Chapter 618: The Cost of a False Vision

Content Warning: This Chapter contains themes of violence against a child/trauma involving a minor.

Sophia learned at four that cruelty was not something described. It was not something someone learned. It was something that was embedded in people.

Cruelty flowed through the veins of people without remorse. They did whatever they wanted and killed whoever they wanted.

Her mother was cruel, and no matter how much Sophia begged, her mother was not backing down. She had marked the Nightshade Pack. And now she blamed Sophia for what was to happen to the pack, even though her plans had been forming for about two years now.

At one point, she had told Sophia not to worry, that she was not going to do anything to scar her. But Sophia should have known better.

It was not until some days later that Sophia realized her mother was even more cruel than she thought.

She did not know the full plan, but she had heard her mother speaking with a man. The man was from the Nightshade Pack, but he was working with her mother. And he was not the only one involved. There were others Sophia did not recognize.

She did not know many people because her mother did not let her meet people, so she could not identify them properly. But she was certain of one thing—they planned to destroy the Nightshade Pack.

At that point, Sophia remembered how the boy looked. The way his eyes lit up when he spoke about his family and friends. And then she remembered the vision—the lost look in his eyes. She could not let that happen again. It could not happen.

And so she tried to sneak out, to go to the Nightshade Pack. She did not know where it was, but she was going to trace the boy’s scent. She was good at that, after all.

But Sophia did not get far before she was caught by her mother.

Her mother stared at her with disgust, and in a calm voice, she asked:

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Nothing," Sophia told her.

Her mother smiled. "My sweet girl... you are getting good at lying, are you not?"

"Mom..."

"Tell me, did you see anything about the boy? You are so bent on protecting him, after all."

Sophia stared at her mother. She did not reply, and her mother simply laughed.

"Well... it does not matter. It is not like he is going to survive anyway. His whole pack is to be destroyed," her mother said.

And that was the first time Sophia lied about a vision.

"I saw something," she said.

"Really?" Victoria asked.

Sophia nodded. "If... if the boy dies by your hands, then you will die too."

The smile on her mother’s face froze.

"Are you lying to me, sweet girl?" she asked.

Sophia swallowed. "No," she said firmly. "The boy and his pack have to survive for you to live."

Her mother stared at her for a while, then ran her fingers through Sophia’s hair.

"Well... what are we going to do about that?" she asked softly. "His pack is already under attack. And I reckon the boy’s family is dead now." Then she leaned in until her forehead touched Sophia’s. "It seems you will have to come up with a different lie."

Sophia shook her head. "No... no, that is not possible. That cannot happen."

Her mother chuckled. "I can show you if you do not believe me."

Sophia did not want to see. Or rather, she wanted to see—but only the boy. But her mother did not care what she wanted.

She dragged Sophia away.

---

The smell of blood hit Sophia first.

Then came the screams.

Growls. Howls from wolves. Shouts from pack members.

Warriors flooding the pack.

Her mother held Sophia firmly as they stood on a hill, watching the destruction unfold below.

Sophia heard children crying. She heard mothers calling for their children, wives calling for their husbands, fathers protecting their children. Some ran. Some fought. Some fell.

She saw men and women clashing in desperation.

One man stood with a sword in his hand, holding a woman close.

Sophia was not sure how, but from that distance, the woman locked eyes with her. It was the exact same shade as the boy’s.

But just as quickly as their gaze met, the woman kissed the man, shifted into her wolf form, and howled. Others answered her call, and she disappeared into the chaos.

The man shouted something, but Sophia shut her eyes.

Her mother turned her face.

"Look," she said.

Sophia shook her head. "No..." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

But she was forced to look anyway.

A girl stood against the warriors. Three younger children were behind her, trembling. She was not strong enough to protect them.

Sophia shook her head as tears poured down her face.

She did not want to see anymore.

But her eyes searched anyway.

The boy was not there.

"This is all because of you, Sophia," her mother said, almost delighted. "Everything happening is because of you. It is all your fault."

"Please," Sophia cried. "Please stop... I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry."

"But what is there to apologize for?" her mother asked softly. "Besides, you said if I killed the boy and his family, I would die too. The man and woman you saw were the Alpha and Luna of the pack. Quite the pair. The boy you met was their son, was he not?"

"I do not know," Sophia whispered.

"Oh well," her mother said lightly. "It does not matter. None of them will survive anyway. I will make sure of it."

"Please," Sophia begged. "I will—"

"Hush, darling," her mother said gently. "Besides, I am sure you will appreciate it more when I show you his body."

Sophia would later come to realize what that statement meant but at that moment, she didn’t understand and her mother had only laughed in delight at the fact that she didn’t understand.