SOPHIA’S POV
Damien’s hand was still wrapped around my throat.
We were too close now. Close enough that I could feel his body heat.
I forced myself to breathe. I could feel his dominant aura rolling from him in waves. I had no choice but to submit and my wolf whimpered inside me.
I could keep fighting but I remembered Lance. I was here because of him.
“Please,” I said quietly. “Leave Lance alone.”
My voice sounded small, but I meant every word. Damien’s mouth curved into a cold smile. There was no warmth in his eyes. No mercy.
“Why would I do that?” he asked calmly.
My stomach twisted. I swallowed my pride. It tasted bitter, but I did it anyway.
“What do you want?” I asked. “I’ll do anything.”
The words hurt to say. I hated that I was begging. I hated that I had been pushed this far.
Damien stepped even closer to me.
Our bodies were practically pressed against each other now. His alpha presence filled the room. My wolf growled softly. She was angry but trapped.
“Anything?” he repeated. “That’s a dangerous word, Sophia.”
I lifted my chin and looked straight into his eyes.
Don’t flinch. Don’t show weakness.
“Name your price,” I said.
For a moment, he just studied my face. His eyes moved slowly, like he was cataloging every crack and weakness inside me.
“I don’t want anything from you,” he said at last.
I panicked.
“No,” I said quickly. “I’ll sign something. An NDA. I won’t speak about the hospital. I’ll stop the divorce for now, temporarily. Whatever you want.”
Please. I’ll give you anything. Just leave him alone.
But Damien just shook his head.
“You really don’t understand your position,” he said.
For a moment, it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“This isn’t about Lance,” he continued calmly. “It’s about the consequences of your actions.”
“What actions?” I asked. “What are you talking about ?”
“You had the nerve to leave me Sophia,” he mused, “surely you didn’t think it would have a cost did you?”
“Damien-”
“My decision stands,” he said. “Lance stays fired.”
My throat burned. Tears stung at the back of my eyes. How could someone be so cruel?
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” I whispered.
Damien leaned closer then lowered his voice. “Neither did I.”
Something broke inside my chest. Before I could stop myself, I said, “You’re cruel.”
His smile got wider. Before he turned away, he delivered the final blow.
“Keep trying to fight me,” he said quietly, “and it won’t just be Lance next time.”
I was shocked. Was he threatening me?
Then he walked away.
I stood alone, shaking. My wolf curled inward, whimpering inside me. She couldn’t believe what just happened.
Somehow, I made it to my car somehow.
I sat there for twenty minutes without moving. My hands gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. My chest hurt. My eyes burned. I wanted to scream. I wanted to drive straight into something solid just to make the pain stop.
This is my fault. Lance is paying for me. Everyone pays for me.
I thought about calling him.
What would I even say? Sorry your life is ruined because you were kind to me?
I drove home on autopilot. The road blurred past me. My mind raced through impossible solutions.
Maybe I can find him work somewhere else. Maybe I can loan him money. Maybe I can fix this.
But I knew better. Damien’s reach was long.
Anything I touched and he knew about it, he would poison.
When I got home I didn’t rest. I got to work looking for something to help Lance. Anything.
I made lists of hospitals, research centers and other medical firms. I searched wrongful termination laws. I looked for whistleblower protections. Every door slammed shut before I even touched it.
I thought about the media but I knew Damien’s media team would destroy me.
I scrolled through my contacts. Most of them weren’t really mine. They were his.
I called one former colleague and begged her to do something.
“I’ll see what I can do,” she said.
I knew that meant nothing. I texted Lance.
Me: “I’m so sorry. I’m working on this. Please don’t give up.”



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