Mia's POV
I thought I had finally gotten rid of them. The brothers were in another
city, far from me, and I assumed our paths wouldn't cross again unless I
wanted them to. That false sense of relief shattered the moment I walked
into the dining room the next evening.
I should've known better than to think I could avoid them. The moment I
walked into the dining room and saw Xavier, Rolex, Nathan, and Sean
seated at the table with my new family, my stomach dropped. My grip on
the doorway tightened as I willed myself not to turn around and walk
away.
"Mia!" Uncle's cheerful voice carried across the room. "Come, join us!
We were just talking about you."
I forced a polite smile and walked forward, every step feeling heavier
than the last. My wolf, Ima, growled in the back of my mind.
"They're here," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "Why are they
here?"
"I don't know," I thought back, keeping my face neutral as I approached
the table. "But I don't like it."
As soon as I sat down, Damon grinned at me. "Mia, meet some old
friends of mine," he said. "Xavier, Rolex, Nathan, and Sean. We trained
together years ago."
The brothers smiled at me, but there was a glint of mischief in their eyes
that made my skin crawl.
"Princess Mia," Xavier greeted smoothly, leaning back in his chair with
a smirk. "It's an honor to finally meet you properly."
"An absolute pleasure," Rolex added, his eyes lingering on me a little too
long.
Nathan chuckled, his tone laced with amusement. "The Blood Moon pack
princess. Who would've thought?"
Sean gave a mock bow from his seat. "We're lucky to be in your presence,
Princess."
I gave them a tight smile, my chest tightening with each word. "Thank
you," I said simply, keeping my voice even.
Their smiles widened, and I could feel their eyes on me, watching my
every move. The tension was suffocating, and I forced myself to focus on
my plate, pushing the food around with my fork.
The conversation flowed around me, but I couldn't concentrate. Every
now and then, one of the brothers would make a comment or throw a sly
glance my way, their teasing words cutting through the polite chatter at
the table.
"You've done well for yourself, Princess," Rolex commented, his tone
dripping with fake admiration. "You've truly blossomed."
Xavier smirked. "More than blossomed. She's radiant."
I clenched my jaw, my nails digging into my palm under the table. I
didn't trust myself to respond, so I just gave them another tight smile
and took a sip of water.
Just when I thought I couldn't feel more uncomfortable, Nathan shifted
in his seat, and I felt something brush against my leg. My breath hitched
as his foot pressed lightly against mine, then slowly trailed upward.
My heart raced, panic rising in my chest as I flinched back, nearly
knocking my chair over.
"Mia?" Uncle's concerned voice broke through the haze. "Are you
alright?"
All eyes turned to me, and I forced a smile, though my hands trembled
under the table. "I'm fine," I said quickly. "I just... I think I'm feeling a
bit unwell."
Damon frowned. "You barely touched your food."
"I'm not hungry," I lied, pushing my chair back. "If you'll excuse me, I
think I need to lie down."
Before anyone could stop me, I stood up and hurried out of the dining
room, my pulse pounding in my ears.
The moment I reached my room, I shut the door behind me and leaned
against it, my chest heaving.
"They're taunting you," Ima growled. "And you're letting them get to
you."
"I'm not letting them do anything," I snapped back, my voice trembling.
"But being near them... it's too much."
I sank onto the edge of my bed, burying my face in my hands. Seeing
them again, hearing their voices, feeling their presence-it was all too
familiar. Too painful.
A knock at the door startled me, and I tensed.
"It's me," Daisy's voice called softly.
I opened the door, letting her in. She stepped inside, her brows furrowed
with concern.
"What's going on?" she asked, sitting on the edge of my bed. "You've
been acting strange since dinner."
I hesitated, unsure if I should tell her. Daisy had been nothing but kind to
me since the day she found me at the cliff, but this wasn't just about me
-it was about the past I had been running from.
"I know them," I admitted finally, sitting down beside her.
Her eyes widened. "You do? How?"
"They're... my past," I said, struggling to find the right words. "They're
the reason I ended up at that cliff three years ago."
