Mia’s POV
But as I rounded the corner, I froze. Nathan was leaning casually against
the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. His smirk widened as soon as
he saw me.
“Fancy running into you here,” he said, pushing off the wall and
blocking my path.
I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let him see even a flicker of fear.
“What do you want, Nathan?”
He stepped closer, and I held my ground. “You know, you’ve been
awfully bold tonight. Talking back, holding your head high. It’s…
different.”
“Maybe you should try it sometime,” I replied, crossing my arms.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Still got that smart mouth, I see. But
don’t worry, I’ll take care of that.”
Before I could move, he was suddenly in front of me, his hand bracing
against the wall beside my head. His other hand grabbed my waist,
pinning me in place.
“You’re acting like you’re untouchable tonight, Mia,” he murmured,
leaning closer. “But let’s see how long that lasts.”
I tried to push him back, but his grip only tightened. He lowered his
head, his nose brushing against my neck as he inhaled deeply.
“You smell… different tonight,” he said. “Sweet. Intoxicating. Let me
guess-this is for Tristan, isn’t it? You’re dressing up and playing
confident to impress him.”
I shoved against his chest, my voice steady. “It’s not about Tristan. And
it’s definitely not about you. Now let me go.”
He ignored me, his smirk returning as he leaned in closer. “You think he
likes this new version of you? Acting like you’re more than an omega no
one wanted?”
“I do belong,” I replied, crossing my arms. “If you’re trying to scare me,
it’s not going to work.”
His smirk faltered for a split second before he closed the gap between us.
“Is that so? You think you’re untouchable now? That you’re safe?”
I held my ground, meeting his gaze head-on. “I’m not scared of you,
Nathan. And I’m definitely not going to let you intimidate me.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve changed, Mia. I’m not sure if I
like it.”
“You don’t have to like it,” I shot back. “I didn’t change for you.”
His expression darkened, and before I could react, he grabbed my arm.
His grip wasn’t tight, but it was enough to make me uncomfortable.
“Let go of me,” I said firmly.
“Make me,” he challenged, his smirk returning.
I didn’t hesitate. My free hand shot out, landing a solid hit on his side. He
stumbled back, his eyes wide with surprise.
“You little-”
I didn’t stick around to hear the rest. I turned and ran, weaving through
the crowd until I was sure I’d lost him. My heart raced, but a strange
sense of satisfaction bubbled up inside me. I’d stood up to Nathan, and it
felt good.
Ima’s voice echoed in my mind, her tone proud. “That’s my girl.”
The rest of the night, I kept my distance from Nathan, knowing he’d be
looking for an opportunity to get back at me. But I refused to let him ruin
the evening.
Tristan found me near the edge of the dance floor, his presence a
welcome relief. “There you are. I was starting to think you disappeared
on me.”
“Just needed some air,” I said.
He handed me a glass of sparkling water. “Here. You looked like you
could use this.”
“Thanks,” I replied, taking a sip.
The party was in full swing, with guests from various packs mingling
and enjoying themselves. It was a mix of sophistication and chaos, with
the wealthier guests standing out in their tailored suits and designer
dresses.
“I didn’t realize this party would be so… extravagant,” I said, glancing
around.
Tristan shrugged. “It’s what happens when you invite people from all
the major packs. Everyone wants to show off.”
“You’re pretty influential, aren’t you?” I asked, looking at him curiously.
He smiled faintly. “Something like that. It’s a long story.”
I hesitated before asking the question that had been on my mind. “Is that
why you and the brothers don’t get along? Because of… influence?”
His expression hardened slightly, but he quickly masked it. “That’s part
of it. But there’s more to it than that. Let’s just say we have a history.”
I nodded, deciding not to push further.
He changed the subject, his tone lighter. “So, what do you know about
wolf types?”
“Not much,” I admitted. “Just the basics.”
“Did you know there are rare types of wolves?” he asked, his eyes
glinting with interest.
“Rare?”
“Yeah. Like white wolves,” he said. “They’re called vortex wolves.
They’re incredibly powerful and said to be reincarnations of the moon
goddess herself.”
I froze, the words hitting me like a punch.
“They’re practically legends,” Tristan continued. “It’s been years since
anyone’s seen one, but they’re said to possess abilities far beyond what
most wolves can even dream of.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Could Ima be one of these vortex
wolves? It would explain so much-the strength, the confidence, the way
her presence seemed to make me feel invincible.
“Do you believe in them?” I asked carefully.
Tristan shrugged. “I’m not sure. But if they do exist, they’re probably
the most important wolves in our world. If anyone found one…” He
trailed off, his expression thoughtful.
I hesitated, debating whether or not to tell him about Ima. But
something held me back. For now, it was my secret to keep.
“Why are you so interested in them?” he asked, deflecting the
conversation back to him.
I smiled. “Curiosity, mostly.”
Then, after a pause, he said, “My pack is always researching different
types of wolves, trying to understand our history and what makes us
unique.”
“That’s… impressive,” I admitted.
He gave me a small nod. “Thanks. But enough about that. Let’s focus on
enjoying the rest of the night.”
I nodded again, my chest tightening. I couldn’t tell him about Ima, not
yet. Not until I understood more about her and what it meant for me.