MIA’S POV
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Tristan and Alpha Diego, utterly lost. My mind couldn’t grasp what was happening. Tristan and Diego in the same room, standing side by side, without the tension of enemies ready to attack? It didn’t make sense.
“I don’t understand,” I said, my voice breaking the heavy silence. “Tristan, why are you here? And why did Diego let you in? Aren’t you supposed to be rivals?”
Tristan folded his arms, glancing at Diego before responding. “Not everything is as simple as it seems, Mia. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but sometimes, alliances are necessary.”
“Tristan came as a friend today,” Diego explained, standing tall near the door. “I allowed him here because we have other business to discuss.”
I frowned, trying to make sense of their words.
“Other business? What kind of business?”
Diego shifted his weight, his gaze softening slightly. “That’s not something you need to worry about. Right now, you need rest and time to heal.”
Before I could ask more questions, Diego gestured toward Tristan. “I’ll give you two a few minutes to talk. After that, we’ll handle what needs to be done.”
Diego turned and left the room, leaving me alone with Tristan. I stared at him, still trying to piece everything together.
He walked closer, sitting on the chair beside the bed. His eyes scanned my face, lingering on the bruises and the cut on my temple. “You look better than when I found you,” he said.
“Thanks to you,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly.
He reached out, gently taking my hand in his. “I want you to know something. You don’t belong to them, Mia. Not now, not ever. One day, I’m going to get you out of this, I promise.”
His words lit a small spark of hope inside me, a warmth I hadn’t felt in so long. “But how? They’ll never let me go.”
“They don’t get to decide your life,” he said firmly. “You just have to hold on a little longer. I’ll come for you when the time is right.”
I nodded, clutching his hand like a lifeline. “I’ll try.”
Tristan stood, giving my hand one last squeeze before releasing it. “Take care of yourself, Mia.”
I watched him leave, my chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and longing. His presence had been a brief reprieve from the storm, and now that he was gone, the weight of everything came crashing down again.
I sat there for a moment, my thoughts swirling. But the gnawing emptiness in my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten anything since the morning. I decided to head to the kitchen and grab something quickly before anyone noticed.
As I stepped into the hallway, my heart sank when I spotted Sean leaning against the wall near the staircase. His sharp eyes caught mine immediately, and I froze mid-step, unsure of what to do.
He pushed off the wall, moving toward me with slow, deliberate steps. “Going somewhere?”
“I was just-” I began, but he grabbed my arm, cutting me off.
“You were just what?” he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips as he pulled me toward a nearby room.
I stumbled after him, my heart racing as he opened the door and dragged me inside. He shut the door behind us, the sound of the lock clicking into place sending a chill down my spine.
“Sean, I didn’t mean to bother you. I’m sorry,” I said quickly, trying to steady my breathing.
He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as his gaze raked over me. The light above cast shadows across his face, making his features look even sharper.
“You’re always in the way, aren’t you?” he said, his tone filled with mockery.
I backed up slightly, pressing myself against the edge of the table behind me. “I just wanted to get something to eat,” I explained, my voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes glinted with amusement as he stepped closer. “Eat, huh? Maybe you should try not running into me next time.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat as he closed the distance between us. My gaze dropped to his chest, the way the fabric of his shirt clung to his toned muscles. I swallowed hard, my cheeks heating as I tried to look away.
“What are you staring at?” he teased, his smirk widening.
“I-I wasn’t-”
He moved closer, leaning in so his face was mere inches from mine. “Liar.”
I pressed myself further against the table, my heart pounding in my chest. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face, his touch light but deliberate.
“You’re shaking,” he said, leaning in closer. “Are you scared of me?”
I couldn’t answer. My throat felt dry, and my chest heaved as I struggled to steady my breathing.
He locked eyes with me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His hand brushed against the table, trapping me. I felt his warm breath brush against my lips, sending a shiver through me.
“Do you always tremble like this?” he asked. “Or is it just because I’m this close?”
I gripped the table so tightly my fingers ached. He leaned in even closer, so close I could see the faint scar along his jawline and the mocking gleam in his eyes. My lashes fluttered as his breath ghosted over my skin.
“Open your eyes, Mia,” he said.
Slowly, I did. His intense gaze made my breath hitch, fear and something unfamiliar twisting in my chest.
“You’re easy to rattle,” he said, his smirk growing. “Just a little push, and you fall apart.”
I tried to turn my face away, but his hand gently tilted my chin back toward him.
“Look at me,” he said, his thumb brushing the corner of my lips. The small touch sent a jolt through me, leaving me frozen in place.
“You’re such a mess,” he teased. “Always running. Always crying. But look at you now-you’re not running this time, are you?”
Before I could even think of a response, his lips crashed into mine. The kiss was sudden, overwhelming, and it took the air from my lungs.
His hand slid behind my neck, holding me in place as his lips moved against mine. The warmth of his touch and the intensity of the kiss left me stunned, my body frozen. My heart pounded so hard it hurt, and my mind spun, unable to process what was happening.
Just as quickly as it started, he pulled back, leaving me gasping for air.
Sean straightened, his smirk back on his face as he looked down at me. “See? You didn’t even try to stop me.”
I stared at him, my mind blank and my chest heaving.
“Next time, maybe fight back,” he added, his voice laced with amusement.
Before I could speak, he shoved me backward. I stumbled and fell to the floor, landing hard.
He reached for the light switch, turning it off and plunging the room into darkness.
“Think about that,” he said as the door shut behind him, the lock clicking into place.
I sat on the cold floor, my whole body trembling. Tears slid silently down my cheeks, but I didn’t wipe them away.
Why can’t for even once they can spare me?