Chapter 05

TIA POV

“Good morning, birthday girl.” Beta Miles' voice sang when I entered the shared kitchen on the Alpha floor.

He was far too cheerful this early morning, so I shot him a glare and poured myself a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, taking a sip and leaning my back against the counter edge.

“Uh— they already ate and headed out for the day.”

I looked at the time on my phone. “They already left? It’s a little early for them, isn’t it?” I knew he was hiding something.

I watched as Beta Miles rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and looked around. “Look, Tee—”

I raised my hand and stopped him before he could continue. “What is wrong with me now, Miles?”

I could see he didn’t want to have the conversation with me. I liked Miles. Despite everything he had been told or witnessed about how I was with others, he was always nice to me. I was known as the Ice Queen for a reason. No one got close. Ever.

With a sigh, Miles offered a small smile. “I can’t say for sure, but they discussed how they would let the Ravens' Peak pack know that you didn’t shift into your wolf yet. They seemed to be concerned that the pack might cancel the arrangement between you and Delta Allan Price. I'm pretty sure your father and Simon are in the office trying to smooth things over on the phone. Your mother and Hilary were stressed, so they went out for some therapy shopping.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. They were too predictable, but it worked in my favour. I didn't want to get married, and I knew that pretending to be wolfless was our best chance of that. I took another sip of my coffee.

“Did you make this?” I asked, breaking the silence between us.

I watched Miles' face transform from a concerned furrow to a proud smirk. “Sure did. You know, only you and Sarah appreciate my fine java expertise.”

I laughed. Not the cold and calculated one I’ve practiced for years, that I offer everyone else. No, it was a genuine laugh. It earned me a big, accomplished smile in return. Miles was a fierce Alpha male wolf, but his goofball side was adorable. It confused me how he and my sister were true mates. It made no sense. Then again, who was I to question the divine powers of the Goddess? I read hundreds of testaments and ancient texts, and they all claim that mate bonds are about balance. Everything was about balance, but your true mate was your soul's counter-balance. You learn and grow from one another.

I genuinely hoped that Hilary learned from Miles, not vice versa. I would hate for him to lose this playful demeanour. He was the only thing I enjoyed about my sister's visits. I kept my affection buried, but I cared deeply for the man before me.

“Do you think he’ll call it off now that I have no wolf?” I finally asked, turning the relaxed energy back to a serious tone.

“I’m not sure. I don’t see why it should matter. My favourite aunt is wolfless, as is her youngest son. It doesn’t make either one of them weak. Did you know there have been discussions about the wolfless becoming enhanced despite the lack of shifting abilities if their true mate marks them?” I knew what Miles was trying to do, but it was unnecessary. I didn’t want to be married off, anyway. If Delta Allan Price called it off, I would be secretly overjoyed. I didn't need my feelings coddled; I wasn't sad, but I couldn't tell Miles that. Not yet.

“We both know that the Delta of Ravens' Peak pack is not my true mate.”

Miles nods in quite agreement.

I finished my cup of coffee, and it was too good not to pour another. Miles really does make the best morning brew.

“When do you guys leave?” I asked the question I have been dreading the answer to.

“This afternoon. Ty wants to get back as soon as possible to be with Sarah. But, Hilary asked to stay for a few more days. She misses your mother.”

Of course she did, I thought bitterly to myself. Goddess forbid I get some peace and quiet away from her antagonizing snippets. Everything Hilary did always held a patronizing undertone. She enjoyed undermining me with the omegas, which meant I had to become more demanding to be taken seriously by them all. It only reinforced the Ice Queen persona for the world. I stopped caring a long time ago.

“Sorry, Tee.” Miles pulled me into a big, warm hug, and I melted into his chest. I buried my emotions deep down, as I often did. “I meant to tell you last night that you looked stunningly beautiful in that dress, but you slipped away. Baby blue has always been your colour. If I had known, I would never have worn the silver accents on my suit.” I offered Miles a genuine smile. He was the only person to tell me I looked beautiful in my dress, and although it shouldn’t matter, it warmed me.

“Thank you, Miles.” I looked up at him while pulling away from his body. I focused my attention on rinsing my mug before leaving. “I am going to miss you when you guys leave.”

“You too, Tee.” he pinched my chin playfully, before breaking into a big laugh at my scrunched expression and displeasure. “You know you can always call us. You'd best call Sarah this week. She’ll be ravenous if you don’t. She beats us, you know. Absolute tyrant, that one.”

Again, laughter flowed. I both loved and hated how Miles forced my crack in my icy demeanour with his silliness. Sarah was the gentlest Luna I’d ever met; he was ridiculous with his elaborate stories of abuse.

One more quick hug, and I left Miles to head back into my wing of the Alpha floor. He went to find where Alpha Tyson was hiding—most likely the training grounds. That man loved to test his strength in warrior combat whenever he would visit.