Daisy's expression shifted to one of shock and anger. "What? Mia, what
did they do to you?"
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the memories pressing down
on me. "They ruined my life," I said quietly. "They humiliated me, hurt
me, made me feel like I was nothing. And now, they're here, pretending
like nothing happened."
Daisy's jaw tightened, and I could see the protective fire in her eyes. "Do
you want me to tell Damon? Or Dad?"
"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "They don't know. And I don't
want them to. Not yet."
"Why not?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration.
"Because this is my fight," I said firmly. "I don't want anyone else
getting involved. Not until I figure out what they're really up to."
Daisy nodded slowly, though I could tell she didn't like it. "Alright," she
said. "But if they do anything to hurt you again, you tell me. And I'll
make sure they pay."
Her words brought a small smile to my face. Daisy had always been
fiercely protective, and knowing she had my back made me feel a little
less alone.
The garden was quiet, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I
wandered along the stone path. The moonlight cast a soft glow over the
flowers, and for a moment, I felt at peace.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. "You're
stronger now," I reminded myself. "You don't have to be afraid of them
anymore."
But as I turned the corner near the fountain, I froze. My heart dropped
when I saw them-Xavier, Rolex, Nathan, and Sean-standing together
near the garden entrance.
They hadn't noticed me yet, but the sight of them made my pulse
quicken. I tried to back away quietly, but the sound of a twig snapping
under my foot betrayed me.
Their heads turned in unison, and four pairs of eyes locked onto me.
"Mia," Xavier said smoothly, stepping closer. "Out for a late-night
stroll?"
I took a step back, my hands trembling. "I was just leaving."
Rolex tilted his head, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Why leave so soon?
We haven't had the chance to talk properly."
Sean crossed his arms, leaning casually against a tree. "Give us a chance
to explain ourselves."
"I don't think its proper to talk at this hour," I said, and tried to excuse
myself.
Nathan took a step forward, his gaze intense. "You've changed, Mia. But
we're still your mates. You can't run from that."
He tucked my hair strands back my ear, from which I flinched.
The word "mates" felt like a slap to the face. My chest tightened, and my
vision blurred as their words echoed in my mind. Memories of the past
crashed over me-the humiliation, the pain, the betrayal.
"No," I whispered, my breathing growing shallow.
"Mia?" Xavier's voice sounded concerned, but I couldn't focus. My legs
felt weak, and my head spun.
I staggered backward, clutching my chest as I tried to catch my breath.
My vision darkened at the edges, and I felt myself slipping into a panic I
couldn't control.
"Stop," I gasped, my voice barely audible. "Don't come closer."
But they didn't stop. I could feel them surrounding me, their presence
suffocating.
"She's panicking," Rolex said sharply.
"Back off," Sean snapped. "You're scaring her."
But their voices only made it worse. My knees buckled, and I collapsed
onto the grass, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.
My chest felt like it was caving in, each breath shallow and ragged as I sat
on the grass, clutching at the soft fabric of my dress. The air around me
was thick, suffocating, as if their presence alone was enough to drain
every ounce of strength I had left.
"Breathe, Mia," Xavier urged, crouching in front of me. His expression
wasn't the same cold, calculated one I remembered-it was filled with
concern.
Rolex stood behind him, his jaw tight. "You're okay. Just breathe
slowly," he said, his voice low but firm.
Their words were meaningless noise to me. I could hear them, but I
couldn't respond. My mind was spinning, replaying everything I had
fought so hard to bury. They were trying to calm me down, but their
closeness only made it worse.
I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to sit up straighter. My heart was still
pounding, but I managed to push out a shaky breath. "I don't know
you," I stammered, my voice cracking as I backed away from Xavier.
Sean stepped closer, his hands raised as if to reassure me. "Mia, don't do
this. You know us. You have to remember us."
My throat tightened, and I shook my head, taking another step back. "I
don't know you," I insisted, my voice steadier this time. "You have the
wrong person."
