MIA'S POV
I knew I couldn't do this alone. Keith was smart, calculating, and already a step ahead. If I wanted to catch him and the traitors hiding in the pack, I needed everyone's cooperation-even the people I didn't fully trust yet.
Calling the brothers and Tristan for a meeting was a risk, but one I had to take.
I didn't tell Lucas. Not yet. He was still my brother, but I wasn't blind to the hesitation in his eyes when it came to Keith. There was a softness there, a part of him that still saw his cousin as family. And right now, I couldn't afford that weakness.
The tension in the room was suffocating when they arrived. The brothers-Xavier, Nathan, Rolex, and Sean-stood on one side, possessive, protective, watching me like I would vanish if they looked away.
Tristan stood on the other, arms crossed, jaw clenched, his golden eyes flickering with something unreadable.
It was a miracle they weren't already at each other's throats.
I exhaled slowly and stood between them, meeting each of their gazes head-on. "I don't care about your past grudges right now," I stated firmly. "Keith is out there, and he's not alone. He's poisoning my father, sending rogues after me, and we have spies in this pack feeding him information. If we don't act now, we won't have a pack left to protect."
Silence.
Then Xavier took a step forward, his gaze locked onto mine like he could see straight into my soul. "You should have told us about Lucas meeting with Keith earlier."
His voice wasn't accusing, just… disappointed.
I swallowed hard, fighting the guilt clawing at my chest. "I needed to see where Lucas stood first." My voice softened slightly. "I had to be sure."
Nathan scoffed, crossing his arms. "And are you sure now?"
I hesitated. "I trust him," I admitted. "But I don't trust his emotions when it comes to Keith."
Tristan exhaled sharply, stepping closer. "Then you should have told me. You know I would have handled it."
Xavier let out a low growl, his body tensing. "You think we can't handle it? You think we'd let anything happen to her?"
Tristan's expression darkened. "I don't think-I know." His sharp gaze flicked between them. "Where were you when she was beaten, starved, caged? Where were you when she was nearly killed more times than I can count? You were the ones hurting her."
The room felt like it dropped ten degrees.
The brothers stilled.
Even Nathan, who always had a snarky comeback, had nothing to say.
I clenched my jaw, my stomach twisting. I wasn't here to let them tear into each other. I needed them to focus.
I slammed my hand down on the table, the sound snapping them out of their silent war. "Enough," I said sharply. "I didn't bring you here to rehash the past." I met Tristan's gaze, then the brothers'. "If you want to prove to me that I can trust you, then show me. Work together. Set aside whatever rivalry you have and help me take Keith down."
Another long silence.
Then Rolex, who had been quiet this whole time, sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll help. Not for you, Tristan. But for Mia."
Sean nodded, stepping beside me. "I'm in."
Xavier didn't even hesitate. "I was never out."
Nathan, however, still looked annoyed. His gaze flicked to Tristan before settling on me. "I don't trust him."
Tristan smirked slightly. "Good. Because I don't trust you either."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Great. That's progress."
Nathan finally exhaled, shaking his head. "I'll help. But if he so much as breathes wrong, I'm breaking his nose."
Tristan smirked. "Get in line."
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't even close.
But it was enough.
For now. After what felt like an eternity of arguing, glaring, and testosterone-fueled threats, they finally agreed to work together. It wasn't easy. The brothers still hated Tristan, and Tristan wasn't exactly sending them love letters either.
But we didn't have time for grudges.
We needed a plan.
After bouncing ideas back and forth-and threatening to kill each other at least three times-we settled on something simple but effective. A trap.
The spy in the pack was feeding Keith information, which meant they had to be close. Someone with access to everything, someone who could move undetected.
We needed bait.
And nothing was more tempting than an Alpha on the verge of death.
"Your father's room," Xavier said, leaning forward, his arms resting on the table. "We let it slip that he's worsening. That the poison is taking effect faster than we thought."
Tristan smirked, catching on. "And we watch who moves first."
Rolex nodded. "Whoever takes the bait, we take them down."
Nathan leaned back, arms crossed. "And if it's someone important? Someone we can't just kill?"
Xavier's expression darkened. "Then we make an example out of them."
The weight of their words settled over me like a heavy fog. This wasn't just about my father anymore.
Keith wanted me.
And anyone willing to help him would have to go through all of us.
Later that night, I visited my father's room, my heart twisting at how pale he looked. His breathing was shallow, his skin too cold.
I sat beside him, brushing his hair back. He looked so much weaker than the man I admired so much. He already spent his half life in coma, and again this attack.
"I'll fix this," I whispered. "I promise."
Then I stood up, forcing my face to look calm before I walked out.
I knew eyes were on me.
The packhouse was quiet when the yelling started.
I barely had time to process before the walls shook with the impact of something-or someone-hitting them.
"You're a fucking liar!" Xavier's voice was raw with rage.
"At least I don't pretend to be something I'm not!" Tristan snarled.
I rushed down the hallway, heart pounding as I turned the corner-just in time to see Tristan and Xavier slamming into each other, fists flying.
Xavier's knuckles connected with Tristan's jaw, sending him staggering back. Tristan wiped the blood from his lip and grinned like he enjoyed it.
"What the hell is going on?" I shouted, stepping between them before they killed each other.