Diego’s words hung in the air like a thunderclap, the weight of them
pressing down on all of us. The room fell into a heavy silence, the
brothers staring at their father as though he had just delivered their
death sentence.
“Two options,” Diego repeated, his tone steady but grim. “Either your
true mate completes the bond and breaks the curse, or a white wolf could
save you from this curse. But as far as we know, no white wolves exist in
this generation.”
White wolf? My wolf was also white wolf.
I was not only their mate but white wolf also.
I opened my mouth to speak, but something stopped me. It wasn’t my
place to comment, was it? This wasn’t my problem. Or at least, that’s
what I tried to convince myself. But the knot forming in my chest told me
otherwise.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his frustration evident as he stepped forward.
“You’re telling us this now? After everything?”
“I didn’t want it to come to this,” Diego replied calmly. “I’ve spent years
trying to find another way, searching for a solution that didn’t involve
tying your fate to Mia.”
Sean broke the silence first, his voice low and filled with disbelief. “A
white wolf? They’ve been extinct for centuries. How can you expect us to
believe that one even exists now?”
Diego folded his arms, his gaze steady. “They aren’t extinct. There’s one
in every generation, but they’re rare-so rare that most never awaken
their full potential.”
Nathan’s jaw clenched. “And you’re saying that this mythical white wolf
is supposed to save us? What kind of nonsense is this?”
Diego’s expression hardened. “It’s not nonsense. It’s the truth. The
curse on our bloodline was placed by a powerful witch generations ago.
The only way to break it is through the bond with your true mate. But if
that mate happens to be a white wolf, it ensures the curse is not only
broken but eradicated completely.”
Xavier’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re just telling us this now? After
everything we’ve been through, after how we’ve treated her… You kept
this from us?”
“I didn’t want this for you,” Diego admitted, his voice heavy with regret.
“Do you think I wanted you to be tied to someone against your will? I’ve
spent years searching for another way, a different solution. But there
isn’t one.”
“You should have told us,” Xavier muttered, running a hand through his
hair. “We deserved to know.”
“You think I wanted this for Mia?” Diego’s voice rose slightly, his
frustration clear. “Do you think she asked for this? She didn’t. None of
you did. But this is the reality we’re in.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides. They were talking about me as
though I wasn’t even there, as though I was some object, some key to
unlocking their freedom.
I shook my head and stepped toward the door. “I’m done listening to
this,” I muttered, my tone cold.
Sean turned toward me. “Where are you going?”
“Somewhere that doesn’t involve being treated like I’m some magical
tool for your survival,” I shot back before walking out.
The air outside the room felt lighter, but my chest was still tight with
frustration. I walked down the hallway, my mind racing.
They need me, I realized, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.
They’re stuck with me, whether they like it or not.
For the first time, it felt like I had the upper hand. The brothers, who had
spent so long tormenting and belittling me, now needed me for their
very survival. And not just because I was their mate, but because I was
the white wolf-their only chance at breaking the curse.
But I knew better than to think this would make things easier. They
wouldn’t be easily tamed. Their pride wouldn’t let them admit how much
they needed me, and I wasn’t naive enough to think this revelation
would change how they treated me overnight.
Still, the thought gave me a small sense of satisfaction.
Later that night, I went downstairs to grab a drink. The kitchen was
quiet, the dim lighting casting shadows across the counters. As I poured
myself a glass of water, I heard footsteps approaching.
I turned to see Scarlet and Layla standing in the doorway, their
expressions filled with disdain.
“Well, if it isn’t the savior of the Atwood brothers,” Scarlet sneered,
crossing her arms.
Layla smirked. “How does it feel to be their last resort? Must be nice,
knowing they only tolerate you because they have to.”
I rolled my eyes, turning back to my glass. “I’m not in the mood for
this,” I muttered.
Scarlet stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. “Oh, you’re not in
the mood? That’s too bad, because I am.”
Before I could react, she slapped me across the face. The sharp sting
brought tears to my eyes, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of
seeing me cry.
“That’s for what you did to Layla,” she hissed.
My wolf stirred inside me, her presence strong and commanding. “Don’t
let them walk over you,” Ima growled.
I set the glass down carefully, turning to face Scarlet and Layla. “You
really think that was a good idea?”
Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “What are you going to do about it?”
In one swift motion, I swung my fist, connecting with her jaw. She
stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock.
Layla rushed toward me, but I stepped aside, grabbing her arm and
twisting it behind her back. She cried out in pain, but I didn’t let go.
“You two have been nothing but a pain in my ass since you got here,” I
said, my voice low and steady. “But let me make one thing clear-I’m
not the same girl you think I am. If you want to come at me, you better be
ready to face the consequences.”
I released Layla, shoving her toward Scarlet. Before either of them could
recover, they both collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
I stared at them in shock, my chest heaving. “What just happened?”
“They couldn’t handle your strength,” Ima said, her voice laced with
amusement. “They didn’t stand a chance.”
I looked down at my hands, the realization hitting me. My wolf had taken
over, lending me her power to fight back. The force I’d used was
unmatched, far beyond anything I could have done on my own.
What would happen if they told the brothers about her? If they found it,
then they won’t let her go.