Episode Three

Mira's POV

“Welcome back home, Miss,” the family butler, Mrs. Rowley said, her voice was cheerful and she stared at me dotingly, her eyes brimming.

Mrs. Rowley has been there since I was six. She was like the Mother I never had and I was sure she must have been worried when I left home two years ago.

My father, Drake Valentini, was the most influential Mafia of the Werewolf Council in the Southern Province. He was a man who controlled me—he controlled everything, down to my marriage and when he told me that I was going to marry someone I had never met before in my entire life, I ran. For the past two years, I had been on the run because they kept discovering my location and that was how I found myself in Kade's pack three months ago.

I stood in front of Mrs. Rowley, my eyes watering. “I'm sorry that I had to leave without telling you,” I muttered. “I was just so tired of everything.”

She pulled me into a tight embrace, her hand pressed the back of my hair. “It's fine, Mira. You are here now and that is what matters.”

We wept in each other's arms for a while before pulling back. My eyes swept over the staff that stood there with the heads lowered and they were all new faces.

I stared at the mansion. It was still grand and still beautiful as ever. And still cold. It has never felt like home.

Mrs. Rowley held my wrists. “Your father is waiting for you at the diner.”

I nodded, letting out a long exasperated sigh and I walked in, my heels hitting the floor sharply.

*********

The dining hall was oddly silent but I could hear the mocking snickers from my step-mother and sister but I ignored them anyway.

My mother died when I was two, so Father remarried a year later to Elara Woods, the daughter of SilverHowl Pack’s Beta—my Pack and she was my worst nightmare ever.

Father was seated at the head of the long table, his jaw was tight as he picked on his food. He has not said a word to me since I arrived and that left me worried.

“So, Mira,” Alina said coolly, her voice disgustingly sweet. “What was being on the run like? Were you able to ever sleep with your two eyes closed?” Her voice dripped with mockery. “And you must have had it worse. Look at your skin. So dull and dry.”

I dropped my fork. “Yeah, I had it rough but it was nothing compared to staying here with you and your mother. At least, not seeing your faces for two years made me get clarity of things.”

Anger flashed in Elara's eyes. “You bitch. How dare you talk—”

“Enough!” Father growled, his voice cut her off. In the past, he had always stood by and watched whenever they bullied me, I wonder what changed now.

She kept quiet, but her chest rose and fell.

Then Father turned towards me, his gaze was colder than I'd ever seen. “You left for two years, Mira. Two whole years.”

“I'm sorry, Dad,” I muttered, humiliation burning my cheeks.

“You even went as far as suppressing your wolf just so I couldn't find you.” His voice was broken and that was when I realised how pained he was. “Is that how much of a bad father that I am?” Yes, you are a bad father, but I choose not to answer. But it seems my absence had made him a totally different person. “All I wanted for you was the best—”

The sheer ringing of his phone cuts him off. His eyes narrowed before he took the phone from the table and walked away.

“You bitch!” Alina cursed, tearing through the garnished lamb in her plate with more force than necessary. “Why did you have to come back here? If you ever think of taking everything I have worked hard for in the past two years then you will have me to contend with.”

I did not answer her. Of course, she has always been insecure.

“Leave her, Alina,” Elara chipped in. “Your father knows better than to give her any place in the underworld. He won't forget all your efforts in securing those deals, especially the silver bullets deal you secured with the Bloodmoon Pack two weeks ago. Those were worth millions of dollars and—”

Father walked into the dining room and she quickly kept quiet. “That was Alder,” father stated.

My mouth fell open in disbelief and my fork hovered mid-air.

Of course, I have heard the name once. That was the man I was supposed to marry.

The ruthless Rogue biker Alpha.

I have heard tales about how he doesn't forgive nor forget his enemies.

How he ripped them apart with his bare hands.

It was one of the many reasons why I did not want to marry him then.

“Alder?!”

Father nodded. “Apparently, he heard about your return and he is still interested in marrying you.”

My breath seized in my lungs. How can this be? “Why? What?”

“Yes.” Father's jaw was tight, probably knowing I'd refuse. “And this time I told him that you are not interested—”

“I will marry him,” I said quietly.

Shocked gasps echoed through the room.

Father couldn't believe his ears. “You will marry him?!”

I'm not usually this compliant and I don't intend to be. But marrying him might be the best anyway. After all, I had finally found the mate that I desperately wanted to find, but what was the end of it? He said I wasn't worthy of him. He rejected me.

Oh… it just occurred to me now that we never rejected each other officially. It doesn't matter. I won't see him ever again anyways.

“But dad!” Alina spat. “I told you I love Alder. During our last business deal we connected so well.”

“But he wanted your sister!” Father snapped back. “Should I have forced his choices?”

Alina's lips trembled, anger flashing in her eyes. From across the table she grabbed my hand. “Mira… can you please reject him?” She pleaded, her voice desperate. “You never wanted him in the past anyways.”

I stared at her. She must love him a lot, doesn't she?

In the past, she had always been a thorn in my flesh, always taking everything I wanted and now, it's time to show her what I was capable of.

I needed this marriage—to get Kade out of my mind and also to hurt my dearest sister. Two birds. One stone.

I withdrew my hand away from her and stood. I faced my dad. “Tell him that I want to meet him tonight to discuss our marriage plans.”

Alina sprang up to her, and ran out of the dinning, bawling her eyes out. Elara stood, eyed me down and trailed behind her daughter.

“What happened to you out there, Mira?” Father asked quietly, his eyes soft with concern. “Your eyes seemed cold, and lifeless.”

“Nothing happened Dad. Just events that made me stronger and wiser.” I turned away. “I will go get dressed to meet him.” With that I walked away.

*************

In the five star restaurant—Emperior Wolves—I sat by the side of the floor-to-ceiling window, the kingdom’s lights sprawling below. The restaurant was filled with chatter, laughter and the smell of delicious meals was thick in the air.

A strange wave of nausea rolled through my stomach. Maybe I hadn’t eaten. Maybe I was stressed from everything happening. But it felt… different. Wrong in a way that sets my nerves up.

I sighed in frustration as I stared at the golden wristwatch slung around my wrists.

Alder… he was running late. This was the first time I was meeting him and he already started off with a bad impression.

Just then, someone sat in the chair across from me. “Sorry I was late,” he said, the voice was like velvet, familiar too. He was removing his dark gloves. “I had to sort out one of this motorbike club that won't learn that I'm the big boss.” His voice brimmed with pride.

I stared up at him and the whole world froze.

My wolf stirred even though it has been surpressed—confused, startled, almost breathless. He smelled like Kade. He moved like Kade. But darker. Sharper. More dangerous.

My eyes darted around the restaurant to be sure I did not somehow find a way to the Moon riders club because of how much I missed him. But no… I was still in the restaurant.

My lips trembled. “Ka-de.”

“No,” he said, anger flashing in his eyes as if the mere mention of the name made his skin crawl. “I'm Alder. His twin brother.”