The Call

Sophia left the medical facility with a lightness in her chest. Perhaps it was because the issue of her hair and the binding to Victoria had been fully resolved that she felt lighter.

The morning air was crisp and cold, the snow crunching beneath her boots as she made her way through the compound. The pack was already awake and moving, the sounds of activity drifting through the air—the clang of hammers from the smithy, the distant shouts of warriors training, the low murmur of voices as people went about their duties.

She passed familiar faces, and they smiled at her as she walked by. Some nodded respectfully. Others simply watched her pass, their eyes lingering on her hair.

The white strands were more visible now. They caught the pale morning light, standing out against the black that still clung to the rest of her hair. It wasn’t much yet, but it was there.

Sophia touched a strand as she walked, a small smile tugging at her lips.

She made her way to Orion’s home first. The house was quiet when she entered, the familiar scent of him filling the space. She moved through the rooms, gathering clean clothes, then washed up quickly, the warm water soothing her tired muscles.

When she was done, she changed into fresh clothes and left the house.

—

The beauticians’ workshop was warm when she stepped inside. The familiar scent of oils and herbs filled the air, and the sound of soft laughter drifted from the back room.

Olga was the first to see her. Her face split into a wide grin, and she hurried forward.

“Sophia!” she exclaimed. “You’re here!”

The others turned at the sound of her voice, and soon Sophia was surrounded by smiling faces.

“We’re so glad you’re here,” one of them said.

“Madam Tyler told us everything,” another added.

Olga nodded eagerly. “She said all that’s left is just a simple washing. We can finally help.”

Sophia smiled at them. “Thank you. All of you.”

“Don’t thank us yet,” Olga said, already motioning for her to sit. “We haven’t done anything yet.”

Sophia laughed softly and settled into the chair.

The workers moved around her, their hands gentle and practiced. They worked with care, their movements precise, their voices soft as they chatted among themselves.

“Your hair is beautiful,” one of them said. “Even now, with the dye still clinging to it, we can see it.”

Sophia closed her eyes, letting herself relax as they worked.

“I’m glad we can finally help,” another said. “We were so sad we couldn’t do much at first. But now we see we have something to do.”

Olga hummed in agreement. “And we’re going to do it right.”

They washed her hair carefully, using products designed to remove the remaining dye. The water in the basin darkened as the black began to lift, and Sophia watched as more strands turned white.

When they finished, she looked in the mirror.

Her hair wasn’t completely white. There were still patches of black, stubborn remnants of what Victoria had done to her. But it was close. So close.

“It’s not extremely white,” Olga said, her voice thoughtful. “We suspect it’s what Victoria did that makes it so. But it’s almost back to its original colour.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“That’s enough,” Sophia said softly. “It’s more than enough.”

Olga beamed at her. “I’m so fucking happy, and it’s not even my hair.”

The others laughed, their voices bright and genuine.

“We’re happy too,” one of them said.

“The white suits you better,” another added. “It’s beautiful.”

Sophia’s throat tightened. “Thank you.”

“You’ll have to come back again,” Olga said. “Just until we get the black removed fully. But we’ll get there. We promise.”

Sophia nodded. “I know you will.”

She thanked them again, and they thanked her in return, their smiles wide and genuine.

—

After leaving the workshop, she went in search of Ronan. He was extremely busy since he was standing in for Orion now.

“I’m going to the shrine outside the pack,” she told him.

Ronan frowned at that. “What for?”

“I need to speak with the goddess. She said I could seek her out. And she said we would talk later. I think now is the time.”

Ronan was quiet for a moment, then he nodded slowly.

“I understand. But, sis, take a guard with you. Just in case.”

Sophia shook her head.

“I don’t need—”

“Take a guard,” Ronan repeated. “Please.”

Sophia paused and then nodded.

“Fine.” She turned to leave, but then she turned back again. “I know you already know this, but I’ll need some time, and I would like to not be disturbed. But if Orion wakes up… then forget I said anything about being disturbed.”

Ronan laughed at that.

“Duly noted, sis.”

Sophia smiled at him and then turned to leave.

She passed the training grounds on her way out of the compound. Another batch of warriors was training, their movements brutal and relentless. This time, Caspian was part of the trainers, and bad back or not, that man was brutal.

—

The shrine was quiet when she arrived. The guard Ronan had made sure to send with her followed, though he remained outside.

Sophia stepped inside the shrine, her boots echoing against the floor.

She walked to the altar and placed a hand on it.

The writings she had translated were still there, etched into the stone. The first time she had read them, she had wondered what they were. A prayer? A lament? A foretelling?

Now she knew.

They were all of them.

But she had not come for the writings. Not in the way she normally did.

She had come for the goddess.

She inhaled deeply, her hand still resting on the altar.

“You said I could seek you out,” she said softly. “You also said we would talk later.”

She paused, her voice growing firmer.

“I’m here now. I need to speak with you.”

Seconds turned into minutes, but still she was only met with silence.

Sophia waited, her heart beating steadily in her chest. She wondered if perhaps the goddess was unwilling to speak with her after all.

And then, suddenly, the sun shone brighter. The rays shining atop the altar seemed to brighten. It seemed as if time had stood still just as the rays took the shape of a woman she had now come to recognize…

Selene.

“Child,” she said softly.