I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 55

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**

“Oh,” Sophie murmured, her mind racing as she struggled to find the right words to respond.

“Liam’s my beta,” Torin elaborated, a hint of pride in his voice. “He’s my second in command.” The revelation hit Sophie like a cold splash of water; her eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she could feel her astonishment radiating from her expression. “I can see that you’re surprised,” Torin added, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

“Hey, what’s with all this secretive chatter? I’m a good beta,” Liam interjected, striding over to join the conversation with a playful grin.

“Max is my top enforcer, responsible for all security matters. Levi, Kyle, Madison, and Wyatt are just a few of my enforcers,” Torin continued, his tone shifting to a more serious note. “You haven’t met the others yet.”

“There are more of you?” Sophie gasped, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to process the enormity of what she was hearing.

The guys seated around the table erupted into laughter, and Torin shot them a disapproving glare that quickly silenced them. He turned back to Sophie, his expression softening. “We have nearly four hundred wolves in the Northwoods Pack,” he explained, his voice steady but filled with a sense of responsibility.

Sophie stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Wow,” Liam chimed in, still standing close by. “We’re the largest pack in the country.”

Sophie’s gaze shifted to the other occupants in the room, her mind still grappling with the fantastical notion that these people could transform into wolves. “So, you all… turn into wolves?” she whispered, the weight of the revelation settling heavily on her shoulders. They nodded in unison, affirming her incredulous thoughts. Suddenly, a wave of fatigue washed over her; she felt utterly drained from the whirlwind of information. “You know what? I think I’m going to head to bed. It’s getting late,” she announced, her voice barely above a whisper.

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and ascended the staircase, her mind screaming for relief from the overwhelming revelations of the night.

“Sophie,” Torin called out, his voice echoing behind her. She ignored him, quickening her pace toward her sanctuary. “Sophie,” he repeated, his voice now closer, urgency lacing his tone. If only she could reach her room… But just as she thought she was in the clear, he caught her hand, gently but firmly, turning her to face him. “Sophie.”

“Please, Torin, I can’t deal with this right now,” she pleaded, her eyes squeezed shut, as if that could block out the reality surrounding her.

“Your bag,” he said, his tone softening as he extended her bag toward her.

Sophie opened her eyes, startled to see him holding it out. “Oh, thank you,” she muttered, hastily taking the bag from him before retreating into her room. Once inside, she tossed the bag onto the floor and climbed into bed, the weight of the day pressing down on her.

She didn’t even feel like changing out of her clothes; after all, she would have to rise in just a couple of hours. Lying there, she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling like a storm. She tried to piece together the fragments of what she had seen and heard, but no matter how hard she tried, it remained a tangled mess in her mind. Two long hours crawled by before she finally mustered the energy to get out of bed, the thought of work providing a much-needed distraction.

With mechanical precision, she braided her hair and slipped into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved dark purple sweater. She pulled on the black Converse sneakers that Madison had convinced her to buy, grabbed her coat, and left her room. As she descended the stairs, she was surprised to find Madison and Kyle seated at the table, deep in conversation. Madison rose to greet her, a look of concern etched on her face. “I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” she said earnestly.

Sophie nodded, forcing a smile. “Are you?” she replied, wanting to return the sentiment.

Helen nodded resolutely, her eyes sparkling with determination. “It’s going to take more than that to stop us.” Sophie felt a flicker of hope at her words. “Here. We’ve installed new locks on the doors and new keys. I made an extra one for you.” Helen handed her the key, and Sophie accepted it with gratitude.

“Thank you for trusting me with this,” she said sincerely, her heart swelling with appreciation.

Helen chuckled lightly. “I think we’re way past that now, girl. I’d trust you to run the whole place for a month if I had to.” Sophie smiled, buoyed by Helen’s unwavering faith in her abilities.

“Are you ready to get back to work?” Helen inquired, her enthusiasm infectious.

“Yes,” Sophie affirmed, her spirits lifting.

“All right then. Let’s do this!” Helen exclaimed, and with that, Sophie made her way into the back room to grab an apron and prepare for the day ahead. The comforting aroma of fresh coffee beans soon filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of baking cinnamon rolls. Sophie inhaled deeply, the familiar scents wrapping around her like a warm blanket. This was where she belonged; this was her happy place. A smile crept onto her face as she began serving customers, the shop buzzing with energy. News of the previous night’s events had drawn in a mix of patrons—some there to show support, others simply curious. Regardless of their reasons, both Helen and Sophie welcomed the business, grateful for the distraction it provided.

During a brief lull, Sophie carried a tray of coffee and cinnamon rolls to the back table where Kyle and Madison were huddled over a laptop, papers strewn about in disarray. Madison looked up as Sophie approached, her expression shifting from concentration to delight.