Mia's POVI opened my eyes slowly, my body still weak, but my mind racing with the realization that they were here. My stepbrothers had come for me, and the thought of what they might do sent a wave of panic through me. I could hear the muffled sounds of their raised voices outside the room, growing louder with each passing moment.My heart pounded as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the sharp sting of the IV pulling at my arm. I winced but didn’t stop, gripping the tubing and yanking it free. Blood welled up at the small puncture site, but I ignored it, my only thought being to get out before this turned into something worse.I knew Nathan. I knew how far he would go to prove a point, and with Tristan standing in their way, this could end in violence—maybe even a full-blown pack war. I couldn’t let that happen.The door creaked open, and I froze, caught halfway between the bed and the door. Nathan leaned against the doorframe, his smirk as sharp as ever.“Running away again?”
Mia's POVI took the chance; and quickly open the car door. I ran toward him, my legs moving faster than I thought possible. His arms opened wide, and I stumbled into his strong embrace, the tension in my body easing just slightly. He pulled back to examine me, his sharp eyes scanning my face, lingering on the bruise forming on my temple and the dried blood near my hairline.“You’re hurt,” he said, his gaze hardening as he looked past me toward my stepbrothers.“I’ll be fine,” I whispered.Diego’s expression softened, and he placed a hand gently on my shoulder. “You don’t need to cry anymore, Mia. I know what they’ve done to you. Everything.”The weight of his words hit me like a tidal wave, and the tears I had been holding back spilled over. “You know?” I managed to say.He nodded. “I’ve been hearing whispers about their behavior, but I didn’t act fast enough. For that, I owe you an apology.” His hand tightened slightly on my shoulder, his expression filled with regret. “You’re my re
MIA’S POVI was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at Tristan and Alpha Diego, utterly lost. My mind couldn’t grasp what was happening. Tristan and Diego in the same room, standing side by side, without the tension of enemies ready to attack? It didn’t make sense.“I don’t understand,” I said, my voice breaking the heavy silence. “Tristan, why are you here? And why did Diego let you in? Aren’t you supposed to be rivals?”Tristan folded his arms, glancing at Diego before responding. “Not everything is as simple as it seems, Mia. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but sometimes, alliances are necessary.”“Tristan came as a friend today,” Diego explained, standing tall near the door. “I allowed him here because we have other business to discuss.”I frowned, trying to make sense of their words. “Other business? What kind of business?”Diego shifted his weight, his gaze softening slightly. “That’s not something you need to worry about. Right now, you need rest and time to heal
Mia's POVThe darkness felt alive, pressing in on me from all sides. I didn’t realize at first that the room Sean had locked me in was soundproof. My screams, my pounding on the thick door—they weren’t reaching anyone.“Please, let me out! I’ll do whatever you want, just take me out of here!” I begged, my voice hoarse as I yelled again and again.Nothing.I banged my fists against the door, the sound echoing only in my own ears. My palms stung, and the sharp pain spread through my hands until they burned red. Tears streaked down my face, hot and endless.“I hate you,” I whispered into the void, my voice shaking. I hated Sean, hated my brothers, hated the entire situation. But most of all, I hated how helpless I felt.It hit me then—he had taken me to this room on purpose. He wanted me to feel this helpless. My heart pounded as I turned and slid down the wall, curling into myself as I whispered broken pleas into the void.“Just once. Have mercy on me. Please…”No one came.The hours dr
XAVIER’S POVI carried Mia’s lifeless body into the bedroom, her small frame limp in my arms. My heart pounded as I laid her down on the bed, her pale face haunting me. Her breathing was shallow, her skin clammy, and I didn’t know if she’d survive the night.I grabbed my phone and called the pack doctor, my voice steady as I gave him the details. It didn’t matter why I was doing this, I told myself. This wasn’t concern or care—it was damage control. She couldn’t just die, not like this. Not when it wasn’t on our terms.“How miserable she is looking,” I muttered to myself, pacing the room as I waited for the doctor to arrive.The moment the doctor entered, he rushed to her side. He examined her quickly, his experienced hands moving over her fragile body with precision. “She’s weak, and her body is in shock. The fear and trauma have pushed her into a comatose state. She’ll need time to recover.”“How long?” I demanded, watching him place an oxygen mask over her face.“It could be days.
