Chapter 117: The Deal

For a long while, neither of them spoke. The night air carried a soft chill that crept through the leaves. Somewhere in the distance, a bird called, lonely and low. The world seemed to hold its breath, letting them exist in that fragile silence.

Orion’s gaze lingered on Sophia’s face. The moonlight fell across her features, tracing the curve of her cheek, the faint sheen of drying tears. There was a kind of wild determination in her eyes, the same stubborn light that had first unnerved him, then challenged him, and now... warmed him.

He cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"You... you do realize what kind of deal you’re trying to strike with me, right?"

Sophia tilted her head, wiping at her nose with the back of her hand like a child caught stealing fruit. "Of course I do," she said, voice soft but steady.

Orion arched a brow. "Do you, really?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "I know exactly what kind of deal I’m trying to make."

He almost smiled at her tone. That defiance

.. that certainty...always managed to crawl into his chest and undo the walls he’d spent years building. But her gaze didn’t waver, and beneath the faint smile, there was something raw and honest. Something that pulled him closer.

"I know how much my lost memories are affecting everyone," she said, her fingers toying with the edge of her sleeve. "And I know what they mean to you, to the pack, and to this place. It’s not just about me anymore, is it?"

Her eyes glimmered as she turned to face him fully. "I used to think it was just an inconvenience, forgetting who I was, where I came from. I thought it was only my problem. But after hearing what you told me... after hearing what the enclave did to you, to your people..." She paused, drawing in a shuddering breath. "Now I understand."

Orion’s jaw tightened slightly. He didn’t interrupt. He just watched her, the way her voice wavered when she said ’you’, the way her hands trembled when she spoke about the enclave. The night breeze tugged at her hair, lifting strands of it. She looked fragile in that light, fragile, but unbreakable.

"I understand why my lost memories scare you," she continued. "It’s because being and unknown can be a variable to destroy the little peace you guys have built here. And...better safe than sorry right?"

She swallowed hard, her eyes searching his. "That’s why I need to remember. Not just for me, but for everyone in the nightshade pack. So this peace can continue."

The words landed between them with the quiet weight of truth. Orion didn’t know what to say.

He studied her for a long moment. Her tears had dried, but her cheeks still bore their faint trails. Her eyes were swollen from crying, red at the edges, yet within them was fire.

"So that’s what this is about," he said finally, his tone low. "Your deal. It’s not just a bargain for me to walk among the people again. It’s a vow."

Sophia smiled faintly. "A two-way vow," she said. "You keep your promise, you step into the festival with your head high, like the Alpha you are. And I’ll keep mine, I’ll do everything I can to remember who I was. Who I am."

"You’ll meet with Lysander?" He asked her.

"Yes." She said with a nod.

"You’re awfully sure of yourself," he muttered.

"I have to be," she said simply. "You doubt enough for both of us."

He let out a low chuckle despite himself. "That’s not how that works."

"It’s exactly how it works," she countered, her lips curving into a small, triumphant grin.

He shook his head, but his eyes warmed. There was something grounding about her presence, something that felt like a steady pulse beneath chaos. For years he’d carried guilt, anger, and leadership like a single burden. But with her, even if only for moments, he could breathe again.

Her voice lowered, taking on that same tremor of emotion that always caught him off guard. "I meant what I said earlier. You’ve carried this guilt for too long. But you’re not alone anymore. You have your people. You have Ronan, Brynhild, the council... and you have me."

Orion gave her a soft smile. "I know that. Thank you."

"Just so you know, I’m writing this day down." She said to him.

"What?"

"You just thanked me. I can’t remember you ever thanking me once." She told him.

"Sophia, really?" He asked her.

"I’ll save it as a memory. And for future purpose." She told him making him chuckle.

Finally, after a quiet moment, he nodded once, almost imperceptibly. "Okay," he said softly.

"Okay? You agree to the deal?" She asked him.

"Yes." He said with a sigh.

She beamed at him and once more he was taken back by how beautiful she was. He had always known though, it wasn’t like it was the first time he was realizing it but anytime she smiled widely, it was like her face was alive...not that she was not alive in the first place but it brought more life to her. It made her stunning and those eyes of hers shined brightly.

"That’s good," she said, the smile still plastered on her face, nodding to herself like she was signing off a deal. "Because I was going to explore the festival grounds and you promised to show me around."

Orion blinked, head jerking toward her. He could not believe the words she just said. "What did you just say?" He asked her.

"That I wanted to see the festival grounds?" She asked him with a frown.

"No, not that. After that?" He asked her.

"That you promised to show me around?" She asked him.

"Yes that." Orion said to her as his brows deepened more into a fown. "When in the goddess’s name did I promise to show you around the festival?"