chapte 2

The black gates of the Hawthorne estate swung open, revealing a sprawling mansion that stretched across manicured grounds. Mia pressed her face against the car window, her eyes wide at the sight of marble fountains and perfectly trimmed hedges.

"Welcome home." Victor's voice carried a note of pride as the car rolled to a stop.

The front doors opened, and a line of staff members emerged to collect their bags. Mia clutched her backpack closer, not ready to let go of the few possessions she'd brought with her.

"Come." Sarah wrapped an arm around Mia's shoulders as they climbed the stone steps. "Let's get you settled."

The entrance hall soared three stories high, crystal chandeliers catching the late afternoon light. Mia's footsteps echoed against the marble floor, making her feel small and out of place.

"I know it's overwhelming." Sarah smoothed Mia's uneven hair. "But things will be different now. Once word gets out that you're Lord Hawthorne's stepdaughter-"

"Those children who hurt you will face consequences." Victor's cane struck the floor with quiet authority. "The Whitmore pack won't dare touch you again. Not when you're under my protection."

Mia's fingers traced the rough edges of her shortened hair. "Will it really make a difference?"

"More than you know." Sarah's eyes gleamed. "Lord Hawthorne's influence extends far beyond Silver Creek. Tarlose and his friends will regret ever laying a hand on you."

"Your mother's right." Victor gestured toward the grand staircase. "

Mia relaxed, her wolf finally settling down after hours of anxiety.

Victor gestured toward the sweeping staircase. "Third door on the right. Take your time to freshen up."

Mia climbed the stairs, her fingers trailing along the polished mahogany banister. The upstairs hallway stretched in both directions, lined with identical dark wood doors. She counted as she walked. One. Two.

A noise caught her attention - music drifting from somewhere further down the corridor. She hesitated, lost count, and pushed open what she thought was the third door.

The sight hit her like a physical blow. Tangled limbs. Bare skin. A flash of golden eyes meeting hers in the mirror. The scent of arousal and sweat filled her nostrils.

"What the hell?" A male voice growled.

Mia slammed the door shut, her heart thundering against her ribs. She stumbled backward, cheeks burning. Her wolf whined in confusion at the cocktail of pheromones still flooding her senses.

She fled down the stairs, taking them two at a time, nearly tripping over her own feet. The elegant entrance hall spun around her as she reached the bottom. Her mother's voice drifted from somewhere nearby, but Mia couldn't face anyone right now.

She ducked into the first room she saw - a study filled with leather-bound books. Pressing her forehead against the cool window glass, she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to erase the image branded into her mind. One of her future stepbrothers - she wasn't even sure which one - caught in an intimate moment with someone she hadn't gotten a clear look at.

Her enhanced hearing picked up movement upstairs - doors opening and closing, hushed voices. Heat crept up her neck again. How was she supposed to face any of them at dinner?

The study door creaked open. Mia spun around, her heart leaping into her throat as a tall figure entered. The fading sunlight caught his features - those familiar golden eyes, the sharp jawline. Her chest tightened.

"You!" Mia stumbled backward, knocking into a leather armchair. "What are you doing here Matthew?"

"I live here." His brow furrowed in confusion.

"Lord Hawthorne!" Mia's voice cracked. "He's the one. He helped Tarlose hurt me!"

Victor appeared in the doorway, his expression darkening. "Matthew r?"

"What? No, I've never-" Matthew held up his hands. "Father, I don't even know her."

"He's lying!" Sarah burst into the room, her face flushed. "That boy terrorized my daughter. He-" She choked back a sob. "He touched her inappropriately in the hallways."

"Mother, no!" Mia's protest died in her throat as Victor's cane cracked across Mattew's face.

Matthew crashed into the bookshelf, sending volumes tumbling to the floor. Blood trickled from his split lip.

"Father, please-" Mattew's words cut off as another blow landed across his ribs. He crumpled, gasping.

"How dare you dishonor this family?" Victor's voice was ice. The cane whistled through the air again.

Mia pressed herself against the window, her wolf howling in distress. This wasn't Matthew. The scent was different, the features subtly wrong. She'd made a terrible mistake, and her mother's lie had turned it into something much worse.

Matthew curled in on himself, protecting his vital organs as the blows continued to fall. His confused, pain-filled eyes met Mia's across the room.

The study door burst open, slamming against the wall. Zander rushed in, throwing himself between his father and brother.

"Stop!" Zander's chest heaved as he blocked another swing of the cane. "This is wrong - you've got the wrong person!"

"Stand aside." Victor's knuckles whitened around the cane's handle.

"No." Zander spread his arms wider, shielding Matthew who remained curled on the floor. "Look at them - really look. Mia's confused us. We're similar, but Zander's eyes are gold. Mine are green. I'm the one who-" He swallowed hard. "I'm the one who hurt her. With Tarlose."

Mia's breath caught as she studied them side by side. The same dark hair, the same height, but Zanders jawline cut sharper angles, and his eyes blazed emerald rather than amber. Her stomach twisted.

"I made a mistake," Mia whispered. "It wasn't him. I'm sorry."

Sarah's face was drained of color. "I thought- I was so sure-"

"Enough." Victor's voice cut through the tension. The cane lowered to his side, but his grip remained white-knuckled. "Mia will be your stepsister. I expect both of you to treat her accordingly."

Matthew's arms dropped slowly to his sides. Zander pushed himself to his feet, one arm wrapped around his ribs. Blood still trickled from his split lip.

The silence stretched thick and heavy between them all. Mia's wolf paced restlessly beneath her skin, overwhelmed by the cocktail of emotions flooding the room - anger, confusion, pain, shame.

"Welcome to the family." Matthew's quiet words dripped with bitter irony.

Zander said nothing, his gold eyes fixed on Mia with an unreadable expression as he dabbed at his bleeding lip with the back of his hand.