Alpha Diego led me up the grand staircase, his steps light but steady. When we got to the second floor, he smiled at me and pointed to the long hallway with doors.
“This is your room, Mia.” The room was big, with a big bed, soft lighting, and fancy decorations when he opened a door. Even though it looked cozy, there was a feeling of nothingness about it. “Your room will be next to your brothers’.Don’t be afraid to ask them for help if you need it.”
I paused before going inside and taking a look around. My fingers were twitching uncomfortably at the bottom of my sweater. “Alpha, I don’t think they’ll want to help me…”
“Call me Dad.”
“Dad,” I said awkwardly, and continue, “It looks like they hate me already.”
He put a soft hand on my shoulder and replied me, “They’re just mad right now.It’s been hard for them to get used to it. As Alphas, they will protect you once they get to know you. That’s how they are.”
Even though I wasn’t sure, I nodded. “I hope you’re right.”
Right on time, the door to my room flew open, and a man slammed in. His presence was so strong that it was overwhelming. My heart was beating fast as I gasped. He was big and tall, and his shirt was wet with sweat. His hands were full of blood. The pain and anger in his eyes were crazy, and his jaw was locked tight.
“Nathan!” His voice, which was a mix of worry and frustration, broke through the stress.
“Dad!” He yelled, and his voice shook the walls. “What the hell is going on?”
Alpha Diego stepped forward and said, “Nathan.” He had a worried look on his face. “What happened to you? Are you hurt?”
“Don’t!” Alpha Diego reached out and Nathan growled and pulled Nathan’s arm away. “Don’t act like you care! Every promise you made to us has already been broken!” He looked at me with a hateful look in his eyes. “Now you’re bringing her here? Who is the daughter of that woman who messed up our lives?”
Feeling like I had been slapped, I gasped. His words were poisonous, and each one hurt more than the last.
Alpha Diego said strongly, “Nathan, listen to me.” He was trying to stay calm. Lily and I agreed that I would look after Mia. The past doesn’t affect her.
“Fuck off!” Nathan yelled and walked up to his dad. “You said you wouldn’t talk about that woman again! You swore that we would never have to deal with her or anything related to her!”
Alpha Diego begged Nathan to slow down, his voice steady but stressed. “She’s not to blame.”
“I don’t care!” Nathan yelled at me and pointed. “She is not welcome in this family. This is not where she belongs. Like her mother, she’s a piece of trash!”
“Nathan!” The voice of Alpha Diego was now sharp and authoritative, making even Nathan stop and think. “Enough! You will be kind to Mia because she is your sister.”
Nathan was so mad that his chest hurt, and blood was dripping from his tightened hands onto the clean carpet. Before he could answer, two more people walked through the opening.
“Hey, why are you yelling?” Rolex walked in without a fuss, his two-toned hair a mess and a smile on his face. “Looks like the old man brought home a surprise.” When his eyes fell on me, the smile got wider and he winked at me. “All right, all right. Who is this? Who is Dad’s new girlfriend?”
I backed away, and the heat in my face rose. “I—”
“Shut up, Rolex,” Sean said in a low voice as he walked into the room. The glasses were on his nose, and his curly black hair fell over his face. “Look, she’s just a kid,” he said.
Nathan glared at me and growled, “Kid or not, she’s trouble.She’s not welcome here either.”
Sean looked at me, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Oh, so you’re the daughter of the woman who hurt our family?” It was not a question; it was a statement that was cold and had no feeling to it.
“Enough!” Alpha Diego’s voice broke through the anxiety; it was strong and in charge. “Listen up everyone.”
When his brothers looked at him, the anger in the room was so strong that you could cut it with a knife.
Alpha Diego looked at each of his boys and said, “Mia is your sister, and you will respect her.” His voice was strong and steady. “Nathan, the boxer, you’ll soon be the West’s Alpha King. Protect the people you’re responsible for, and that includes Mia.”
Nathan locked his hands together and tightened his jaw, but he didn’t say anything.
When Alpha Diego turned to look at the oldest, who was leaning against the back of the couch, his eyes got narrow. They look up to you as the oldest because you’re a good example. It’s meant for you to be the Alpha King of the East. “Not just them, but everyone in the pack needs to see how you act.”
Xavier’s face couldn’t be read, but there was a flash of feeling in his eyes that he quickly covered up.
He called out to the person with the two-toned hair, “Rolex.” The person was smiling and watching everything. “You’re a businessman and the next person standing for the North. Even though you’re in charge of our family business, you still have to do what you need to do as an Alpha. Show us that you can look out for what’s ours, even your sister.”
Rolex raised an eyebrow, showing that it wasn’t sure, but it still nodded.
Alpha Diego looked to the youngest, who was standing quietly in the corner, and said, “And Sean.” His eyes softened as he did this. “You will be the Alpha King of the South and the doctor for our pack. You play a very important part in both the health and unity of the pack. You need to help these wounds get better, even the ones that can’t be seen.”
Sean moved around awkwardly and adjusted his glasses, but he didn’t say anything.
Alpha Diego took a big breath and looked over his boys one last time before focusing on me. “You are all responsible for this family, not just your pack.And Mia is part of that. She’s now one of us, whether you like it or not. You need to start acting like it now.”
The room went quiet. Nathan glared at the ground and clenched his teeth so hard I thought they would break. Rolex crossed his arms and smiled, but he didn’t say anything. Sean moved his glasses around and looked at me for a moment before turning away.
“Fine,” Nathan whispered, through clenched teeth. “But don’t think I’ll treat her like family.”
Alpha Diego let out a sigh and nodded. “That’s a start. But don’t get it wrong—anyone who treats her badly will have to answer to me.”
He looked at me and his face became softer. “Mia, I’m sorry about everything.I understand it’s not simple.”
Even though my heart hurt, I forced a smile. “It’s okay.I get it.”
“Welcome to our perfect little family, little sister,” Rolex said with a smile on his face. After running his hand through his hair and giving her a creepy grin, he stomped out of the room.
Sean gave me a quick nod and then followed Rolex out the door. Nathan looked at her for a little longer, his eyes hard and unwavering.
His voice was so angry that it made me shiver when he said, “You’re not welcome here.And you’ll never be.”
After he turned around and left, I stood there feeling even more alone. Alpha Diego put his hand on my shoulder to make me feel better.
He said in a soft voice, “They’re good boys.They need some time.”
I said yes, but inside I wasn’t sure if time would be enough to fix the deep scars that my arrival had caused. Alpha Diego left me in the room by myself, so I sat down on the bed and stared at the door where my brothers had just come out.
Before I could really call this place home, I had a long way to go.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.