“You heard me,” he snapped, taking a step closer. “What kind of game are you playing, Mia? First Nathan, now Sean? How many more of my brothers are you going to throw yourself at?”
I shook my head, my tears falling freely now. “I didn’t… I didn’t do anything. They-
”
“Save it!” he barked, his voice echoing through the room. “I’m not stupid, Mia. I see the way you look at them. The way you act around them. Don’t think for a second that I’m falling for this innocent act.”
“I swear,” I said, my voice breaking. “I didn’t-”
“Enough!” he roared, his face inches from mine now. “You’re nothing but a slut, just like your mother. You’re pathetic, Mia. Stay away from my brothers, or so help me-
He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. The venom in his words was enough to shatter whatever strength I had left.
I watched as he turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the room, leaving me alone with the silence and the weight of his words.
I sank to the floor, my knees hitting the carpet as sobs wracked my body. My chest ached, my throat raw from crying, but the pain inside me was far worse than anything physical.
Why didn’t he believe me? Why did they all assume the worst of me?
I hugged my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth as I tried to make sense of everything. The room felt colder now, emptier, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was completely alone in this.
No one would believe me. No one would help me.
Morning came too quickly, the sunlight feeling like a mockery after the nightmare of last night. My body ached from sleeping curled in a tight ball, afraid to stretch out in my own bed. Every noise made me flinch, every shadow held potential threats.
I couldn’t tell Diego. The thought of making things worse, of what they might do if I spoke up… No, I had to keep quiet. Survive however I could.
When I finally gathered the courage to leave my room, Rolex was waiting in the kitchen. His cold eyes swept over me, taking in my disheveled appearance.
“I’m not taking you to school today,” he said flatly. “Or any other day. Figure it out yourself.”
My heart sank. “But it’s a two–hour walk-”
“Not my problem.” He turned away, dismissing me entirely. “You’re not worth the trouble.”
The kitchen was empty again, no breakfast in sight. My stomach cramped painfully, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. They were really going to starve me out.
I grabbed my bag with trembling hands and headed out. The morning air was crisp, but I barely felt it through the numbness that had settled over me. One foot in front of the other, that’s all I could focus on.
Tears blurred my vision as I walked. Why me? What had I done to deserve this? My own mates hated me, tormented me, me. All because of who my mother was.
My legs shook with exhaustion, hunger making me dizzy. I hadn’t walked this far in ages, and without food…
starved
I didn’t see the car until its horn blasted through my thoughts. Bright lights filled my vision as I stumbled backward. ine world tilted sideways, darkness creeping in at the edges.
The last thing I heard was the screech of brakes and someone shouting my name.
Then everything went black.
CH
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.