Mia’s POV
The growls from the wolves surrounding me sent chills down my spine.
My instincts screamed at me to run, but Ima remained calm in the back
of my mind.
“They’re not from any pack I recognize,” I muttered. “Their scent… it’s
different.”
“They’re rogues,” Ima said firmly. “But they don’t feel entirely hostile.
Don’t make a move yet.”
I glanced around, searching for an opening, but they closed the circle
tighter, their eyes watching my every move. My heart pounded in my
chest, but I trusted Ima’s instincts.
“What do they want?” I whispered internally.
“They sense something in us,” Ima replied. “They don’t know who you
are yet, but they’re trying to figure it out.”
One of the wolves stepped forward, his piercing yellow eyes locked onto
mine. He sniffed the air, his growl rumbling low in his throat.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice rough and gravelly.
I didn’t answer. Instead, I focused on keeping my breathing steady, my
body poised to fight if needed.
Ima growled in my head. “Stand tall. Don’t let them see weakness.”
I squared my shoulders, meeting the wolf’s gaze. Before I could speak,
something strange happened. The wolves hesitated, their growls fading
as they exchanged uncertain glances.
Then, to my shock, they all lowered their heads, bowing slightly.
“What the…” I trailed off, my voice barely above a whisper.
“They’re bowing,” Ima said, her tone filled with quiet triumph. “They
sense who we are.”
Confusion and fear warred within me. “Why are they bowing? What do
they want?”
“They’re acknowledging your power,” Ima replied. “But we need to
leave now. This could turn dangerous.”
I nodded internally. “Run?”
“Run,” she confirmed.
I didn’t waste another second. Shifting fully into my wolf, I darted
through the trees, my paws barely making a sound as I weaved between
the trunks. The rogues hesitated for a moment before chasing after me.
I pushed myself harder, my legs burning as I tried to put as much
distance between us as possible. Ima guided me, her sharp instincts
helping me navigate the forest.
“There’s a clearing up ahead,” she said. “Shift back and hide.”
I veered off the main path, diving into the underbrush. Once I was out of
sight, I shifted back into my human form, quickly pulling on the clothes
I’d tied around my waist earlier.
The sound of the rogues’ footsteps grew louder, and I pressed myself
against the base of a large tree, holding my breath.
“They won’t find you,” Ima assured me. “Stay still.”
The wolves passed by, their growls and heavy footsteps fading into the
distance. I exhaled, relief washing over me as I realized they hadn’t seen
where I went.
“That was too close,” I muttered.
“You handled it well,” Ima said. “But we need to be more careful.
They’re not going to stop looking for us.”
I pushed myself to my feet, brushing dirt off my clothes as I made my
way out of the forest. My heart still raced from the encounter, but
something about it felt… different.
“They bowed to us,” I said. “Why?”
“You’re starting to come into your own power,” Ima explained. “They
could sense it, even if they didn’t fully understand it. You’re not just any
wolf, Mia. You’re a vortex wolf. They can feel that, whether they realize it
or not.”
Her words sank in, and for the first time, I saw myself in a new light. I
wasn’t just the scared girl who’d been pushed around by the brothers
and bullied by others. I was more than that.
I smiled to myself, feeling a spark of confidence as I walked back toward
the road. The encounter with the rogues had shaken me, but it had also
awakened something inside me.
As I neared the edge of the forest, a sleek black car pulled up beside me,
its headlights cutting through the darkness.
Finally, someone on this road was there. It would help her to go back to
the city.
The window rolled down, and I froze when I saw who was inside.
“Get in,” Xavier commanded, his tone sharp.
“No,” I replied firmly.
He opened the door, stepping out of the car. His expression was a mix of
anger and something I couldn’t quite place.
“Mia,” he said, his voice low. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to
be. Get in the car.”
I crossed my arms. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Without warning, he closed the distance between us, grabbing my wrist.
“You don’t get to walk away from me like this.”
“Let go of me,” I demanded, trying to pull free.
Instead of letting go, he yanked me closer, his other hand grabbing the
back of my neck. His lips crashed against mine in a kiss so hard and
demanding that it left me stunned.
My hands flew to his chest, trying to push him away, but he didn’t budge.
His lips were rough, claiming mine with an intensity that made my heart
race. His teeth grazed my bottom lip before biting down, the sharp sting
making me gasp. He used the moment to deepen the kiss, his tongue
slipping into my mouth, tangling with mine.
I whimpered against him, my hands beating against his chest as I tried to
break free. But he didn’t stop. His possessiveness poured into every
movement as he bit down on my lips again, alternating between sharp
nips and sucking.
“Xavier!” I managed to gasp between his assault, but it only seemed to
fuel him further.
“You drive me mad,” he muttered against my lips, his voice rough. He
sucked my bottom lip into his mouth before biting it again, making me
wince.
“Stop!” I pushed harder, finally managing to shove him back slightly.
My lips throbbed, a mix of heat and pain, as I glared at him.
He stood there, his chest heaving, his eyes wild as he wiped his thumb
across his swollen lips. “You think you can just walk away from me?
From us?”
I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not yours, Xavier.
You don’t get to claim me like this.”
His hand shot out again, gripping my chin and forcing me to look up at
him. “You are mine. Whether you want to admit it or not, you belong to
me.”