Chapter 3

Mia:

“Well, good morning.” Brenda said, seeing how I was still fumbling about in the kitchen as I proceeded with doing things that I should have gotten used to doing by now.

“Good morning, Brenda. And if you are here to remind me that I am late, I am already aware.” I muttered.

The morning light filtered through the cracked blinds, catching dust motes in the air as I scrambled to button my blouse with one hand and juggle a half-eaten piece of toast with the other.

Rosalyn was already whining about the juice box I forgot to pack. “Mommy!”

“Just give mommy five more seconds, baby,” I pleaded, spinning around in the cramped apartment as if I could magically make time stretch. I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror, tired eyes, loose ponytail, stress clinging to every line of my face, and grimaced. “I’ll get everything that you need. But mommy needs you to give her a moment.” 

So much for “glowing young mother.” I couldn’t even explain a small situation to my child.

“Juice, Mommy! I want juice please!” Rose demanded again, louder this time, tapping her foot like a tiny tyrant in pink overalls. My wolf growled low in my chest, frustrated, not at her, just at everything else that’s been trying to break me.

Brenda leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. She was already dressed for her own shift, but her gaze screamed one thing: judgment.

“I’m just saying,” she began, again, “you could’ve gotten something out of him. It would have helped you out, Mia. You don’t have to handle all of this on your own. And right now, it is very clear that you are not in the best shape to argue, Mia.”

I snapped the lunchbox shut. “We’re not having this conversation again, Brenda. We have been through this a hundred times, and I have no intention in having to deal with it again. And I have no intention in handling another headache this early in the morning. I already have enough on my mind.”

Brenda pushed off the wall, not backing down. “Mia, you’ve been scraping together three jobs, living like a ghost, and for what? Because of some werewolf pride? You let that man walk out on you after paying for…”

“Don’t.” I cut her off, sharply. “This isn’t about pride. This is about survival. He got what he wanted, and he believed that it was going to be a way out. He claimed that he wanted an easy exit.”

“Well, it takes two to create life, and he does not get an easy exit after contributing in making that life.” She said, making me frown.

“I made my choice, Brenda. And I am not going back from it.” I snapped, glaring at her before she could say another word.

“Mia…”

“I told you before…” I said, turning to face her so she could see my anger. “I’m not dragging my daughter into that world. Into his world. He chose his way, and I am not going to push her into a world like that one. She does not deserve that.”

Her jaw clenched, but she backed off, eyeing Rosalyn, who was now twirling with her backpack straps.

“She deserves a mother who can actually look at her without growing frustrated because she forgot the juice box, again.” She said, making me frown. “I know that this is hard for you to accept, but she doesn’t even know who he is,” Brenda said, softer now. “And he doesn’t know she exists. He could actually want to know that he has a daughter. Mind you, it would actually help you.”

“And that’s how it’s going to stay.” I snapped without truly intending to. “He paid to get an easy cut. And you know that he wouldn’t have wanted to hear about anything. He might have even asked for me to get it done with before it even happened. I wasn’t going to allow him to make that decision for me.”

If the Lockwoods ever found out about her... about me... and if he found out about her…

Brenda sighed, walking over to grab Rose’s hand. “I’ll pick her up from daycare today, don’t worry about fussing yourself about leaving early. You’ve got your interview, right?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, snatching my bag and smoothing my top, even though the fabric was already wrinkled. “I need this job. And I am going to get it.”

“You say that about every job.”

“No,” I said, meeting her gaze. “This one’s different. I feel it.”

Brenda gave me a once-over, then her lips curved before her eyes hardened as she looked at Rosalyn. “You’d better, because you’re running on fumes and caffeine. And if this proceeds, you are going to end up losing a lot more than you are going to be able to afford.”

Before I could reply, my phone vibrated with a notification. Another news headline. Another photo of him holding one of his children in his arms, his woman at his side…

Nathan Lockwood and fiancée spotted at charity gala… and with them attended their little twins… Arina and Jacob, seen for the first time since birth at two years old.

My stomach turned.

There he was. In a tailored suit. Smiling for the cameras like he didn’t have blood on his hands or a past that meant anything. Like I didn’t exist. A mate that he chose to simply ignore and rather than reject, he couldn’t care less.

Like she didn’t exist.

I turned the screen off.

“I’m fine,” I said before Brenda could ask. “I am going to go and get ready…”

Brenda kissed Rosalyn’s forehead, then gave me a look I’d come to know too well. You’re lying, but I won’t push. “Come on, little pup… let’s get you to your daycare before you’re late.”

“Bye, mama!” Rosalyn said excitedly.

“Bye, baby.” I said, smiling at my daughter. “Have a beautiful day, okay? And don’t give your teachers or Auntie Brenda a hard time today.”

“Break a leg, Mia.” Brenda said, nodding at me, her eyes meeting mine as she studied my expression, knowing well that I was trying to hide my pain. “And be sure to give me an update when you’re done.”

“Thanks.” I whispered, watching as they walked out.

I watched from the window as she walked Rosalyn out to the car, Rose bouncing along beside her with all the joy and trust of a child who didn’t know the world had already tried to break her mother.

And I wasn’t going to let it win.

Not now. Not after everything…