XAVIER’S POV
I carried Mia’s lifeless body into the bedroom, her small frame limp in my arms. My heart pounded as I laid her down on the bed, her pale face haunting me. Her breathing was shallow, her skin clammy, and I didn’t know if she’d survive the night.
I grabbed my phone and called the pack doctor, my voice steady as I gave him the details. It didn’t matter why I was doing this, I told myself. This wasn’t concern or care-it was damage control. She couldn’t just die, not like this. Not when it wasn’t on our terms.
“How miserable she is looking,” I muttered to myself, pacing the room as I waited for the doctor to arrive.
The moment the doctor entered, he rushed to her side. He examined her quickly, his experienced hands moving over her fragile body with precision. “She’s weak, and her body is in shock. The fear and trauma have pushed her into a comatose state. She’ll need time to recover.”
“How long?” I demanded, watching him place an oxygen mask over her face.
“It could be days. Maybe weeks. She’s strong, but her mind needs to fight to come back.”
I nodded, my jaw clenching as I tried to make sense of what had happened.
Once the doctor left, I stood by the side of the bed, staring at Mia. She looked so fragile, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. I clenched my fists, anger simmering beneath the surface.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to break like this.
I turned on my heel and stormed down the hallway, my anger building with every step. Nathan and Sean were lounging in the common room, acting as if nothing had happened.
“You planned this, didn’t you?” I snapped, my voice sharp as I stepped into the room.
Nathan shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. “Planned what? She’s still alive, isn’t she?”
“You locked her in a soundproof room. You chained her, for god’s sake! She could’ve died!”
Sean leaned back, his arms crossed. “So what? She ran, Xavier. She needed to be punished.”
“This wasn’t punishment. This was torture,” I shot back.
Nathan stood, his smirk vanishing. “Why do you care so much? You’re acting like she’s your mate or something. Or are you forgetting what her mother did to ours?”
“She’s not our mother,” I growled, my fists clenching.
Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t pretend you’re better than us. You’re falling for her, aren’t you? Betraying our family for that omega. She’s nothing, Xavier. Just a reminder of everything we lost.”
“She’s more than that,” I spat, my anger boiling over. “You don’t see it because you’re too blinded by hate. But I won’t let you kill her.”
Nathan scoffed. “You’ve already chosen your side, then. Just don’t expect us to clean up your mess.”
Sean didn’t say anything, but the look in his eyes was enough to tell me he agreed with Nathan.
I turned and left, slamming the door behind me. I couldn’t stand to be around them any longer.
The days passed slowly, each one dragging into the next as I waited for Mia to wake up. Diego was out of the house on a business trip, and we’d refused to let Tristan anywhere near the estate. The fewer people who knew what had happened, the better.
I spent more time in Mia’s room than I wanted to admit, sitting by her bedside as she remained unresponsive. The doctor came and went, checking her vitals and assuring me she was stable. But every day that passed without her waking up felt like a failure.
I didn’t understand why I was so bothered by this. She was just a girl, just an omega who had caused us nothing but trouble. And yet, every time I looked at her, something in me twisted uncomfortably.
Finally, after nearly a week, she stirred. Her fingers twitched, her breathing deepened, and her eyes fluttered open.
I was at her side in an instant. “Mia?”
Her gaze was unfocused at first, her lips parting as she struggled to take in her surroundings. And then, like a flood, panic overtook her.
“Get away from me!” she cried, her voice raw and trembling.
I stepped back, hands raised. “You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.”
She didn’t seem to hear me, her breathing erratic as she scrambled to sit up.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t come near me!” Her eyes darted around the room, wide and filled with fear.
“Mia, please-”
But she was already out of the bed, her bare feet hitting the floor as she ran toward the door.
I moved to block her, but she was quicker than I anticipated. She slipped past me, her thin frame disappearing down the hallway.
I chased after her, calling her name, but she didn’t stop. She reached the main hall, her hand on the door when Nathan and Sean appeared, cutting off her escape.
“Going somewhere?” Nathan asked, stepping in front of her.
Her eyes darted between us, her chest heaving as she backed against the door.
“Leave me alone!” she shouted, her voice breaking.
Sean reached for her arm, but she pulled away. “Don’t touch me!”
Nathan crossed his arms, smirking. “Where do you think you’re going to go? You have nowhere to run, Mia.”
“I’d rather die than stay here with you!” she screamed, her voice echoing through the room.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“Mia, please,” I said, stepping closer. “You don’t have to run. Just stop, and we can talk.”
“Talk?” she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. “You don’t want to talk. You just want to control me. All of you!”
Sean moved toward her again, but she shoved him back, surprising everyone.
“I’m done being your prisoner,” she shouted. “I’m done being your toy, your punching bag, your… your nothing!”
Her voice cracked, tears streaming down her face as she stood her ground. “I hate you! All of you! Do you hear me? I hate you!”
I lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back before she could cross the threshold. “Let me go!” she screamed, thrashing in my grip.
Ignoring her protests, I hoisted her over my shoulder, her fists pounding weakly against my back. “Put me down, Xavier! You can’t keep me here!” she yelled, her voice cracking with frustration and fear.
Her words stung, but I kept walking. She didn’t understand yet, but she needed to. I carried her back to her room, her struggles growing weaker with every step. When we reached the bed, I placed her down gently, though she scrambled to the edge, ready to run again.
“Mia, stop,” I said firmly, kneeling in front of her before she could move further. Her eyes, wild and filled with hatred, locked on mine.
She opened her mouth, probably to shout or curse, but I didn’t let her. I took her hand in mine and pressed a kiss to her trembling fingers. Her hand flinched, but I held on, my voice quieter now. “I’m sorry,” I said, meeting her gaze.
Her lips parted in surprise, her breathing still uneven.
“I’m sorry for everything we’ve done to you. For everything I’ve done to you,” I continued. “I didn’t realize how far this had gone, but I see it now. And I’m telling you, Mia, it stops here.”
She ripped her hand away from mine, her eyes narrowing. “You expect me to believe that? After everything? After what Sean did?”
I sat back on my heels, my jaw tightening. “I know we’ve given you no reason to trust us, but I swear to you, things will change. You won’t be a prisoner anymore. No one will touch you. No one will hurt you again. Not Nathan, not Sean, not anyone.”
Her laugh was bitter, almost hysterical. “You think words are enough? You think saying ‘sorry’ will fix all of this? You can’t undo what you’ve done. You can’t take it back, Xavier.”
I shook my head, frustration and guilt warring within me. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I’m going to make sure you’re safe from now on. If anyone lays a hand on you, they’ll answer to me.”
She stood abruptly, her fists clenched at her sides. “Fuck off, Xavier. Just leave me alone. All of you.”
Her words hit me like a slap, but I didn’t move as she stormed past me. I turned, watching her retreating figure as she headed down the hall.
“Mia, wait,” I called after her, but she didn’t stop.