Chapter 230: A Plan

"Hurry up," Sophia called, glancing over her shoulder. Eldric was lagging behind.

He grunted something as he caught up to Sophia and the guard.

"You’d think after all these years, they’d come up with a better way to signal a storm," Eldric muttered.

"But you were the one who brought up the suggestion," the guard reminded him.

Eldric sighed. "I should have thought of something else. I can still hear the ringing of the horn in my ears."

"It wasn’t that loud," Sophia said.

Eldric just gave her a look that clearly signaled he deemed her words unimportant to respond to.

They passed through the gates of the compound, where guards stood at attention, their faces tense but disciplined. People were already moving supplies, reinforcing roofs, and helping mothers usher children indoors. The whole pack was a machine in motion—practiced and precise at the sound of the horn.

Eldric gave her a nod once they were fully inside. "You should get home and rest. We’ll meet again after the storm passes," he said, pulling his cloak tighter around himself.

Sophia returned the nod. "Sure, and maybe this time, don’t lock yourself up in your house."

"I did not lock myself up. It was important that I avoided people," he replied.

Sophia rolled her eyes. "And it’s important that I avoid you, but look who’s still talking to you."

"I am not the one you should avoid..." He paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Or maybe I am. I am to be avoided—but that is still yet to be determined, after all."

He didn’t wait for Sophia to reply. He simply turned and continued his walk home. Sophia was unimportant at that point, after all.

She just stared at him, then exhaled slowly, the chill air painting her breath white. Her steps turned automatically toward her home, though her thoughts... were far from it.

She was thinking of Orion.

The corners of her lips twitched as she imagined the look on his face if he walked into his room and found her waiting on his bed—wearing one of his tunics with nothing underneath.

She’d read about things like that in novels—how lovers surprised each other in the most scandalously romantic ways. Maybe she could try it too.

Her heart fluttered at the thought, equal parts nervous and thrilled.

But her fantasy came crashing down the moment she reached her doorstep.

Madam Tyler stood there.

The priestess was accompanied by a young man Sophia was sure worked in the kitchen. He was pulling a small cart behind him, helped by one of the kitchen women. Madam Tyler stood with her staff, instructing them.

The scent of bread and stew wafted through the covered baskets stacked atop the cart.

"Ah, there you are!" Madam Tyler said, spotting Sophia. "Perfect timing."

Sophia blinked, caught completely off guard. "Madam Tyler? What—what’s all that?"

"Your provisions," the woman said briskly, motioning for the kitchen girl to hand Sophia the parchment package at the top. "That should be enough to sustain you for three days. Every home must have their share; the storm protocol doesn’t spare anyone."

Sophia took the parchment—it was heavier than it looked, warm and smelling faintly of herbs and bread. "Oh, um... thank you, I—"

But Madam Tyler and her entourage were already turning away, leaving Sophia alone.

"Stay indoors, child," she called over her shoulder. "The Goddess watches over those who listen."

And then she was gone.

Sophia blinked after her, her unfinished gratitude hanging uselessly on her tongue.

Three days’ worth of food. Three days of isolation.

She smiled... this just translated to three days to spend with Orion.

Her gaze drifted to his house right next to hers. It was more spacious—but that was what he got for being Alpha, after all.

Her fingers tightened around the parchment. Maybe I could keep my food there instead, she thought. And stay with him.

A tiny, mischievous smile tugged at her lips. She could picture it so clearly—dropping off the food, making herself comfortable, maybe even reading one of her favorite novels while waiting for him to come home.

Decision made, she started toward his house, trying to look casual, her steps light as she moved. She failed to make sure there wasn’t anyone around before she started moving toward his home.

She was halfway there when a guard stepped out from around the corner.

Sophia froze.

The guard froze too, eyes flicking from her face to the parchment she was holding.

"Evening," he greeted politely.

"Evening," she said quickly, spinning on her heel before he could ask any questions. "Just—just checking if my roof looks steady from this angle. It’s, uh, a thing I do."

The guard frowned but nodded slowly, clearly confused. "Right... well, stay inside, ma’am. Orders from the Alpha."

"Of course!" she said, forcing a bright smile before hurrying back toward her own house.

Once inside, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it, pressing a hand to her chest. "That was close," she whispered to herself, then peeked through the window toward Orion’s house.

From there, she could see the flicker of light through his window and the steady movement of a guard patrolling past. How was she going to sneak inside if there was a guard right outside?

Times like this, she wished their relationship wasn’t a secret. But since it was, she waited.

Hours passed as the sky darkened into a bruised shade of blue. One by one, torches lit up across the compound. The wind had picked up, carrying flecks of frost.

At some point, Caspian had even come by to check if there was anything wrong with her house—leaking roofs, loose boards, or maybe a crack in the window that could let the storm in.

But there was nothing, so he left after telling her he was done.

Then came Lysander. He carried bundles of firewood under one arm and a small pouch of herbs in the other.

"Brew these if the cold gets too much," he instructed, his tone brisk but kind. "And don’t forget to keep the windows sealed. No gaps, understood?"

Sophia nodded again, murmuring her thanks.

She didn’t see Orion, but she saw guards entering and leaving his house, dropping parchments and checking around for any leaks too. She even saw someone fixing his roof at one point.

Her plan was simple, but it was proving hard—there was no chance for her to enter his home.

By the time night fully swallowed the compound, a restless energy stirred within her. She glanced toward his house again, watching silently, waiting to see if anyone would come by again—but there was no one. Luckily for her.

And that was her sign.

Grabbing the parchment of food, she wrapped herself in her cloak and slipped out through the side door. The cold bit at her cheeks immediately, the wind whispering through the pines as she darted between houses.

When she reached his door, her heart was pounding.

Carefully, she pushed it open—it wasn’t locked. The familiar scent of pinewood, leather, and smoke filled her senses immediately. The fire in the hearth burned low, casting orange light across the floor.

Perfect.

She set the parchment of food down on the table and smiled to herself. "Step one," she whispered.

Then she turned back toward her house, moving quickly to fetch some of her clothes and the few novels she’d borrowed from the library—romances mostly, the kind with far too much drama and all the happy endings.

Her plan was simple: get everything into Orion’s home, make herself ready to surprise him.

She was already imagining the look on his face—the shock first, then maybe amusement... maybe something more.

By the time she came back with the clothes in her arms, her nerves had melted into giddy excitement. She dropped the bundle neatly beside the food and turned to fetch the last thing—wood for the fire.

The logs were heavier than she expected, but she managed to carry an armful across the room, humming softly under her breath. The sound of the fire crackling was comforting, and she was so lost in her little fantasy that she didn’t hear the floorboard creak behind her.

She didn’t sense the shift in the air or the weight of someone’s gaze. Neither did she notice that familiar pull she always felt whenever he was near—because she was too caught up in her thoughts.

That was, until a deep, familiar voice spoke behind her.

"What exactly are you doing, shorty?"

Sophia jumped so hard that the firewood clattered to the floor with a loud thud.