A Presence

Sophia lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless despite the exhaustion pulling at her body.

She had expected it—the sleepless night.

The warmth of the room, the soft sheets, none of it could settle her racing thoughts, and as the hours ticked by, she found herself still wide awake.

Memories of Hades's embrace lingered in her mind, the way her wolf had stirred at his touch.

It was all too much, and yet she couldn't stop thinking about it.

But soon, despite her efforts to stay alert, her eyes grew heavy, and before she knew it, she dozed off, the weight of exhaustion finally winning.

It was then, in the midst of her light sleep, that she felt it.

A presence.

It wasn't loud or startling—just a subtle shift in the air, a familiar energy in the room that stirred something deep within her.

She shifted in her sleep, barely awake but aware enough to sense it, the unmistakable pull of the mate bond making her heart quicken for a brief moment.

The presence drew closer, moving silently toward the bed, hovering near her as if watching over her.

Sophia's mind fought through the haze of sleep, trying to make sense of it, but before she could fully wake, the presence seemed to pull away.

The bond, which had flared to life, slowly faded as the presence left the room.

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, but the room was empty.

She wasn't sure if it had been a dream, but she felt it—she knew someone had been there.

Her heartbeat slowed, and she drifted back into a deeper sleep, her mind too tired to chase the mystery any further.

When morning came, sunlight streamed through the curtains, gently waking her.

Sophia blinked against the light, the memory of the presence from last night rushing back to her.

She sat up quickly, her eyes scanning the room. Everything seemed untouched—her belongings were exactly where she had left them.

But that didn't shake the feeling that someone had been there, that she had felt the bond stir in the middle of the night.

She quickly changed into the clothes the head maid had given her the previous night, still distracted by the lingering question in her mind.

As she slipped on her shoes, she decided to ask, hoping the maid might know something.

After making her way downstairs, she found the head maid tending to the dining area.

"Excuse me," Sophia began, her voice slightly hesitant. "Did anyone come into my room last night? I… I thought I felt someone."

The maid paused, looking surprised. "No, Miss Sophia. After I helped you settle in, I retired for the night. I didn't see anyone go into your room." She smiled kindly, "You must've been very tired. Perhaps it was just a dream?"

Sophia forced a small smile, but inside, she felt a wave of disappointment.

She was certain she had felt someone there.

Was it just the mate bond playing tricks on her tired mind?

She thanked the maid and made her way to the front hall, still deep in thought.

Just as she was about to leave, Hades appeared, descending the stairs in a casual T-shirt, looking refreshed.

He gave her a brief nod. "Good morning," he said, moving toward the dining table. "Breakfast is ready if you'd like to join."

Sophia clutched her bag tighter, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't quite place. "I… I need to go," she said quickly, her words rushed.

Hades raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering across his face. "So soon?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious.

"Yes," Sophia said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "Aurora's expecting me."

She could feel his eyes on her as she hurried toward the door, her footsteps quick and her thoughts jumbled.

She didn't wait for a response, and before Hades could say anything else, she was out the door, the cool morning air hitting her face as she left the mansion behind.

---

After Sophia left, Hades stood in the entryway for a moment, watching the door close behind her.

He could still sense the remnants of her presence lingering in the mansion, the faint stir of the mate bond tugging at him.

But he didn't chase after her. He didn't need to.

Instead, he turned and walked up the grand staircase to his room, his footsteps deliberate and calm.

Once inside, he moved straight to his desk, pulling out a small USB from his pocket and plugging it into his sleek laptop.

As the device hummed to life, he leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face.

His fingers tapped lazily across the keyboard, navigating the folders until he reached one titled Sophia's Documentary About Witches.

His lips curled into a smirk as he clicked on the file.

The screen flickered for a moment before the familiar footage of Sophia's voice and interviews with various experts and witnesses filled the screen.

Her dedication to the project was evident in every frame, but what most people didn't realize was the depth of what she had uncovered. Information that many had dismissed or overlooked.

He watched silently, his eyes narrowing as the scenes played out.

The truth about witches, the power they held, and their connection to his world had always fascinated him.

But more importantly, it was Sophia's ability to dig deeper, to push beyond the surface, that intrigued him the most.

She didn't realize just how close she had gotten to something much larger, something dangerous.

His smirk widened.

As the footage continued, Hades's mind worked through a plan he had been forming for a while.

Sophia wasn't just a journalist; she was the key to unravelling a web of secrets that went back further than she could imagine.

She had touched on truths in her documentary that could change everything—if she only knew the full extent of what she had stumbled upon.

Hades tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his eyes glued to the screen, already thinking about his next move.

Letting her walk away this morning had been the right choice.

The documentary continued to play, and Hades leaned forward, his smirk never leaving his face.