Tristan’s POV
I adjusted my posture as the two brothers approached, careful to school my expression into something neutral. Inside, I was annoyed churning in my chest. I didn’t want to even glance them, I hated them so much. I’d already pieced together the truth about Mia’s living situation, and the knowledge left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The fact that she lived with them-Xavier and Rolex-was infuriating enough, but learning that they bullied her? That they hated her because her mother married with their father? It was disgusting. How could even they could bully her? Fucking they are alphas and still behave like freaking rogues. None of it was her fault, and yet they treated her like she was a stain on their perfect lives. She was alreay innocent like a petal, her eyes reflects her innocence and purity, that how badly she was stuck in this mess. She was the girl, who can’t even think of hurting a butterfly, so how could she be treated like a slave?
Though, I hated them before I knew they bullied her, as the Atwood pack and our pack are rivals.
She didn’t deserve to be there.
Mia wasn’t just some girl to me. I’d known her for a long time, though she might not remember. Back then, she was bright, full of life, but that light had dimmed over the years. When I returned, it wasn’t just for the obligations pulling me back to this town. It was for her.
I was the reason the bullies left her alone yesterday. I’d made sure of it. A few well-placed words and the right amount of pressure were all it took to remind them of their place.
Now, these two brothers were in my way.
Xavier stopped a few feet from me, his sharp gaze assessing. Rolex stood slightly behind him, arms crossed, radiating his usual mix of tension and barely contained aggression.
“What’s the Karveler Pack Alpha doing here?” Xavier asked, his tone laced with challenge. “Shouldn’t you be busy managing your pack instead of babysitting Mia?”
I shrugged off the comment, keeping my expression steady. Their attempt to provoke me wouldn’t work.
“I make time for what matters,” I replied, letting the implication hang in the air.
Xavier’s jaw tightened slightly, but I could see the flicker of frustration behind his calm facade. Rolex, on the other hand, shifted, his stance growing more rigid as his eyes narrowed.
“You’ve got a lot on your plate, Alpha,” Rolex added. “Why waste your time on her?”
I took a step closer, meeting Xavier’s cold stare head-on. “You’re right. I do have a lot to manage. But Mia isn’t a waste of my time. She never was.”
I could see the subtle shift in their expressions, the way my words hit a nerve. Good. They deserved to feel that sting after everything they’d done to her.
“She’s not your concern,” Xavier said, his voice firmer now. “Whatever you think you’re doing, it’s not your place.”
I took another step forward, refusing to back down. “Not my concern? She’s been in your care for how long, and you’ve done nothing but make her life miserable. You don’t deserve her.”
Xavier’s eyes darkened, his hands clenching at his sides. Rolex let out a low growl, stepping up beside him.
“And you do?” Rolex challenged, his voice tight. “You barely know her.”
I held his gaze, unflinching. “I know enough. Enough to see that she doesn’t belong here, with you two treating her like she’s some burden you can’t get rid of. Her mother made choices that had nothing to do with Mia, and yet you punish her for it. She deserves better.”
Xavier’s nostrils flared as he took a step closer, his height matching mine. “You think you can swoop in and take her away just like that? She’s not yours to take.”
I leaned in slightly, my voice low but firm. “She’s not yours to hurt, either.”
The tension between us crackled like a live wire, the air heavy with unspoken threats. Rolex moved to intervene, his eyes flicking between us as if gauging how close we were to crossing the line.
“She’s staying where she is,” Xavier said, his tone final. “You can play the hero all you want, but she’s not leaving.”
I smirked, taking a deliberate step back. “We’ll see about that.”
Their frustration was almost palpable, but I didn’t care. They could fume all they wanted, but I wasn’t going to let them control Mia’s life any longer.
“Watch yourself,” Rolex warned, stepping up beside Xavier.
“You don’t scare me,” I said, my voice steady as I stared them down. “And if you think I’ll back off because of your empty threats, you’re wrong. I’ve already dealt with the bullies who’ve been giving her trouble, and I’ll deal with anyone else who dares to hurt her-including you.”
I let out a low breath, my wolf pushing at the edges of my control, eager to assert dominance. But this wasn’t the time. Not yet.
“I’ll say this once,” I said as I turned to leave. “Stay out of my way, or you’ll regret it.”
Without waiting for a response, I walked off, leaving them standing there.
Once I was out of earshot, I pulled out my phone and dialed my beta. He picked up on the first ring.
“Alpha,” he greeted.
“Get everything ready for tonight,” I instructed. “The private party needs to be perfect.”
“Yes, Alpha,” he replied without hesitation.
An opportunity to win over Mia, to show her she didn’t need them, to remind her of who I was and what I could offer her.
Because she might not remember me yet, but I remembered her.
I came back for her.
There were other reasons for my return, but she was at the heart of it all. The girl who had once been so full of life and light, now surrounded by people who didn’t appreciate her.
I wasn’t going to let them keep her in the shadows.
Hanging up the phone, I took a deep breath. There was still much to do, but one thing was clear-I wouldn’t stop until Mia was free of them.
And by the time this party was over, she would know exactly where she belonged.