Mia’s POV
I slowly opened my eyes and felt the harsh rays of light piercing through the blinds. My head was pounding, and my mouth felt like sandpaper.
When I tried to move, I realized I was in “someone’s arms!” I gasped in surprise and turned to my left to see who was lying on the bed with me, and to my surprise, it was alpha Ricardo staring at me blankly.
I jerked away from his embrace and jumped out of bed, my eyes wide with surprise. I stared, perplexed, at the room, which was decorated in the style of a bridal suite. With panting breath, I cast a quick glance at my clothes, only to discover that I was dressed in traditional wedding attire. ”What….” I stammered in fear and held Alpha Ricardo’s gaze. ”Tell me it’s…” I paused and went for my neck, only to feel a fresh cut on my neck.
With panting breaths, I scrambled to the mirror and stood before it. I moved my head sideways, and my breath seized at what I saw. ”No!” I yelled and placed my finger on it. Quickly, I closed my eyes, wishing for the mark to disappear, but I felt nothing. ”What’s going on?” I asked my wolf in panic. ”I’m sorry, I can’t, and besides, the mark has been there for a long time,” She whispered. ”No, you have to do something,” I spoke in panic, not wanting to believe what I had just heard. ”There is nothing to be done,” My wolf answered, causing blood to drain out of my body. ”No!” I yelled and fell to the floor while I stared at the mirror. ”This can’t be happening; how did it happen?” I asked, confused and in pain. ”He hypnotized us. I’m sorry I couldn’t resist,” She apologized, causing tears to drop on my cheek.
”No!” I screamed in pain and closed my eyes. ”Do something, please do something.” I pleaded in tears, wishing all this was just a dream, but alas, it wasn’t. Everything was fucking real.
With panic, I looked down and breathed in relief when I realized I was putting on clothes, and the only discomfort I felt was his mark on my neck.
”You!” I yelled and stood at my feet. I turned and held my gaze with him and could see he had a blank look; not even a hint of remorse could be found on his face. ”What did you do? How could you do this to me?” I yelled as tears trimmed down my cheek. I was still in shock, as I couldn’t accept the fact that I would carry his mark around.
”Why?” I asked, as more tears trimmed down my cheek. ”Why did you do this? Why cause me this much pain?” I asked and fell to the ground as I sobbed loudly. I thought I was going to have a happy life now that I found my father. I hoped I would leave alpha Ricardo and pick up the broken pieces of my life, but now everything came crashing down.
”Listen, Mia, I beg you to listen to me,” He pleaded while I continued crying, not believing what was happening. ”Your life is at stake, and I can’t just let you be in danger….” ”What danger!” I cut him off, ”What fucking danger?” I yelled and stood to my feet. ”The only danger is you, you are a danger to me,” I yelled out my lung and held his gaze.
”I hate you, alpha Ricardo. I so much hate you, I wish I could just kill you.” I yelled those words while holding his gaze. ”I won’t, I won’t accept this bond and marriage!” I yelled and ran out of the room. Hurriedly, I took the stairs, got to my room, and dashed in. With tear-filled eyes, I collapsed on the floor, drew my knees to my chest, and buried my head between my thighs. ”This is not happening.” I yelled in pain, ”This can’t happen, I can’t let him win, I can’t.” I cried in tears as the thought of bearing his mark buzzed in my head. How could I bear the mark of the one man who caused me nothing but pain and misery. How could I let people know he was my mate. ”No, no!” I cried bitterly, wishing everything was just a dream.
I felt like my heart was being ripped in two, my emotions spinning out of control. I cried until no more tears were left, and I was too exhausted to stay awake. My eyelids fluttered, and I let myself drift off to sleep.
My mother was seated before me at the dining table. She had a big smile on her face, as if she was overjoyed to be there.” Won’t father be joining us?” I asked as I noticed we were the ones in the dining. “No, my dear, it’s just you and me,” she said, smiling broadly. “All right,” I said with a big smile, holding her gaze. Despite the fact that her hair and eyes remained the same, she appeared different to me, and I couldn’t place it.
”Go on and eat,” She said, pointing at the dish before me. Following her gaze, I realized a plate of spaghetti was placed before me, causing a big frown to appear on my face. ”Why this, mom? You know how much I dislike spaghetti,” I grumbled while staring at the plate of spaghetti before me.
