Chapter 40: A Presence
Sophia lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless despite the exhaustion pulling at her body.
She had expected it—the sleepless night.
The warmth of the room, the soft sheets, none of it could settle her racing thoughts, and as the hours ticked by, she found herself still wide awake.
Memories of Hades's embrace lingered in her mind, the way her wolf had stirred at his touch.
It was all too much, and yet she couldn't stop thinking about it.
But soon, despite her efforts to stay alert, her eyes grew heavy, and before she knew it, she dozed off, the weight of exhaustion finally winning.
It was then, in the midst of her light sleep, that she felt it.
A presence.
It wasn't loud or startling—just a subtle shift in the air, a familiar energy in the room that stirred something deep within her.
She shifted in her sleep, barely awake but aware enough to sense it, the unmistakable pull of the mate bond making her heart quicken for a brief moment.
The presence drew closer, moving silently toward the bed, hovering near her as if watching over her.