Xavier's brows furrowed, frustration flickering across his face. "Don't lie
to us. We know it's you. We can feel it."
"I'm not lying," I snapped, straightening my back as I forced myself to
stand tall. "I'm not who you think I am. I'm just a human."
Rolex scoffed, crossing his arms as he exchanged a glance with Nathan.
"A human who just happens to look exactly like our mate? That's a little
hard to believe, don't you think?"
I clenched my fists at my sides, keeping my face blank. "Believe what you
want," I said coldly. "But I'm not the person you're looking for."
Before they could say anything else, Damon's voice cut through the
tension like a knife. "What's going on here?"
Relief washed over me as I turned to see him approaching, his gaze
darting between me and the brothers. His presence was a welcome
distraction, and I quickly stepped toward him, putting as much distance
between me and the brothers as possible.
"Nothing," I answered quickly, forcing a tight smile. "I was just taking a
walk, and I bumped into them."
Damon's eyes narrowed as he looked at the brothers. "Is that true?"
"Of course," Xavier answered smoothly, his tone polite. "We were just
trying to... reconnect."
"With someone who doesn't know you?" Damon raised an eyebrow, his
skepticism clear.
Rolex stepped forward, his hands outstretched in a gesture of innocence.
"It's just a misunderstanding. We thought we recognized her from
somewhere."
Damon frowned, his gaze lingering on me as if trying to gauge my
reaction. I gave him a reassuring nod, hoping he wouldn't press further.
"Well, if that's all, I think Mia could use some rest," he said finally.
I didn't wait for the brothers to protest. "Thank you, Damon," I said
quickly, stepping closer to him. "I'm fine now. Let's go."
The walk back to the mansion was quiet, but my thoughts were anything
but. My wolf, Ima, was practically vibrating with anger.
"You let them get too close," she growled, her voice sharp and accusing.
"I didn't have a choice," I shot back silently. "What was I supposed to
do? They cornered me."
"You're stronger than this," she insisted. "You could've put them in
their place."
"And blow my cover?" I countered, my fists clenching at the thought.
"No. I can't let them know who I really am. Not yet."
Ima huffed, but she didn't argue further. The truth was, I wasn't ready.
Seeing them again had shaken me in ways I hadn't anticipated. My
carefully constructed walls were cracking, and I hated it.
I paced the room, my thoughts racing as Ima stirred in my mind.
"You can't keep letting them get to you like this," she said firmly, her
voice low and steady.
"I know," I whispered, clenching my fists. "But seeing them... hearing
them... it's like every wound they ever inflicted on me is fresh again."
I stopped pacing and looked out the window, the moonlight casting a
pale glow over the garden below. My mind flashed back to Xavier's
concerned tone, Rolex's pointed glances, Nathan's subtle intimidation,
and Sean's quiet presence. They were trying to worm their way back into
my life, but I wasn't going to let that happen.
"They think they can just walk back in and act like nothing happened," I
muttered, anger lacing my voice. "They think they can fix everything
with a few kind words and some desperate looks."
"What are you going to do about it?" Ima asked, her tone challenging.
I turned away from the window, a determined expression settling on my
face. "I'm going to make them pay," I said, my voice firm. "For
everything they did to me. For every scar, every tear, every ounce of pain.
They'll regret ever thinking they could manipulate me again."
The plan formed in my mind that night as I lay in bed, staring up at the
ceiling. If the brothers thought they could fool me into forgiving them,
then I would do the same to them.
"They'll think I'm falling for their tricks," I thought, a faint smirk
tugging at my lips. "But I'll be the one pulling the strings this time."
Pretending to be closer to them wouldn't be easy-it would mean
swallowing my pride and letting them think I was amnesiac or too naïve
to remember their betrayals. But the thought of lulling them into a false
sense of security only to destroy everything they held dear filled me with
a sense of satisfaction.
"They'll never see it coming," Ima remarked, her tone almost
approving.
"They won't," I agreed. "And when it's all over, they'll finally
understand what it feels like to lose everything."