Rolex’s POV
The photos landed on my desk one by one. Mia getting into a black car. Mia smiling – actually smiling at the driver. A figure standing protectively near her at school, keeping the bullies away felt jealousy, and anger rushed in my blood. How the damn can she smile with another man! Fuck, she was making me more mad, and a demon who wanted to rip that bastard head.
“The man is Tristan Karveler,” my spy reported. “Alpha heir to the Karveler pack.”
My coffee mug shattered in my grip. Tristan fucking Karveler. Our biggest rival, the son of the alpha who’d tried to take our territory three times.
And he was touching my mate.
“How long?” I demanded, staring at Mia’s smile in the photo. When was the last time she’d looked that relaxed around any of us?
“Started yesterday. He’s been… protecting her at school. Bringing her food.”
Something ugly twisted in my chest. Jealousy, though I’d never admit it. We’d starved her, tormented her, pushed her away. And here was Tristan, playing the hero.
“He’s using her,” I growled, more to convince myself than anyone else. “Trying to get to us through her.”
And Mia, stupid, naive Mia, was making it so easy for him. One day of kindness and she was already falling for his act. 2
I called an emergency meeting. Within minutes, my brothers gathered in the study.
“Tristan Karveler,” I spat the name. “He’s targeting Mia.”
Xavier’s eyes flashed dangerously. “James told me about him. The bastard had the nerve to drop her off here yesterday. In our territory. ”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I came to know a few hours ago, and before that your spy informed you already,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“He’s playing hero,” Nathan added. “Making us look bad.”
“Making us look bad?” Sean adjusted his glasses. “We’re doing that just fine ourselves.”
The truth in his words stung, but I pushed past it. “He’ll use her to get information about us. About our territories. Our weaknesses.”
“She wouldn’t…” Xavier started, then stopped. Because we all knew she might. After how we’d treated her, why wouldn’t she turn to someone who showed her kindness?
The thought made my wolf howl with rage. Mine, it insisted. Ours. Not his.
“We need to stop this,” I decided. “Before he gets his claws in any deeper.”
“And how do you suggest we do that?” Sean asked quietly. “We’ve made it pretty clear she’s not welcome here.”
He was right. We’d pushed her away so effectively that we’d practically gift–wrapped her for our enemy.
The irony would be funny if it didn’t make me want to tear something apart.
“We watch her,” Xavier said finally. “And we find out exactly what game Karveler is playing.”
I stared at the photos again, at Mia’s genuine smile. The smile we’d never bothered to earn.
Just then her smell, her scent.
1/3
CHAPTER 19
+25 201US
Movement in the hallway caught our attention. Mia was heading for the door, wearing a crop top that barely covered her malest My wolf bristled at the thought of other males seeing her like this
“And where do you think you’re going, kitten?” Xavier’s smooth voice stopped her in her tracks. He circled her slowly, eyes darkening at her exposed skin.
She tried to step around him, but Sean blocked her path. “It’s getting late,” he said softly, adjusting his glasses. “You should stay home where it’s safe.”
“Safe?” The word was barely a whisper on her lips.
Nathan’s larger frame filled her other escape route. “That shirt,” he growled, “is not appropriate for an Atwood.”
I moved behind her, completing our circle. Her scent spiked with anxiety, but there was something else there too – defiance. “Little sister needs to dress properly,” I said, shrugging off my button–down. My fingers brushed her bare waist as I wrapped the shirt around her, making her shiver. “We can’t have you walking around half–dressed.”
“Since when do you care what I wear?” Her voice was quiet but sharp.
Xavier’s hand caught her chin, tilting her face up. “We always care, kitten. Whether you like it or not.”
“You look tired,” Sean observed, his doctor’s instincts showing. “When was the last time you ate properly?”
The guilt in his tone made my stomach twist. We all knew exactly why she hadn’t been eating
“I could have the cook make something,” I offered, trying to sound casual. “Whatever you want.”
“Or we could order in,” Xavier added, his thumb stroking her jawline. “Your choice.”
Nathan crossed his arms, but even his voice held a hint of concern. ‘You need to eat something.”
Mia stood frozen between us, her eyes darting from one to another like a trapped animal. We were overwhelming her, I realized. All four of us crowding her, trying to control her in our own ways.
“I’m not hungry,” she finally said, her voice trembling slightly.
“Bullshit,” Nathan growled, but Sean shot him a warning look.
The scent of her hunger mixed with anger filled the air. Two days without food – our doing. My wolf whined with guilt.
“Let me get you something to eat,” I tried again. “Anything you want-”
“Stop it!” She ripped my shirt from her waist, throwing it at my chest. “Stop pretending you care! You starve me, torment me, and now you want to play concerned brothers?”
Her voice cracked with emotion. “You’re all liars. Fake. You said clearly that you guys don’t want me as your mate but can’t stand seeing me talk to anyone else. You call me sister while plotting ways to break me.”
Xavier stepped forward. “Mia-”
“No!” Tears streamed down her face now. “You want to know where I’m going? Away from you! Away from this twisted game you’re playing!”
“Watch your tone,” Nathan growled, but she wasn’t done.
“Or what? You’ll starve me again? Lock me in my room? Send Sean and Nathan to rape me at night?”
The room went deadly silent. Sean’s face paled. Xavier’s eyes darkened dangerously.
“What did you say?” I asked, my voice barely controlled.
But Mia was beyond fear now, years of pain pouring out. “You think I don’t know what you’re doing? Making me weak, isolated, desperate… just like my mother, right? That’s all I am to you – Lillian’s daughter. Something to break”
CHAPTER 19
+25 BONUS
Nathan moved faster than any of us could stop him. His hand shot out, shoving her hard. She hit the ground with a sickening
thud.
“Ungrateful bitch,” he snarled. “After everything-”
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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.