Mia's POVThe darkness that consumed me in my coma wasn’t empty. It was vivid, filled with strange sensations and a voice I couldn’t place. I was running through a forest, the trees towering high above, their branches forming a canopy that filtered the moonlight into soft streaks. I felt powerful, fast, like I was more than just myself.Then, from the shadows, a wolf emerged—huge, majestic, its fur as white as freshly fallen snow. Its piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and I froze."Who are you?" I asked, my voice echoing through the silent forest.The wolf stepped closer, its presence commanding but not threatening. “I am Ima,” it replied, its voice strong and feminine, resonating in my mind. “Your wolf. Your strength. And it’s about time we met.”I blinked, my breath hitching. “This isn’t real,” I muttered, shaking my head. “This has to be a dream.”Ima huffed, her piercing eyes narrowing. “This is very real, Mia. You’ve ignored your instincts for far too long, and it’s time you s
Mia's POVThe whispers around me were deafening as Tristan guided me down the hallway, his presence commanding enough to part the sea of students. Some murmured insults under their breath, others whispered enviously.“Did you see that? She’s with Tristan.”“Why would someone like him care about her?”I tried to block it all out, focusing instead on the warmth of his hand on my back as he led me toward the school’s main entrance. My heart was still racing from the encounter with Aria and her gang, but Tristan’s presence had a way of grounding me.“Are you okay?” he asked once we reached his car.I nodded, though my mind was still a whirlwind of emotions. “Thank you… for stepping in.”“Don’t thank me,” he said, opening the passenger door for me. “You didn’t need saving. You handled them well on your own.”I climbed into the car, his words replaying in my head as he shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side. He slid in, starting the engine, and the low hum of the car filled th
MIA’S POVThe car rolled to a stop in front of the house, and Tristan turned to me with a small smile. “I’ll pick you up tonight for the party. Be ready.”I nodded, my heart fluttering at the thought of the evening ahead. The idea of finally stepping out of the shadows, dressed in something beautiful, made me feel a spark of excitement I hadn’t felt in years.“Thank you for everything,” I said before stepping out of the car.“Don’t thank me yet,” Tristan replied with a wink before driving off.I hurried inside, clutching the bag that held the midnight blue dress. My mind was already racing as I thought about how I’d style my hair, what shoes I’d wear, and how I’d manage to survive a room full of people without falling apart.When I reached my room, I tossed the bag onto my bed and pulled out the dress. Holding it against my body in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile. It was perfect. I hung it carefully on the wardrobe door and turned to grab some casual clothes to wear for the rest
Mia's POVThe world was white and quiet.A soft beeping, the faint scent of antiseptic, and the heaviness of my body all told me one thing—I was in a hospital. My thoughts swam lazily through a fog, struggling to piece together how I'd gotten here.The last thing I remember was... pain. So much pain. And their faces, watching me fall.I blinked open my eyes slowly, wincing at the harsh fluorescent light. My body felt like it had been run over by a truck, every muscle protesting as I tried to shift position."Mia!" Daisy's voice broke into my haze, and before I knew it, she was gripping my hand, her eyes wide with worry. "Oh, thank the Goddess, you're awake."I tried to speak but choked on the dryness in my throat. My tongue felt like sandpaper against the roof of my mouth, and panic flashed through me as memories started flooding back."The… baby?" I whispered, barely getting the words out. Please, please let my baby be okay.She sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a few strands of h
Mia's POVI drifted back to consciousness slowly, like swimming up from deep water. The first thing I registered was the softness beneath me and a scent I knew intimately—cedarwood and mint. My eyes flew open as my heart skipped painfully.This is my old room. Our room. How did I get here?Confusion flooded through me as I took in the familiar surroundings—the pale blue walls, my favorite quilt folded at the foot of the bed, my dog-eared books still lined up on the shelf. Nothing had changed, yet everything had.Did they bring me back here? Why would they do that after everything that happened?My hand moved instinctively to my stomach, fingers spreading protectively over the tiny life growing within me. The memories of what happened before I passed out came rushing back—the cruel laughter, the humiliation, the feeling of my knees against the hard floor as they forced me to crawl.My baby felt that. All that stress, that fear. I should have been stronger.I sat up carefully, wincing a
MIA’S POV"Why are you here?" Sean asked.His voice cut through me like he was addressing a stranger who'd wandered in off the street. Not the woman he'd held in his arms countless nights. Not the woman he'd whispered promises to in the dark.How can he look at me that way? Like I'm nothing to him? The music died suddenly. Everyone turned to stare, drinks paused midway to lips, conversations hanging unfinished in the air. I felt their eyes crawling over me—soaking wet from the rain, hair plastered to my face, chest heaving with each ragged breath."You're seriously asking me that?" My voice came out stronger than I felt. I took a step forward, then another. "Are you all completely insane? Your father just died, and you're throwing a damn party like nothing happened?"They should be grieving. We all should be. Instead, they're celebrating while I'm carrying their child alone.A few guests shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances. Others watched with barely concealed interest, like th
Mia's POVRain hammered against my skin, each droplet another reminder of how completely alone I was. I hugged my knees tighter to my chest, the sodden grass beneath me had long since soaked through my jeans. My gaze remained fixed on the pack house gates, watching, waiting, hoping against hope that someone—anyone—would emerge and tell me this was all some cruel misunderstanding.No one came.Minutes stretched into hours. The darkness deepened around me, but nothing compared to the void growing inside my chest. I couldn't stop replaying their words in my head, those sweet promises that had once meant everything:"You're safe with us, Mia.""We'll protect you with our lives.""You're our mate—our forever."The memory of their voices twisted the knife deeper. How easily they'd cast me aside, as if those vows had been nothing but convenient lies. As if I had been nothing.When the first light of dawn broke through the clouds, something inside me finally broke too. My body protested as I
Mia's POVQuiet spread over my skin like winter cold, each moment that passed without them touching me making me colder than before. After being together, it should have felt warm—it always did before—but something had changed. The air in the room felt wrong. Heavy. Final.My body still felt the touch of their hands, my skin marked with signs of what we'd just shared. Sweat cooling on my skin. Hair messy from their hold. The familiar ache between my legs that usually made me feel good now left me empty.I waited for what always came next. Sean's rough hands moving over my hip, his touch both owning and soft. Rolex pushing hair behind my ear, whispering dirty promises about next time. Xavier's rough lips pressing against my head, his voice a deep "Good girl" that always made me feel like I belonged.Instead, they stood up. Put their clothes on. And walked away.The bed moved as Nathan got up last, his warmth leaving me. I reached for him without thinking, my fingers touching his wrist.
