Healing Kisses Sophia (by Lily Pierce) novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

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“This isn’t over, baby girl. You are coming back with me. You’re going to feel silly for this little tantrum you’re having Santiago scolls at me as the guards come in to escort them out. lock my words. You’re going to regret this

They all leave. He doesn’t even glance back at Poppy as he storm out of here. His father holds his arm out for her as if she were made of glass. His glare never leaves me. I don’t breathe again until the three of them are out of the house. I drop onto the couch, wanting nothing more than to let the floor swallow

“The balls on that dude are crazy,” Ivar laughs. “I almost like him

1. up.

“It might not hurt you, but I can still punch you in the eye,” I glare at him. He smirks, turns into a grin, and he falls back. shaking his head. “I’ve never seen this side of him,” I admit. “He’s never had a reason to act like an asshole.

“Because you were his good girl,” he grins.

“Shut up, Ivar. Stop enjoying this,” I sigh.

“I bet it felt good to let all of that out.”

I clear my throat to soothe the itch I got from yelling. It’s rare for me to lose my composure. I don’t like to. I don’t like to yell. I’ve spent too much time on my own, enjoying the peace around me. The most worked up I’ve gotten was when drunk idiots would show up in the ER, and I had to help some of the other nurses sign in the wierdos who were tied down for being too aggressive.

“I was never taught that,” I shrug. “My parents were always working, so when we were all finally together, we enjoyed being around one another. My parents never fought, and if they did, it wasn’t in front of us. I’m really boring.”

“I see that,” he snorts. “But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Being someone’s peace makes you that much more important. I see why he’s so reluctant to let you go. How do you stand his alpha command, Soph? He had that little beta girl frozen in place.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been threatened by him. Anyone. Especially after the attack. I guess being that close to death stunted my fear,” I shrug.

“That’s not how that works. It has nothing to do with fear. It’s an instinct we all have. It’s why we have a ranking system. I think it’s worse for wolves because werewolves have the ability to steal rank power. As an omega, you should be completely submissive.”

“Do you think I’m difficult?” I ask. He sits up and shows me the footage from earlier today.

“Omegas don’t do this. Not only is this girl the Luna of the City, but she has betas with her. Typically, omegas try to run or make themselves small,” he points out. “Have you ever been tested to see why you can’t shift?”

“I would have needed permission from my grandmother, but when she was told how probing the tests were, she declined. I had eight surgeries, and the last two almost killed me. I never really cared to find out why I was unworthy of a spirit.”

“Reconstruction surgeries are pretty bad. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he says a little gentler this time. “Do you still like chocolate–covered strawberries? I asked the chefs to make you some before we left. It was going to be my apology snack for you.”

“You remember that?” I laugh.

“F**k no. I don’t keep track of little things like that. The big guy does. I told him what happened, and he said you’d probably forgive me if I gave you snacks. He named a bunch of stuff, but I liked that one, and I know you’d share them with me.”

“He would know that,” I laugh, remembering when we were kids, every time Ragnar and my brothers upset me, they would bribe me with snacks to keep me from telling my dad. “Water under the bridge, but I would love the strawberries as consolation for the shit show that just went down.

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17:54 Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 27

412

“I was low–key afraid of what was going to happen to me for putting my hands on the Luna of the City. You saved me yer again. I take his hand and press a kiss to the top of it. “Thank you For everything. I would be a mess if it weren’t for you, and I’m really sony about what I said to you?

“Don’t worry about it,” he says, ruffling my hair. “I wouldn’t even know what to do in your situation. I don’t even know how to tell my dad that I don’t want to be a beta

“What do you want to do?” I ask him.

He stays quiet for an uncomfortable amount of time. I think he’s going to tell me to mind my own business before he holds his phone up and scrolls through some images. He hands it to me, and I look down to see it’s a video of some really pretty characters. I hit play, and I see them dance around an inane detal Victorian ballroom. It’s crazy artsy for a 2–dimensional animation.

“Don’t laugh,” he says quietly.

“You made this?” I ask. His eyes come up to mine, and he nods. “This is beautiful. Is this part of a series you’re working on? What is this?”

“It’s a contest for a vampire animation series. I got an interview, but I missed the deadline because real vampires were poking the fucking bear that is my father,” he locks the phone and tucks it into his side.

“Have you ever tried to tell him?”

“Nah, he has such a singular mind. The only thing that matters to him is that my brother and I are prepared to take over for him. The pressure that he puts on Ragnar makes me want to hit him sometimes. I know that if I say something, Ragnar is going to take my side, and the divided responsibilities will completely fall on him. He has enough on his plate already now that he’s going to be corinated.”

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