Mom smiled warmly at me before picking up a spoon and stretching it out for me, ”Why don’t you take a spoon of it and tell me how it taste.” She urged, but I shook my head in disapproval, ”No matter how delicious it would taste I won’t eat it, I don’t like spaghetti, and you know it.” I grumbled and looked down at the plate of food with disgust.
Mom knew how much I had been disgusted with spaghetti since childhood, so why would she allow it to be brought to me. ”Have a taste of it and tell me if it’s really spaghetti.” She urged, getting me confused, ”This is clearly a plate of spaghetti, mom.” I argued, but she shook her head in disapproval, ”Just have a taste of it.” She pleaded, but I shook my head in disapproval, ”I will just have something else.” I grumbled, but mother shook her head, ”For my sake, please have a taste.” She pleaded.
I held her gaze and could see she desperately wanted me to taste it, and I had no option but to heed her plea.
With a frown, I took the spoon from her and took a scoop of the spaghetti. I hesitated for a moment before putting the spoon of spaghetti into my mouth. With disgust, I began chewing it but was surprised it didn’t taste like spaghetti. Somewhat it tasted like jambalaya, my favorite food.
Startled, I held mom’s gaze, who wore a big smile on her face, ”Have another spoon,” She urged. Out of curiosity, I took another spoon of it and put it into my mouth, and shockingly, it tasted like jambalaya. ”What’s going on, mom? Why does the spaghetti taste like jambalaya?” I asked, confused, and spat out the food in my mouth on the table and saw that it was no longer spaghetti, Instead, what I spat out of my mouth was chewed jambalaya.
”Startled at what I saw, I glared at mom confused, who wore a big smile on her face. ”Mom, how is this possible?” I asked, stunned. ”I have always taught you never to judge a book by its cover or by the review given to you by people who have already read it.” Those were mom’s favorite words, and I wondered why she was saying them now. ”You have to look beyond what is displayed before you. Look within. Perhaps not every spaghetti is spaghetti, but maybe it is just presented to you that way, and it’s your duty to have a taste of it and confirm if it’s really spaghetti or your favorite meal.” She spoke, getting me more confused.
“I know you’re confused right now, but you’ll remember everything I’ve just told you with time. She smiled warmly at me and stood to her feet, ”I’m so proud of you, my little girl.” She flickered her usual beautiful warm smile that lit up her face. ”I have to be on my way,” She said, getting me confused, ”Where are you going? You didn’t have your meal,” I said, staring at her side of the table, only to realize there was no food for her. ”No, dear, the plan was just for you to eat.” She smiled, revealing her beautiful set of arranged teeth I got from her, ”I have to be on my way. Take care of yourself, my dear….” She paused and hesitated for a moment before she continued, ”And also, Alpha Ricardo, he needs you.” She smiled and pulled her seat away. ”Where are you going, Mom?” I asked, confused, while a strange feeling of fear enveloped my entire being. ”Returning from where I came,” She said, and before I could speak, everywhere became blank.
”My dear Mia.” I heard a familiar voice from afar, ”Mia, please open your eyes.” I heard the voice again and did as I was told.
The minute I opened my eyes, I realized I was seated on the floor in my room, and aunt Cara sat beside me with a worried look. ”You were shaking.” She spoke in a worried tone while I stared at her with confused eyes. I thought I was with mom, then… ”A dream,” I whispered, hurt. Of course, it was a dream, but it seemed so real.
This was the first time I saw mom in the past two years. Over the years, I stopped seeing her, and it felt like she had disappeared from my existence.
Knowing it was a dream, I flashed back at what I saw. She looked the same and hadn’t changed a bit. Her beautiful smile and tender, caring voice were still the same. ”The food,” I spoke aloud, wondering why mom would show herself talking about a plate of food with me.
”Are you okay?” Aunt Cara asked, while I heaved a heavy sigh and stood to my feet. With heavy feet, I walked to my window and stood before it. With a deep breath, I inhaled the fresh air from the flowers in the garden. ”What are you going to do?” My wolf asked while I placed my hands on the left part of my neck, but I couldn’t give her a response because my mind was blank.
”You must be hungry. I’ll get you something,” Aunt suggested, but I kicked against it, ”No worries’ aunt, I’m about to go for a walk. I’ll get something on my way,” I said and turned to face her.
Holding her gaze, I could see her eyes were filled with pity for me, but I noticed a hint of something else. ”What is wrong?” I asked, curious.
She hesitated for a moment before responding, ”Alpha Ricardo has made a declaration that you may not leave the mansion.”