Stay

Sophia blushed, immediately thinking it must have been Hades's idea.

Her clothes did smell faintly of the day's office grind, and she didn't want to embarrass herself when she met whoever Hades was planning to introduce her to.

She nodded with a small smile. "Sure, thank you. I'll change."

The maid led her to a spacious guest room with a view overlooking the gardens.

It was elegantly furnished, and the bed looked incredibly inviting.

As Sophia began to change into a fresh set of clothes provided by the mansion, she pulled out her phone and dialled Aurora's number.

Aurora answered almost immediately, her voice lively. "Sophia! Where are you? I thought you'd be back by now."

Sophia smiled at the sound of her friend's voice. "I might come back a bit later tonight. I'm handling some business."

"Business?" Aurora's tone turned playful. "Hmmm, let me guess. A man's involved, right? Is this your mysterious lover I've been hearing nothing about?"

Sophia's eyes widened, and she quickly responded, "No! It's not like that. It's just business, trust me."

Aurora laughed. "Sure, sure. You know I'll get the full story later, right? You can't escape the details."

Sophia chuckled, shaking her head at Aurora's teasing. "I promise, it's not what you're thinking. I'll fill you in when I get back."

"Well, alright," Aurora sighed dramatically. "I'll leave you to your 'business' then. Don't forget to give me all the gists later. And hey, stay safe!"

"I will," Sophia promised before hanging up.

As she slipped into the clean clothes, she reflected on how close she and Aurora had always been.

Even back in high school, when Julia had tried her manipulative games, pretending to be everyone's friend, it was Aurora who had stuck by her side.

They had survived everything together, and despite the twists in their lives, their bond remained unshakeable.

Once dressed in a professional yet comfortable outfit, Sophia glanced at herself in the mirror.

The maid had styled her short hair, giving her a polished look.

She took a deep breath and headed downstairs to the meeting area, where she was directed by the maid.

When she entered the room, Hades was already there, lounging in a simple T-shirt, looking both casual and effortlessly commanding.

Beside him sat a man in a crisp suit, his presence sharp and businesslike.

Hades glanced up as she entered, a brief flicker of something unreadable passing over his face before he introduced the man.

"Sophia, this is Mr. Martin," Hades said, his voice smooth. "He's the owner of one of the largest publishing houses. He's also a member of my pack."

Sophia smiled politely at the man and offered a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Martin."

Mr. Martin returned the handshake with a professional smile, nodding. "I've heard a lot about you. Hades speaks highly of your work."

Sophia felt a small warmth at the compliment, though she maintained her calm demeanour. "Thank you. I'm passionate about the stories I tell."

Hades leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving her. "We were discussing your old documentary and the books you were working on about witches. It's a subject with depth, but I know you struggled to gain much interest."

Mr. Martin nodded in agreement. "Yes, I remember hearing about it. Unfortunately, the market wasn't receptive at the time. People weren't really interested in that sort of topic."

Sophia's heart sank slightly at his words.

She had poured so much into that project, only to see it fade away without reaching the audience she had hoped for.

Her disappointment must have shown on her face because Hades shot a sharp glance at Mr. Martin.

The man cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "But," he added hastily, "with my publishing house, I can guarantee a much wider audience. We can package it the right way and market it to the right people. It could be a huge success."

Sophia's mood lifted immediately.

She smiled brightly, her excitement evident. "That would be incredible. I'd love the chance to bring those stories back to life."

Mr. Martin nodded, glancing at Hades, who seemed almost pleased for a moment before masking it with his usual cool expression.

Mr. Martin excused himself shortly after, leaving the room with promises to follow up on the project.

Once they were alone, Sophia turned to Hades, gratitude clear in her eyes. "Thank you. I don't know what to say. You didn't have to do this."

Hades shrugged, his eyes softening slightly. "It's no big deal. I knew it was something important to you."

As the moment lingered, Hades stepped a little closer, his tone lowering. "It's late. You should stay the night here. It's safer than trying to head back at this hour."

Sophia blinked, her heart racing. She shook her head quickly. "No, I should go. Aurora is expecting me, and—"

Before she could finish, Hades moved quietly behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist in a gentle embrace.

His touch wasn't forceful but warm, steady, and far too familiar.

Sophia's body tensed as her heartbeat quickened. Though it wasn't fear, she felt—it was the undeniable pull of their mate bond.

"Stay," Hades whispered softly, his voice low and soothing. "It's late, and I don't want you going back alone in the dark. You'll be safe here."

Sophia closed her eyes for a moment, her thoughts warring with the sensations flooding her.

Her wolf stirred within her, responding to his presence, the bond between them humming like a live wire.

She could feel the warmth of his body against her back, the strength in his arms, and it tugged at something deep inside her.

For a moment, she considered leaving anyway, pushing past the emotions that bubbled up at his touch.

But as her wolf stirred more insistently, a soft growl of recognition forming in her chest, she realized that maybe staying wouldn't be the worst decision.

"Alright," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But even as she agreed, Sophia gently moved his hands from around her waist, taking a small step forward to create distance.

It wasn't that she didn't want to stay—it was that she wasn't ready to be this close to him, not yet. Not after everything.

Hades's hands fell away, and though his expression remained calm, she caught the brief flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

He took a step back, respecting her space, and for that, she was grateful.

"Good night," Sophia said softly, turning toward the door.

"Good night," he replied, his voice quiet but carrying a weight of unspoken words.

Without another word, Sophia left the room, her heart still racing, her mind spinning.

She knew she would lie awake tonight, wondering what all of this meant, both for her and for the bond she shared with Hades.