Laura’s POV:

I smiled weakly at Sonia, entering the alpha chambers alone. She insisted on coming with me but I wanted to be

alone.

I tried to appear more ill than I was. Everything was all pretense. I only wanted to get close to Sonia to know her every movement.

“To destroy your enemy, you have to know them and keep them as close to you as possible” I closed my eyes, remembering my father's words as he encouraged seven-year-old me before bedtime.

I missed him, I do.

I smiled at Sonia, knowing her plans because I suspected something was o about the wine, and I had only pretended to drink it to avoid arousing her suspicion. The wine was of course thrown to the ground when she turned to that Tarven woman.

I saw everything, especially when my heightened senses had detected the mistletoe poison, and I knew I had to play along until I could gure out my next move.

As Sonia dragged me deeper into the Alpha chamber of the pack house, I pretended to stumble and complain about my turning stomach. I leaned towards her for support to clear more measures. I could feel her gloating, thinking that she had nally won and I would sleep,….. forever.

Two can play the game.

"Sonia, I think I need to lie down," I said weakly. I was indeed tired for the rst time after my reborn. I didn’t drink the poisoned wine but I sure as hell drank a lot of bottles and suddenly felt tipsy.

"Of course, Laura," Sonia replied, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Let me take you to your chambers

quickly."

I nodded slowly, leaning forward into her as she dragged me. I stared up at her as she focused ahead with a serious expression. I was reminded of our old friendship and how she never would give up when she put her mind to something. At that time, it was one of her characteristics I loved about her but now that I was the target and the only power standing in her way of power, I knew she would stop at nothing to get it, no matter the cost.

I knew I needed to be careful if I was going to expose and destroy her slowly. She must pay for killing me.

As we entered my chambers, I pretended to collapse onto the bed, trying to appear more ill than I was. Sonia leaned over me, a smug look on her face.

"Don't worry, Laura," she said. "I'm here for you, always. I’ll take care of you. You're safe with me."

I smiled, appearing grateful but her next word made me pause.

“Mind if I stay here with you. I know when you get drunk, you act rather rash and do stupid things”

I raised an eyebrow at her words. Yes, she was speaking the truth for when I get drunk, I don’t know how I normally nd myself in an unknown place or even going ahead and sleeping in the pack chambers.

But for Sonia to stay here with me as I slowly supposedly fell asleep….. forever. Wasn’t it a risk, even for her?

Someone might nd my body and blame her for my death. She must be getting so desperate that it’s making her

reckless.

I smiled to myself, knowing that I had her right where I wanted her. I was going to let her think she had won, for now. But soon, I would reveal the truth and show her that she had underestimated me.

“Don’t worry about that, Sonia. I can stay here by myself”

Sonia shook her head. “No, insist on staying with you!”

I was livid and confused. What does she plan to do when she stays here to sleep?

“I can take care of myself, Sonia. I promise you that. I just need to be alone for the night”

Sonia held my hand, squeezing it tight. “I insist, whether you like it or not, I’m staying here. Let me Goan get my pillow”

“I SAID I WANT TO BE ALONE!-“ I seeth, immediately covering it with a yawn. Sonia stared at me with wide eyes for getting so angry as to use my Alpha Voice.

“I’m just tired and need to be alone” Sonia nodded at my words and slowly retracted to her chambers.

“If you say so. Call me if you need anything” and then she left, leaving me no time to tell her that I had maids at my beck and call.

I collapsed to the bed, exhausted. I closed my eyes, trying to ease my worries by taking a small sleep but I woke up with a gasp.

I searched around the room, sensing what was wrong but couldn’t nd anything.

I felt a piercing gaze but yet, no one was present. I turned to the window and saw it open as strong wind blew. The rain was about to fall but who would have opened my window?

I was sure it was closed tightly before I slept.

I stood up and walked towards it, closing it tightly but before I could turn and go back to sleep, I noticed a hooded gure standing far ahead in the forest, beyond the wall as they converse.

I narrowed my eyes and was able to see their structure but their face were shadowed by the night.

I immediately shifted to the side and hid when I saw one of the gures turned towards my windows.

Several seconds later, I crawled and took my coat, covering my whole body and using the hood to hide my hair.

What would a group of people be talking about in the middle of the night and also amidst heavy rainfall? Unless they didn’t want anyone to hear their conversations.

“More traitors” I muttered, closing my door and walking down the stairs slowly, so as not to notify anyone of my presence.

I took the re touch close by and was about to walk down the narrow path of the common chambers of the pack house when a voice stopped me in my tracks as a red touch ickered towards my back.

“Hey, who’s there!”