Mia’s POVI didn't even recognize myself anymore. The walls that once held laughter and warmth were nothing but cold reminders of what I had lost. And still… I stayed. Even after everything. Even after they humiliated me. Ignored me. Disrespected me.Three percent. That's all I am now. Three percent of the woman I used to be. Three percent courage. Three percent hope. Three percent fool.Because maybe if I loved them harder, Maybe if I gave them everything, They would remember that I was once their everything too.I cooked their favorite dishes—like muscle memory, chopping, seasoning, stirring with trembling hands. The scent filled the kitchen, nostalgic and painful all at once.Two and a half percent now. Fading with every dish they won't eat. Every effort they won't see.The table was set perfectly, candles lit just like before. I'd spent hours making Xavier's favorite lasagna with the extra cheese he always requested. Nathan's garlic bread, crisp and golden. Sean's whiskey-glazed s
MIA'S POV"How could you?" I screamed, voice shaking as I stared at the man who raised me, the man I once trusted more than anything.My father didn't even flinch. He sat there behind his desk, the same way he always did—calm, detached, untouchable.I'm down to just fragments of myself now. Three percent. That's all that's left of who I used to be."Answer me!" I cried, fists balled at my sides. "How could you kill Alpha Diego? How could you ruin everything I had left?!"His expression didn't waver. Not once."He deserved it," he said bluntly, voice like ice. "For stealing my wife, your mother, and for everything else he took from me."The room spun. My stomach twisted in knots so tight I thought I might collapse.Three percent of my heart still beating. Three percent of my soul still fighting. That's all I am now.I stumbled back a step, clutching the edge of the desk like it might hold me together."He's dead because you couldn't let go of your fucking pride?" I hissed. "You destroy
Mia's POVThe audacity. The fucking audacity.I was still adjusting the silver trim of my dress in the mirror when I heard raised voices from downstairs—feminine, dramatic, and laced with just the right amount of venom that made my claws itch. Something in my chest tightened immediately. That particular tone, that specific cadence—it triggered memories I'd tried to bury.As I stepped down the stairs, my stomach dropped.Laura and Scarlett.Oh, hell no.Of all the days, of all the moments they could reappear in my life, they choose now? When I'm already raw with grief? My long-lost, karma-dodging cousins stood front and center like it wasn't them who once nearly got me killed. Like it wasn't them who orchestrated one of the most brutal betrayals of my life. Like they weren't the reason I was kicked out, broken, hated, and alone—until the truth came out and I crawled my way back from the ashes.And now? Now they had the nerve to show up at Alpha Diego's funeral and pretend they belonged
MIA'S POVThe news of Alpha Diego's passing hit me like a physical blow. Standing in Xavier's apartment, watching his strong facade crumble as he received the call, I felt my own heart breaking twice over—once for the man who had shown me kindness when I needed it most, and once for the pain etched across Xavier's face."I'm so sorry," I whispered, wrapping my arms around him as his broad shoulders trembled beneath my touch. His scent, usually warm and comforting, was now tinged with the sharp bite of grief.Xavier pulled away first, his eyes red-rimmed but determined. "We need to go. The others are already at the pack house."I nodded, rushing to dress appropriately. Black dress, simple jewelry—nothing flashy for a day meant for mourning. My fingers fumbled with the zipper, my mind racing with memories of Alpha Diego's hearty laugh, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. The way he'd welcomed me despite everything.The drive to the pack territory stretched endlessly