Claimed

Chapter 59: An Act

Sophia's POV:

Since I was five years old, I'd never spent more than a day away from Ezra. When I was in the cell, he fought tooth and nail against it so even if I didn't see him, I always heard him. Our family took him in when we found him, the seven-year-old boy left alone in the middle of a jungle. That was the first memory I had of our pack accepting outsiders, and I was too excited to stay away.

I snuck down to the infirmary in the middle of the night and peered at him through the open window. He wasn't in good shape. Nothing like the powerful man he was now. That little boy was a scrawny, dirty from head to toe little thing who didn't appear the least bit threatening.

"How much are you gonna pay me?" He asked.

"What?"

"My dad always said if people stare like you're a Broadway musical, then they better pay like they're at one."

"I don't have money."

"Then maybe you shouldn't be staring." He hopped off the bed and leaned over the window. "Who are you?"

"Sophia." I stood on my tip toes so I could rest my arms on the sill like he did. "Alpha's daughter. Who are you?"

"Ezra." He darted his eyes away, his next words a mumble. "Nobody's anything."

I tilted my head. "Where are your parents?"

"I don't know." He ruffled the shaggy mess of dark brown hair on his head. "They don't like me anymore."

I chewed my lip, hating the sad look in his eyes. "My dad doesn't like me either."

His gaze snapped to mine. "Why not?"

I shrugged. "Don't know. He only likes my brother. Why don't your parents like you anymore?"

He sighed, dropping his elbow on the windowsill. "I don't know. Something wrong with me, I guess."

I frowned. "I don't see anything wrong with you."

He almost smiled. "I don't see anything wrong with you, either."

"Well maybe our parents are just dumb."

He let out a breathy laugh. "Maybe they are."

"I eat candy when I'm sad," I said, tapping the windowsill. "You want some?"

"Can we get some right now?" He asked, gaze shifting to the moon high above of us in the night sky.

"We're not allowed. But that doesn't mean we can't."

His lips pulled up. "I think we're gonna be good friends, Sophia."

That was the start to a friendship that was unbreakable. We'd seen each other through every bad thing, got teased for being attached at the hip, were constantly accused of being more than friends but we weren't. Something about our souls connected on a level that transcended any normal relationships. I'd loved him like a brother, and now my heart was aching like I'd lost one.

In the span of two decades, I'd never spent more than a day away from him. In my cell, sure, but he was always close by. I could always feel him. And now, it'd been seven days.

Seven, agonizing days. No calls, no word, no hits anywhere despite multiple tracking spells and his picture being spread all over the place. He was like a ghost, and his absence left an unbearable weight in my chest. If it weren't for the tiny sliver of a connection I still felt with him, I would've been petrified I had to find his body just like I had to find Santi's.

Ben set his hand on my thigh and squeezed. I lifted my head from the cool car window so I could gaze at my mate. I set my hand on his, then laced our fingers together. Today wouldn't be easy for any of us, but Ben would feel the brunt of the pain.