Chapter 460: The Path West

The Day Before Sophia Regained Consciousness

Orion stood over the edge of the bed, watching Sophia breathe. She was still, calm, fragile in her stillness, the faint rise and fall of her chest the only sign of life. Her hair fanned across the pillow, dark against the pale sheets, and for a moment, Orion allowed himself to simply study her.

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, just above her closed eyes, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath his lips. His voice was quiet, almost to himself.

"I’d like to just look into your stubborn eyes and hear you talk back to me," he murmured, the words carrying both a promise and a note of longing. His fingers lingered for a moment on her temple before he straightened, his eyes lingering on her one last time.

Stepping out of the room, Orion’s boots made no sound against the polished floor. The corridor was dim, sunlight filtering faintly through the windows, painting stripes across the stone. He almost collided with Marta in the doorway.

"Orion," she said, a small laugh escaping her lips at his sudden stop. "How are you doing?"

He offered a tight-lipped smile. "I’m coping," he said simply. "I’m stepping out for a while, but if there’s even the slightest change in Sophia—any change at all—let me know immediately."

Marta nodded firmly. "Of course. I’ll keep watch. You go."

He gave her a curt nod and moved forward.

As he exited the medical facility, Garrett approached, moving quickly yet quietly to fall in step beside him. Orion didn’t glance at him, his mind already working through the tasks ahead.

"I’m going to the dungeons," Orion said plainly. "Call Helios and Jeffrey. Tell them to gather in the council hall. And any member of the council of elders who is free—bring them as well. Also tell Brynhild to come with extra guards who will be guarding the dungeon, ones who wouldn’t let the prisoner escape."

Garrett’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t question him. He simply inclined his head and moved off immediately, swift and efficient as he went.

Orion continued down the stone steps that led to the dungeons, the chill of the corridor meeting him with a weight he welcomed. The dungeon had an austere presence, its stone walls cold, the air heavy with the echoes of a history far darker than anything the Nightshade pack had endured recently. It reminded him, as it always did, that punishment, when wielded, left its mark far longer than a single day.

At the end of the hall, Cat, Laia, and Pete were waiting. The moment they saw him, Cat and Laia moved forward with urgency.

"Alpha Orion," Laia called softly, her voice tight. "We heard you were back. We... we just—Is Sophia okay?"

Orion’s expression softened, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint, reassuring smile. "She’s in the medical facility. You’ve been here long enough. Go home. Rest. You’ve done more than enough."

Laia’s jaw set. "We’d do it all over again if it meant helping her."

Orion nodded, acknowledging her loyalty. "I know," he said simply. "Hopefully, the others will be back soon. Ronan and Gregory are with them."

They nodded in silent understanding before turning to leave, along with Pete, who trailed behind them.

Holly’s head lifted as Orion’s presence registered. She had been crouched in the corner of her cell, body tense, eyes wide. She looked like a cornered animal, desperate and defiant at once. Orion did not acknowledge her further, his attention already shifting.

To the guard stationed with her, he gave a measured command. "Holly will be treated as any criminal who attempts to harm a pack member. She will have no visitors, especially from friends. You will have assistance soon—people to help make sure she doesn’t escape. Make sure she never leaves this cell, and if she attempts to escape, her crime will fall on you. Do you understand?"

The guard swallowed audibly, then nodded.

Orion cast one last glance toward Holly. Her face was swollen, streaked with tears, her cries muffled by the gag. Yet she shook her head violently, eyes full of fear and rage. Orion noticed it all—the bruises, the defiance, the desperation.

"Who did that to her?" he asked quietly, referring to the bruises.

"Brynhild, sir," the guard replied, voice low.

Orion chuckled softly, the sound dark and low. "She deserved that," he said, eyes narrowing on the small, trembling form in the cell. "No one touches someone Brynhild considers her sister. No one."

He turned slightly, speaking more to himself than anyone else. "The only reason you’re breathing without pain right now," he muttered, "is because Sophia isn’t awake to tell us what you did to her specifically. I need to know if you only left her to die or if you did more. When she wakes, you will answer every detail of your actions."

Holly’s muffled cries grew louder, almost frantic, but Orion ignored them. The weight of the dungeon air and the echo of her sobs seemed inconsequential to him. His purpose was clear.

He walked toward the door, passing out into the corridor, where Brynhild was already waiting alongside two guards who would oversee Holly’s cell.

"Garrett called me," Brynhild said quietly.

Orion nodded, motioning toward the two guards. "You guys are to make sure Holly doesn’t leave. She is a criminal to the pack."

They nodded and moved down to the dungeons.

"You are coming with me," he told Brynhild. "We’re going to speak with Sam, Helios, and Jeffrey. First, though, we go to Sam’s house. I’ve sent Garrett to call Helios and Jeffrey."

Brynhild nodded. "You spoke with Jarek, right? Did you get any information from him?"

Orion’s gaze tightened, darkening slightly. "Yes," he said. "And it seems Tobias may likely be in the west right now."

The cold weight of the news settled in the air between them. Brynhild’s expression flickered for the briefest moment before she masked it again.

Orion led the way with Brynhild next to him. Their steps echoed against the snow as they moved, deliberate and quiet.