Bad Husband novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Third Person POV

Afternoon sunlight sliced through Blackwood Manor’s ancient windows, painting the kitchen floor with golden puddles. Sophia stabbed a blusherry with her fork, barely tasting it as she drifted miles away in thought. The place had been dead quiet lately–ever since that freaky catalyst accident put Luces in the medical wing. Silver lining: she and Jackson got more alone time, tucked away from Shadow Creek’s gossip mill.

A burst of laughter ricocheted down the hallway, jerking Sophia from her thoughts. Her fork clattered against the bowl. That voice… no fucking way.

Her wolf reared up instantly, claws prickling beneath her skin like tiny needles. Another peal of laughter mingled with Lucas’s high–pitched giggle. Sophia abandoned her half–eaten breakfast and crept toward the living room, every muscle coiled tight.

–and then WHAM! Face–planted with his tail still half–stuck in his pants!” Lucas’s voice drifted through the door, bubbling with excitement.

“Ha! Should’ve seen my first shift,” a painfully familiar female voice answered. “Picture that, but with me tangled in my own clothes, howling the wrong signal. Total disaster.

Sophia shoved the door open, and the scene sucker–punched her right in the gut. Ava Rivers–that traitor’s brat she’d schemed so carefully to drive out sprawled on the sofa with Lucas practically in her lap, some dusty old shifting manual open between them. And there sat her father, lounging in his favorite armchair, watching them with this soft, dopey expression she’d almost never seen before.

They looked like some picture–perfect family pulled straight from a pack brochure.

Heat surged through Sophia’s veins, her eyes shifting without permission, blue bleeding into dangerous gold around the edges. Ava shouldn’t be here. She’d made damn sure of it. She’d swapped that catalyst with her own hands specifically to get Ava banished, to keep her claws out of Jackson for good.

Yet here she was, looking more at home than ever, like she fucking belonged.

Ava spotted her first, her easy smile freezing mid–laugh. “Oh… hey, Sophia.”

Blake and Lucas turned in unison. Lucas’s eyes went wide, fidgeting with the book’s corner, while Blake’s forehead creased, instantly tuning into his daughter’s turmoil.

“Something wrong, Soph?” Blake asked, his voice casual but with that edge that screamed ‘tread carefully.‘

Sophia plastered on a smile so fake it nearly cracked her face. “Dad, got a sec?” She jerked her head toward the hall. “Just need to ask you something. Real quick.”

Without waiting, she spun around and marched out, flexing her fingers to keep her claws from fully extending. She could feel her heartbeat hammering in her throat, threatening to choke her with rage.

The door clicked shut behind her as Blake slipped into the hallway. He propped himself against the wall, arms crossed, waiting her out. Sophia paced back and forth, counting breaths like her mom taught her, fighting the wolf that wanted to howl its betrayal.

Blake finally broke the silence with a sigh. “Alright, what’s the meltdown about?”

Sophia whirled around, her eyes flashing gold. “Seriously? You’re letting that–that psycho back into our home?” She jabbed a finger toward the living room. “After what she did to Lucas?”

“Sophia- Blake started, but she was on a roll.

‘She nearly killed him!” Her voice went shrill. “My baby brother was bleeding from his freaking eyes because she screwed up!” She slapped the wall, leaving ‘pha King? The big protector? tiny claw marks in the expensive wallpaper. “What kind of father lets that slide? Aren’t you supposed to be the all–pow Where was that when Lucas-”

“Enough.” Blake didn’t raise his voice, but something shifted in the air–Alpha energy pressing down, making the hallway feel suddenly too small, too tight,

too hard to breathe in.

Sophia’s teeth clenched as she fought her body’s instinct to submit. She lifted her chin, defiant.

1/2

Chapter 158

Blake’s jaw twitched. “You gonna let me get a word in, or should I just wait till you run out of oxygen?”

She crossed her arms, glaring, but shut up.

“Ava Rivers, Blake said, each word precise and deliberate, ‘didn’t do a damn thing wrong.”

The words hit Sophia like a phys

She stumbled back a step, her wolf retreating in confusion. “What… what are you talking about?

*Someone switched the catalyst,” Blake said, eyes never leaving hers. “Not Ava. A warrior came forward, confessed the whole thing. He raked a hand through his hair. “Said she thought she’d play hero when Lucas started shifting wrong. Figured it’d earn her some points.”

The blood drained from Sophia’s face so fast she felt dizzy. This couldn’t be happening. No one knew the truth. She’d switched that catalyst herself, made sure the training yard was empty, no security cams, no scent markers. She’d been careful–so fucking careful,

A warrior confessed?” she whispered, barely able to force the words ou

“Yep.” Blake’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Already handled it. Pack banishment. She’ll spend the rest of her life as a rogue, if she survives. He shrugged one shoulder. “Price of nearly killing my son.”

Sophia’s mind raced, pieces not fitting together. Why would someone take the fall for something they hadn’t done? To protect Ava? Or… her? Did someone know? Had she slipped up somehow? Left a trace of herself on the vial?

Her stomach churned with a toxic blend of fear and jealousy. If some random warrior was willing to throw away her entire life for Rivers… what made that Shadow Creek nobody so special? Special enough for a stranger to sacrifice everything? Special enough to make her father smile like he hadn’t since Mom died? Special enough that Jackson still whispered Ava’s name in his sleep?

‘Ava’s back as Lucas’s trainer, Blake’s voice cut through her spiral. “That’s not up for debate.” His eyes hardened slightly. I get you’re protective of your brother. I respect that. But back off Ava, hear me?”

Sophia’s nails bit crescents into her palms. “Whatever,” she muttered, because what else could she say?

Blake’s posture relaxed as he pulled her into a quick, awkward hug. “You hanging with Jackson tonight?”

“Yeah, probably staying over.” Sophia seized the change of subject, already plotting how to keep Jackson from discovering Ava’s return.

“Don’t forget,” Blake tapped her shoulder, “Northern Lights crew rolls in tomorrow. They’re taking over the east wing, so I need you on your best behavior.”

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