We Meet
She smiled warmly. “The eyes are different, but everything else? It’s like looking in a mirror.”
I stood still for a moment, just watching her. My chest tightened. She was my half-sibling… my sister. Instead, Sofia stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
“Hi,” I said quietly, extending my hand for a handshake. “I’m Olivia.”
I looked back at her and furrowed my brow. “We’re family. Why are we supposed to hate each other?”
She was facing the window, her chin resting in one palm, her fingers idly stirring her drink as she stared outside. She looked troubled, like someone who had a lot of things weighing her down.
The bell above the door gave a soft chime as I stepped in, the warm scent of coffee and cinnamon hitting my nose. The few people inside turned briefly, their eyes widening when they saw me, but I barely noticed. I stayed still, listening.
Sofia chuckled softly. “Of course I did… and seeing you now… Goddess.”
Reaching her table, I paused, unsure of what to say. My heart thudded in my chest as I gave her a soft smile. And I needed to clear my head. Because I knew that face.
I hadn’t meant to come here, but my wolf had brought me… maybe she just needed space. Maybe I did too. I watched the blood drain from her face. Her hand froze mid-air. Her mouth parted, but no words came out.
Through the large glass window of the café, I saw someone sitting by herself, a tall glass of coffee in hand. My eyes widened. Warm. Tight. Familiar.
“But,” she sighed, “thank the Moon Goddess, I never did. I couldn’t bring myself to hate you. Not once. Not even when it would’ve made things easier.” I didn’t know what they saw when they looked at me.
When she pulled back, her eyes were glistening a little. She offered a small, shy smile. “I would’ve come to the Pack House to see you sooner, but… I knew Calvin wouldn’t let me past the gates.”
“It’s so great to finally meet you,” she whispered against my shoulder. Even from here, I would recognize her anywhere.
She shook her head, blinking rapidly. “No one wanted me here. I was groomed to hate you, Olivia. Everyone expected it…” I stared at her, my chest tightening. My gaze was locked on Sofia.
I nodded politely, offering a small smile as I walked past. I didn’t want respect… I didn’t want attention. I just needed air.
Eventually, I reached a quaint street with a few small shops–a bookstore, a flower stall, and a little café with a wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze. The smell of roasted beans and baked bread spilled out into the street, warm and comforting. She smiled weakly.
With no particular direction, I followed the winding path into the heart of the territory. Her eyes met mine again. Either way, I was here now. It was quiet. Peaceful. I hesitated only for a second before sliding into the chair.
Then she looked back at me, her expression sad. I blinked, still stunned by how open she was. “You… knew me?”
Sofia smiled faintly. “So yeah… seeing you here, sitting with me like this–it means more than you’ll ever know.”
“My mother performed the act that day,” Sofia continued, her voice low. “And me? I carry the consequences. I’ve spent my whole life being the product of a scandal no one wants to remember.”
Houses lined the path, some simple and modest, others larger and regal. Children ran across the yards, their laughter echoing faintly. I passed warriors in training gear, older omegas tending to gardens, and a pair of elders sitting beneath a tree, sipping tea and chatting like time didn’t exist. My heart ached at her words.
Her gaze dropped to her cup again. She traced the rim with her finger. “When they thought you were dead… everything got worse. The entire pack blamed my mother. Rumors spread fast. Everyone whispered it must’ve been her. That she must’ve been jealous her sister gave birth to the special one.”
I hadn’t really explored this pack. I’d been here for days, but always locked away in my room. I didn’t even know what the streets looked like or where they led. But still, they bowed. She hadn’t seen me yet.
Sofia slowly took a sip of her coffee before setting it down gently, her eyes drifting to the window for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts.
“Olivia…” she whispered. I was about to pass it when something caught my eye. I reached across the table and gently took her hand. They saw me. All of them. And as soon as they recognized who I was… they froze.
I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. I froze for a moment, caught off guard. Then slowly, I relaxed into her arms. My legs froze. I couldn’t move. I didn’t even know how I felt. This was the first time I was actually seeing her, and I had no idea what to do. Should I pretend I didn’t see her? Walk away? But I couldn’t. I’d always wanted to meet her. And now that I finally had the chance… I wasn’t going to waste it.
So, following my instinct, I walked toward the small coffee shop.
“Don’t mind them,” she said with a casual wave of her hand. “They’re probably shocked to see us sitting together when we were supposed to hate each other.”
Glancing around, I noticed a few people still staring, whispering. Sofia noticed too. She laughed, and it seemed genuine. “Come on, sit with me,” she said, motioning to the seat across from her. “I’d love to talk… and I have about a thousand questions.”
“I don’t care what happened,” I told her quietly. “You are my sister. And nothing will change that.”
Same cheekbones. Same nose. Same mouth. My heart dropped. We looked so much alike it was unreal. But to my surprise, she didn’t take it.
She paused, then added with a hollow chuckle, “And my father–our father–he never truly saw me. Not as a daughter. Not even as a person. To him, I was just… a mistake.”
She reached for her cup again, and maybe it was the clink of the spoon or the shift in the air, but she finally looked up–and our eyes met.
Olivia’s POV
I hugged my arms around myself, drawing in a shaky breath. It was Sofia, sitting casually at a corner table, as she sipped her drink, completely looking lost in thought. A real one. She recognized me instantly.
I stopped. She looked up at me again, her voice trembling. “And me? Every time I walked by, someone would say, ‘It should’ve been you. ‘We lost the wrong one.’ ‘If only Sofia had died instead.’” I stared back at her.
Surprise lit up their eyes. Some stood straighter. Others lowered their heads in respect.
“I didn’t have it easy growing up here, Olivia,” she said quietly.
I found myself standing outside the Nightshade Pack house, the cold breeze brushing against my face like a quiet slap. She studied me like she was taking in a long-lost reflection.
“Because how could I hate someone I never even got the chance to know? Someone who, by all rights, should’ve been my sister? Who is my sister.”
Her lips curved into a bitter smile, but her eyes held no humor. “My mother… she was your mother’s twin sister, and she betrayed her. Slept with her mate–our father. That’s how I happened. A child born out of betrayal, out of shame, so you can imagine what that did.”
So I started to walk. I smiled faintly. “Yeah… it’s a little creepy, honestly.” I gasped softly. “Sofia…”
I gave her a tentative smile and moved closer, while she stood up slowly, looking stunned, like she was staring at a ghost.
Only three things set us apart: her deep brown eyes, her long, silky black hair–the same color as my natural one (mine was blonde now), and then our age difference… she seemed to be older than me with a few years in between.
My vision blurred slightly as emotion crept up on me.
She took a breath. “You know… it wasn’t just about being the Alpha’s daughter. It was everything else. The way I came into this world.” It seemed she knew me too.