Chapter 34: Seeds of Doubt
311words
Sophia's expression wavered. "Eat your food," she said abruptly. "I'll be back for the tray later."
After she left, I examined the room more carefully, looking for anything that might help me escape. The food remained untouched—I didn't trust that it wasn't drugged.
My thoughts turned to Liam. Was he looking for me? Did he even know where to start? And if he did find me, would he be walking into a trap?
The irony wasn't lost on me. After weeks of Liam suspecting me of being a threat to his pack, I had inadvertently led danger straight to them through my research. The very work I'd done to help Jackson could now be weaponized against all werewolves.
I had to escape. Had to warn Liam. But how?
The answer came from an unexpected source. Hours later, when Sophia returned for the tray, she found me slumped in the chair, apparently unconscious.
"Charlotte?" she called, approaching cautiously.
When she leaned over to check my pulse, I made my move. Using the one hand that was free, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.
"Listen to me," I whispered urgently. "I know you've been raised to believe werewolves are monsters, but they're not. What your grandfather is planning—it's genocide. Is that really what you want to be part of?"
She tried to pull away, but I held firm. "Let me go or I'll call the guards."
"If you were going to do that, you would have already," I said, recognizing the doubt in her eyes. "You're not like them, Sophia. I can see it."
She stared at me for a long moment. "What do you want from me?"
"Help me get a message to Liam. Tell him where I am."
