Page 62 of Outcast
Sighing heavily at the realization, I lowered myself to the ground and crossed my legs under me. "I have a question. Why are you not acting like a nasty bitch to me right now?" I brushed the dirt off my hand and placed my palms on my thighs.
Sofia draped an arm over her eyes to block out the sun. "What's the point now? I only did that because my dad threatened to send me to another pack for a mate bond if I couldn't secure Jameson. You were in the way of me staying with my family here."
Grimacing at her admission, I chewed it over in my head as she continued. "My dad might be a dick, but I love my mother and two younger brothers fiercely. I didn't want to lose them. But for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I hate the person I became because of that hanging over my head." Her words had become a bit strangled and it seemed like she was trying to hold tears at bay.
Shocking myself, I whispered, "I forgive you."
Chills spread through me as I realized that deep down, I did forgive her. I wasn't just saying it. She had lashed out from a place of fear, and she thought it was the only way to stay with her family.
It was an incredible weight lifted to forgive the person you held so much resentment for. Resentment might not even describe it fully. I had hated Sofia Woodlan with a fiery rage. I’d blamed her for so much of my pathetic life conditions this whole time, but holding onto that vehement hatred wouldn’t do me any good. It only continued to give the past control over my happiness now.
Her arm raised off her eyes as she sat up with a tearful gaze focused on me. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. I was terrible to you and look where it got me...nowhere besides preparing to be handed off to another pack with an arranged bond."
Disgusting.
Fury filled my chest at the audacity of her father to think that he could make such a barbaric decision for her. Mates were chosen, be it by fate or by yourself if you weren't blessed with a fated. Never an outsider.
"No."
Her eyes widened at my single word response, and I continued. "No. You are not being shipped off to some random shifter with a pack you don't know. That is not up to him, Sofia. Stand your ground."
Her head hung down in defeat despite my words, and she muttered to the ground, "I don't have a choice. If I refuse to go, my father will kick me out of our home, and I’ll have no one." A humorless chuckle came from her as she added, "It's not like I've made a lot of friends in my life."
My cottage flashed into my mind.
"Look, I'm sure you know that my cottage is ruined..." I paused at the honest confusion on her face.
Whatever, it didn't matter who had done it.
"Well, if you want to fix it up, you can have it. It might not be much, but it gives you somewhere to stay. I'll help you, and I'll force Milo and Seth to help as well."
Tears streamed down her face in earnest now, and wow, she was not a pretty crier, but it somehow endeared her to me.
"Why are...you...helping me?" She questioned between sobs.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to figure out how to word this to her. I didn't want her to think I pitied her, because no one liked that feeling.
Smiling gently at her, I answered, "Because it's the right thing to do, and no one should be forced into an unwanted bond."
Despite my smile, my heart throbbed painfully as I thought of my bond with Jameson.
As though she sensed my thoughts, she stopped crying, sniffling while rubbing the back of her hand against her runny nose. "Jameson won't help?"
Lux growled at her inquiring about him, completely lost to the animalistic territorial side, but I didn't read Sofia's question as interest in him.
"He's still fighting the bond."
"Asshat," she muttered, making me chuckle at her unexpected response. We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes as she composed herself, and I didn't try to rush her. She had a big decision to make, and she needed to be comfortable with whatever she settled on.
Out of nowhere, she smacked the ground with her palms and yelled, "Fuck my dad! I'm not letting him drive me out of my home."
She's not terrible, I guess.
The corners of my mouth lifted into a grin at Sofia's proclamation and Lux's admission.
Sofia stared at me intently with determination in her eyes. "Thank you, Kira. I don’t deserve this kindness from you, but I promise I’ll always have your back moving forward."
I simply nodded and pushed off of the ground to stand before calling out as I walked away, "Do these leggings make my ass look good?"
