He smiles in relief. “Good. That’s really good.”
A couple of minutes later, with Elijah and Devon in the SUV, Mack looks at me.
“Ready?”
Am I? I don’t know.
“I’m ready.”