I rushed to where Sofia was lying on the ground, bleeding. She had a big cut on her head, and she looked at me with so much pain and anger in her eyes. My aura flared, bringing the bullies and everyone to their knees. I picked up Sofia in my arms, murmuring "I'm so sorry I came late. I'm so sorry this happened. I'm making it up to you please baby I'm sorry.
Sophia was resisting, pushing me away, her body tense with anger and hurt. She was trying to fight me, but I held her tight, my heart racing with worry. The mate bond was pulsing with intensity, urging me to protect her, to comfort her. I could feel her pain, her fear, and it was killing me.
I looked at Josh and Mark, who were standing behind me, their faces twisted with anger.
Send warriors from the pack to get everyone involved in Sofia's beating, I growled. "Tell them to take them to the dungeon until I decide what to do with them.
Josh and Mark nodded, their voices firm. Yes, Alpha."
I scooped Sofia in my arms and headed to the school clinic. Vanessa blocked my path, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Damian, what are you doing?" she sneered, her voice venomous. "Why are you carrying her? She's just an omega, and no one cares about her, my parents regret giving birth to her.
I looked at Vanessa with cold, hard eyes. "Move out of my way, Vanessa. I told you this morning not to mess with Sofia anymore, but you didn't listen. You hurt her like this, what is your problem? She's your little sister. Why the hate?
Vanessa's face twisted with rage. "What do you care? She's just an omega and a disgrace to my family I hate having such a weak person as my sister, You're my boyfriend, and you're supposed to support me why the sudden care for her? What has gotten into you?
I snarled, my alpha aura flaring. "Henceforth, I'm no longer your boyfriend. Sofia is my mate, and I intend to be with my mate and protect her. Get out of my way, Vanessa. The next time you hurt Sofia or make people hurt her or gang up against her, don't blame me for what I'll do to you. I won't care if our parents are friends. Josh, take her away. Now.
Josh nodded, his eyes cold, and dragged Vanessa away, kicking and screaming. I took Sofia to the school clinic, where the nurse directed me to lay her down on the bed.
The nurse examined Sofia's injuries, her expression concerned. "She's going to be fine, Alpha. She's received her wolf, but she'll heal slowly because She's an omega, so she needs some pain relief and a drip to make her sleep while her wolf heals her.
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. King, my wolf, growled in my mind. "If anything happens to her, I'll burn this entire pack down."
I sat down beside Sofia's bed, holding her hand, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Sofia. I'll make it up to you, I promise. You're safe now. I'll never let anyone hurt you again please baby believe me.
Sofia's eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with a mix of emotions. For a moment, I saw a glimmer of trust, of hope, and it made my heart skip a beat. But then her eyes hardened, and she turned away, her body tense with anger.
I sighed, feeling a pang of regret. I knew I had a long way to go to win her trust, to make her forgive me. But I was willing to do whatever it took.
As I sat beside Sofia's bed, watching her sleep, my mind was racing. The nurse had told me she was malnourished, that she hardly ate or slept. My wolf, King, growled in agreement. "Yes, better work on it and feed our mate to get her strength back.
I nodded, my jaw clenched. I was going to make sure Sofia got everything she needed. I opened a mind link to the entire pack, my voice firm and commanding.
"Attention everyone, henceforth Sofia is to be treated with respect and care. She is my mate, and I intend to love and protect her. She is no longer the pack cook or the pack omega; she is my mate and the future Luna. If I see anyone disrespecting my mate, they will be sorry. What I will do to them... My mate is to be respected.
The pack's response was immediate, a mix of shock and acceptance. I closed the pack link and mind-linked my father privately.
"Son, what do you mean Sofia is your mate?" my father's voice was calm, but I could sense a hint of surprise.
I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Dad. I was going to tell you later after school, but things just happened. I found out last night, which was her birthday, that she was my mate. And I'm not rejecting her, Dad. I know how beautiful the mate bond is, I see it between you and Mum every day. I'm not going to reject her because she's an omega and you can't make me.
My mother's voice joined the mind link, warm and reassuring. "Son, your father and I would never make you reject Sofia because she's an omega. Things are more complicated than you think. Honestly, we are happy Sofia is your mate, and maybe now things will make sense. You understand why some things are like this and anyone but Vanessa is fine for me.
I frowned, feeling a sense of frustration. "I don't get it, Mum. This was exactly what you guys told me when I was twelve years old to stay away from her and not show care or concern to protect her. Why can't you all just be straight and explain to me?"
My mother's voice was gentle. "Now that Sofia is your mate and you've announced it, things are going to be more difficult for her. But you need to protect her and watch over her, for your mate's sake is not in our place to tell you anything, when her father is ready to talk you will understand.
I nodded, even though they couldn't see me. "Okay, Mum. Okay, Dad. We'll talk better when I get back home."
King, my wolf, spoke up as I closed the mind link. Damian, did you notice Sofia, our mate wolf was pure white with the moon crescent on her forehead?
King's voice was low and rumbling.
I nodded, my mind racing. "You know what white wolf means, right?
King's response was immediate. "Yes, our mate is special, and her wolf Lily is also special. But white wolves are known to have powers because they're direct descendants of the moon goddess herself. I tried asking lily but she won't say anything because her human doesn't trust us.
I cut him off, my heart racing. "It's something we need to research and find out. But if it's what we're thinking, then we need to protect our mate and make sure no one finds out about her wolf. We need to keep her safe because white wolves are always being hunted down and used for their powers.
King growled in agreement, and I knew we were on the same page. We would do whatever it took to protect Sofia, our mate.