New beginnings

Mia's POV 

My stomach twisted in painful knot as the memories of the teenage boy clawed their way back into my mind.

"Please..... don't kill me," the poor boy pleaded desperately with fear as he watched his father's lifeless body. I had collected the gun from one of Jasper's men who aimed the gun at the boy.

"You can't kill him," I said firmly. "He is just a boy."

Instead, the man looked at me, his eyes blood-stained with rage. "The boss said we should kill everyone we found with him," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Or are you going to take responsibility for this?"

I was speechless at first, wondering why Jasper would order them to kill a boy. Then I regained myself. "Yes, I will take responsibility," I said, my voice coming out in desperate plea.

But the man smirked at me. "Taking responsibility isn't enough." He pulled out another gun from his wrist. "He should die." With that he pulled the trigger.

"Nooooooooooo," I screamed out, my eyes widening as I took in the sight of the boy covered in blood. Before I could say more, Jayden returned back with the man's laptop and other documents Jasper wanted.

I didn't say a word—it was useless talking to his minions. Forcing my trembling body to stay a bit calm, I slid into the backseat of the car.

******

The moment I stepped out of the mansion, my heart felt like it had been ripped into pieces. I felt an overwhelming intensity of rage, disappointment and the sheer devastation of what Jasper had done

I had clung to the fragile hope that he could be a different person for me. That maybe—just maybe—there was a part of him capable of redemption. But I had been a fool—a big fool.

Jasper was ruthless beyond saving. He was a heartless jerk.

A teenager had died in a battle he knew nothing about. A small child. And Jasper hadn't even flinched. It was his lack of guilt or remorse that sent me reeling. He had justified it as tying loose ends.

And the most annoying part?

He expected me to stay by his side while he determined who lives and who dies. He expected me to be a complicit in his crimes.

I, Mia Montana, refused to do that. 

I had loved him against all odds, against every warning in my head that that tells me this man is miles apart from my world. I had fallen for him because he showed me a glimpse of something softer. I had fallen for him because he's my mate, my destiny. But tonight, everything shattered into dust.

When I reached the taxi, I felt his eyes burned into me. I turned and for the briefest moment, our gaze locked.

There was something in his dark eyes.

Pain.

Regret.

Maybe even a silent plea.

But it was too late. I wouldn't stay and loose myself to his ruthless and unforgiving world.

Without another glance, I stepped into the taxi, closing the door behind us.

And then I was gone.

*****

I went to the hospital since I had no where else to go. For the past five months, my entire life had evolved around Jasper that I had forgotten how to live alone.

My composure crumbled the moment I stepped into my mother's room. She lay there, unmoving, still trapped in the coma that had stolen her from me. My leg gave out and I collapsed beside her bed, gripping her cold hands as pain consumed me from the inside out.

"Mom....." My voice broke. "I don't know what to do."

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I buried my face against her fragile arm. I had fought so hard, endured so much because I love him, and for what? To be left with nothing but a broken heart.

"I thought he wasn't that bad. I really did. I thought my love could change him even if he was bad. But he's worse than I ever imagined." My fingers tightened around her hand. "I can't do this anymore. I can't keep hoping for something that would never happen."

The room was silent except for my sobs that echoed in the sterile space. My chest ached, my soul felt empty at the realisation that I and Jasper are truly done after everything we've been through, everything challenges we've overcome, every...... memories we've made.

And then the door opened.

I turned, wiping off my tears hastily, only to see the man called my father standing there. Beside him was Lyra.

My body stiffened immediately. "What are you doing here?"

He exhaled sharply, stepping closer with an unreadable expression. "I came to get you."

I frowned. "Get me?" Then my voice rose with anger. "Leave. You're not welcomed here."

"I've been keeping an eye on you," he admitted, his voice annoyingly soft. "And I know what happened with....your supposed mate." He said the word mate like the mere word irritated him. And it left me confused. Isn't having a mate supposed to be a good thing? Or maybe because my own mate is a heartless one.

My heart raced at his words. "I don't need saving."

"You may not need saving," he said, "but you need a place to start over. And what better place would be better than your pack?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but Lyra stepped forward. "Come with us, Mia. You can't stay here. You need to take up your destiny," she said softly, her voice almost pleading.

I looked back at my mother, my throat tightening. I didn't want to leave her, but what choice did I have? And this so-called Pack might be the best place to start all over again and get distracted from the thought of Jasper, because seriously I don't know how to survive without him.

I leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, mom," I whispered. "I'll be back."

Then I turned towards the man, my voice cold like steel. "Don't think I forgive for abandoning us. I'm only leaving because I needed a place to start afresh."

He was speechless ta while as if debating something. Then he finally said, "I know." Then he turned to Lyra. "Take Mia outside, I need to talk to Jasmine and then the doctor. Wait for me in the car."

I wanted to refuse, not trusting him with my mother but Lyra held my hand softly and together we went outside leaving him with mom.

But Jasmine? 

Mother's name was Victoria.

These people are definitely hiding something from me. Maybe I'd find out in the Pack.

******

The Lunarstrike pack lands felt foreign.

The moment I stepped into the territory, I felt like an outsider. Like I didn't belong here. And maybe truly I didn't belong here. The only prove being their kind was Sabina —the wolf inside me. And if not for that, I wouldn't have believed any of this.

Whispers followed me as we made our way to the grand hall. Pack members, elders stared, their gaze heavy with judgement and maybe resentment but I noticed that no one dared utter their disapproval.

I kept my chin high, refusing to let them see my hesitation.

Then, the man—their Alpha stepped forward, his presence commanding as he addressed the pack. 

"This is my long lost daughter, Mia," he announced, his voice echoing through the hall. "The one who destiny is to lead this pack."

The silence in the room was deafening.

And I stood there, stunned, as my entire world shifted.