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Caleb looked carefully at Sofia, observing the way she looked back at him.

“Burning Ember has joined with Autumn?” he asked, keeping his tone even.

Sofia smiled.

“They did,” she replied.

“Is this another test?” Caleb growled. “Just say what you mean!”

She smiled again.

“Two weeks after the new Alpha of Winter was sworn in, Autumn continued recruitment,” Sofia continued. “Some packs said no, some said yes, some were betrayed. I’m sure you already know what happened to most of them?”

Caleb clenched his jaw, thinking of the attack on Summer.

“Burning Ember was approached and offered the same option as the rest. Join with Autumn against Summer and Winter, give Alpha Tomas the right to control all wolves within the pack as his own.”

“Why would you agree to that?” Caleb asked.

Sofia leaned forward.

“I wouldn’t,” she said. Then, tilting her head to the side, she smiled. “I’m curious. Did you ever meet Alpha Dillon?”_-.

Caleb furrowed his brow for a moment and then understood.

“He was the alpha before you?” he asked. She nodded. “I never met him, only saw him at the ceremony. His eyes lingered for far too long on my Luna.”

“Sounds right,” Sofia smiled.

Sofia sat back on the couch. She crossed her arms as she spoke.

“He was more than happy to take Autumn’s deal. All Tomas had to offer was money and women. Young, obedient women.”

Caleb didn’t like what her voice implied.

“Now, let me give you a little history lesson. The alpha before Dillon was a man named Leo. He was a good man with a family. But Dillon was a selfish man that wanted to be in charge.”

Sofia paused.

“One night, Dillon snuck into Leo’s home and killed him. His Luna died beside him, crying out for their ten-year-old daughter to run away. Their daughter ran, but she didn’t get far.”

Sofia’s eyes darkened.

“Dillon caught up to her. Then grabbing her by the back of her hair, he gave her a thorough look over and told her she was still too young for his tastes. But he promised her he would ensure she ‘grew

up right’.

“That same night, Autumn wolves came to the borders of Ember territory. He sold the alpha’s daughter to the brothels. And she spent twelve years there.”

Caleb clenched his jaw; his knuckles were white from the force with which he held his fist tightly.

“Alpha Tomas brought ten women for Dillon to choose from, and he recognized her instantly,” Sofia said with disgust. “The smile on his face when he saw her… it was like he had been waiting for this day. Like he had finally earned his prize after all this time.”

Sofia paused, clenching her jaw and swallowing.

“He lifted her chin with his fat fingers and smiled as he told her he would give her a homecoming she would never forget.”

Sofia looked away.

Caleb swallowed.

“How did you become Alpha?” he asked quietly.

Sofia turned to look at him. A rage burned in her eyes.

“I ran a dagger into his throat before that fat fuck had a chance to mount me,” she smiled angrily. “I left his room soaked in his blood. Then, I presented myself to the wolves of Burning Ember. I told them exactly who I was and exactly what I did.

“I told them they could kill me to take vengeance for the loss of their alpha. I didn’t care. I did what I wanted; I took vengeance for my parents.”

Sofia smiled, and a lone tear fell from her eye, which she quickly wiped away.

“Instead, they chose you as their alpha,” Caleb commented.

Sofia scoffed.

“A bit fucked right?” she smiled.

“Not really,” Caleb replied. “I would guess your father was well loved. You did what none of them had the strength or will to do. You avenged him. Now they honor him through you.”

Sofia shrugged.

“They are the only family I have. I will do what I can for them, for as long as I can,” she said.

“What about the deal with Autumn?” Caleb asked.

“I told Tomas to fuck right off,” Sofia said. “The deal he made was with Dillon, not me.”

“And he just accepted that answer?” Caleb replied with disbelief.

“Well, from what I gathered, this all went down right around when you got Broken Crag on your side. So, compared to you gathering forces and joining with those rough and tumble rock huggers, a little pack like mine meant nothing to him.”

“Still… seems strange that he didn’t try to wipe you out.”

“From what I hear from inside Autumn, something is going on. Tomas is struggling to keep control; they have shut down their outside operations.”

“You have a contact inside Autumn?”

“Sort of,” Sofia said. “Contact is spotty, pretty much only when they want.”

Caleb nodded and took a minute to absorb the things she had said.

“From what you told me, can I assume that you are not interested in allying with Autumn?”

“Not a snowball’s chance in hell.”

“And can I also assume that you reached out to us because you wish to ally with us?” Caleb asked.

“I’m open to the possibility,” Sofia smiled.

Caleb couldn’t help but smile back. This woman was intelligent. She knew there was room for demands to be made. Sharing the details of Savage Cove and the Ravagers having joined Autumn was valuable.

She had given it to him for free because it confirmed what he had already suspected. He needed them.

Caleb looked at her carefully. Sofia had seen her parents killed as a child and then sold to a brothel. Only to be given as a signing bonus to the same monster that sold her.

She should have been filled with rage and resentment, yet she wasn’t. There was hidden anger below the surface, but she was rational and reasonable. She considered her options and her people.

“You’ve already led a life many wouldn’t have survived,” Caleb said.

“Life is not naturally kind or tender. It is cruel and unyielding,” Sofia said. “The shit we go through? That’s the fire that forges us.”

Caleb chuckled. She was a born leader.

He took a deep breath and leaned forward in his seat.

“I will be frank with you. Right now, Autumn has the numbers. We have more civilians and survivors than we do warriors. Our forces are spread out between the north and the south. If they choose to start this war before we have finished preparations, there is a good chance we will lose.”

Caleb paused.

“Joining us right now will not make it any easier for you. Are you sure you want this? No one would blame you if you chose to join with Autumn.”

Sofia looked at him and then sighed.

“I chose you because you have more survivors and civilians than warriors,” she said. “Autumn won’t give a shit about my wolves, but if something happens to me in this fight. You will.”