Mia’s POV
My finger throbbed all night, a constant reminder of Nathan’s cruelty. By morning, dark bruises painted my skin where I’d hit the floor.
“Let me drive you to school.”
I froze at Rolex’s voice. He stood in the kitchen doorway, holding out a packed lunch. Behind him, Xavier had another bag.
“No.” I moved toward the door, keeping distance between us. “I’ll walk.”
“Don’t be stubborn,” Xavier said softly. “It’s a long way– ”
“I’ve walked it before.” When they starved me, denied me rides, left me to fend for myself. “I can walk it again.”
I tried to brush past them, but suddenly they were both there, too close. Rolex’s breath fanned across my neck while Xavier leaned down, his lips nearly brushing mine.
“You’re hurt,” Rolex murmured, his voice hypnotic. “Let us help.”
“Now you want to help?” My voice shook. “After everything you’ve done?”
Xavier’s fingers traced my injured hand. “We can make it better.”
“Don’t touch me-”
Before I could finish, Rolex scooped me up in his arms. I struggled, but he held me firmly against his chest.
“Put me down!”
“No.” His grip tightened as he carried me to the car. “Not this time little wolf.”
Xavier opened the back door, and Rolex slid in with me still in his lap. I was trapped between them, their combined body heat making me dizzy.
“We’re taking you to school,” Xavier said with finality. “And you’re eating lunch today.”
By the time we were on the road, I was too exhausted to fight anymore. Instead, I sat quietly, my arms crossed over my chest as I
stared out the window.
The entire ride, I couldn’t help but wonder what had gotten into them. Why were they suddenly so protective? They hated me, didn’t they?
Their sudden concern felt like another form of torture. Yesterday they’d watched Nathan hurt me. Today they acted like protective mates.
Which was the real act?
The ride to school was tense, my body wedged between Rolex and Xavier like they were afraid I’d try to escape. Their sudden rotectiveness made no sense. Last night they’d watched Nathan break my finger. Today they were forcing food on me and insisting on driving me to school.
What changed?
Then it hit me – Tristan. They’d seen me with him yesterday. This wasn’t about caring for me; it was about marki territory.
“We’ll pick you up after school,” Xavier said as we pulled up to the entrance.
“Don’t bother.” I tried to get out, but Rolex’s arm blocked my path
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1/3
CHAPTER 21
+25 BONUS
“This isn’t a request, little wolf.”
The pet name that once made me shiver now just made me angry. They didn’t get to play caring mates when it suited them.
I finally managed to slip past them, only to freeze at the sight before me. Tristan stood by the school steps, casual but watchful. When our eyes met, his entire face lit up with a genuine smile so different from my stepbrothers‘ possessive smirks.
Behind me, I heard twin growls from the car.
I walked toward Tristan without looking back. Let them watch. Let them see what real kindness looked like.
“You’re late,” he said, his voice a low, teasing rumble that sent unexpected shivers down my spine.
I couldn’t help the smile that broke through my typically guarded expression. “My brothers insisted on driving me today.”
Something shifted in Tristan’s eyes–a flash of something deeper, more calculating, “Brothers?” he asked, his tone carefully neutral.
“Stepbrothers,” I corrected quickly, suddenly self–conscious. “It’s complicated.”
His gaze drifted over my shoulder, and I knew he was looking at Rolex and Xavier. The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension, like two predators sizing each other up.
“You know them?” I asked, surprised.
He didn’t answer right away, his jaw tightening as he turned back to me. “Don’t bother with them, Mia. They’re trouble.”
I frowned, confused by his sudden change in tone. “Why do you say that? Do you have a problem with them?”
Tristan shrugged, his easy demeanor returning as he reached into his bag and pulled out a neatly packed lunch. “Don’t worry
about it. Here.”
Tristan handed me the neatly packed sandwich, his boyish grin softening the tension that had been gnawing at me all morning I could tell he was proud of himself, the way he brushed his hand through his hair and stood a little taller.
“I made these just for you,” he said, holding the container out to me.
I blinked at him, caught off guard by his thoughtfulness. “You… cooked for me?”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” he teased, nudging my arm gently. “It’s just sandwiches. Nothing fancy, but it’ll do the trick. Now, eat before you head to class. You look like you didn’t have breakfast.”
The truth was, I hadn’t. My stomach growled at the sight of the food, betraying me before I could protest. I hesitated for a moment before taking the container from him, my fingers brushing his briefly.
“Thank you, Tristan,” I said softly, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the morning sun.
“Don’t mention it,” he said, his voice easy and light.
I glanced back toward the parking lot, where I knew my stepbrothers were watching me like hawks. Their piercing gazes felt like a weight on my back, and I couldn’t shake the sense of unease that came with their sudden protectiveness.
Tristan followed my gaze, his expression tightening briefly before he looked back at me. “Don’t worry about them,” he said, his voice a little firmer now. “Just focus on you. Go ahead, eat. I’ll catch up in a few minutes.”
“Come with me,” I urged, wanting his presence as a buffer from the tension I knew would only grow if I stayed in their line of sight.
He shook his head, his smile returning but not quite reaching his eyes. “Go on, Mia. I’ll be right behind you.”
I nodded reluctantly, knowing he wouldn’t budge and that I couldn’t afford to linger with my stepbrothers watching. Xavier’s glare had been ice cold this morning, and Rolex wasn’t much better.
CHAPTER 21
+25 BONUS
Clutching the container, I turned toward the school and walked away, willing myself not to look back.
But I couldn’t help it.
The moment I reached the steps, I glanced over my shoulder, curiosity and unease twisting together in my gut.
My stepbrothers were still there, standing by the car. But they weren’t looking at me anymore.
They were talking to Tristan.
The sight stopped me in my tracks. Rolex stood stiff and tense, his orms crossed over his chest as he leaned toward Tristan, speaking low and deliberate. Xavier stood a step back, his expression carved from stone, his eyes narrowing as he watched every move Tristan made.
Tristan, for his part, didn’t flinch. His posture was casual, his hands in his pockets, but there was a sharpness in his gaze as he looked back at them.
They didn’t look like strangers.
They looked like enemies.
I frowned, my mind racing. How did they know each other? And why was there so much tension between them?
I wanted to go back, to demand answers, but I knew better. I couldn’t risk drawing their attention any more than I already had.
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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.