Mia’s POV
The tension in the air was almost suffocating as I stepped into the living
room. Scarlet and Layla were waiting for me, their expressions smug and
predatory. Behind them, the brothers stood like silent spectators, their
gazes locked on me as if they were waiting for a show to begin.
“Here she is,” Scarlet sneered, crossing her arms. “The little saint who
thinks she can walk all over us and get away with it.”
I stopped in my tracks, my eyes narrowing slightly. I had no idea what
they planned, but I could tell it wasn’t going to be pleasant. My instincts
screamed at me to turn and walk away, but I knew that would only
encourage them.
“What do you want?” I asked, keeping my tone as calm as I could.
Layla smirked, stepping forward. “We want answers, Mia. What
happened last night? How did we end up unconscious on the floor?”
I blinked at them, feigning confusion. “You’re asking me? I thought you
two fought each other. At least, that’s how it looked to me.”
Scarlet’s eyes narrowed, and she let out a harsh laugh. “You’re a terrible
liar, Mia. We both know you’re the reason we ended up like that.”
I tilted my head, my expression remaining neutral. “If you’ve already
decided I’m guilty, why are you even asking?”
Layla’s smirk faltered, but Scarlet wasn’t so easily deterred. She took
another step closer, her eyes gleaming with malice. “You think you’re
clever, don’t you? Playing innocent, pretending to be weak. But we see
right through you.”
My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm. Ima
stirred inside me, her presence strong and steady.
“Let me handle this,” she urged.
“No,” I replied silently. “Not now. They can’t know about you yet.”
Scarlet’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Admit it, Mia. You did
something to us. What was it? Some kind of trick? A drug? Or maybe
you’re hiding something… something more.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, keeping my voice soft.
“I didn’t touch you.”
Layla scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re pathetic. Hiding behind lies
instead of owning up to what you did. But don’t worry-we’ll make sure
you pay for it.”
Before I could react, Scarlet swung her hand, slapping me hard across
the face. The force of it sent me stumbling back, but I caught myself
before I fell.
“Still going to deny it?” she taunted, her grin widening.
I didn’t respond, my hands curling into fists at my sides. Ima growled in
the back of my mind, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
“Let me out,” she demanded.
“No,” I repeated firmly. “Not yet.”
Scarlet didn’t wait for me to recover. She lunged at me, her hands
clawing at my arms as she shoved me back against the wall. Layla joined
in, grabbing my hair and pulling me down to the floor.
The pain was sharp, but I forced myself to endure it, biting back the urge
to fight back. I couldn’t let them know the truth-not yet.
“You’re nothing,” Layla hissed, kicking me in the ribs. “You think you
can play games with us? We’ll show you your place.”
I stayed down, clutching my side and gasping for breath. My wolf was
furious, pacing inside me like a caged animal.
“Why are you letting them do this?” Ima demanded.
“Because if I fight back, they’ll know,” I answered silently. “And I’m not
ready for that.”
The blows kept coming, but I focused on keeping my body still, my
breaths shallow. I could feel my injuries healing almost as quickly as they
formed, the sharp pain fading into a dull ache within seconds.
“Stop!” Xavier’s voice rang out, and suddenly, the girls were pulled off
me.
I looked up, my vision blurry, to see Xavier and Rolex standing over me,
their expressions a mix of anger and concern.
Both girls froze as Xavier and Rolex stormed into the room. Xavier’s
glare could have melted steel as he yanked Scarlet back by her arm.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” he demanded, his tone sharp
enough to make even Scarlet flinch.
Layla tried to defend herself, her voice haughty. “She deserved it! She’s
hiding something-”
“She’s our mate,” Rolex interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t get
to lay a finger on her. Ever.”
Scarlet snorted, yanking her arm free from Xavier’s grip. “Mate? Please.
She’s not worthy of being anyone’s mate, let alone yours. She’s weak,
and you’re blind if you can’t see it.”
Rolex stepped closer, his jaw tight. “If I see you touch her again, Scarlet,
I swear you’ll regret it.”
The intensity in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, but I didn’t have
time to dwell on it. I groaned, clutching my side as I pushed myself up,
making a show of limping toward the door.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, avoiding their gazes. “Just… leave me alone.”
The moment I was out of sight, I straightened up, the limp disappearing
as I rolled my shoulders. My ribs no longer ached, and the faint sting on
my cheek was completely gone. Ima had done her job well, healing me
faster than I’d expected.
“Nice performance,” Ima teased.
“Thanks,” I replied dryly, leaning against the wall.
I stayed there for a moment, catching my breath as I listened to the
voices drifting from the living room.
“She’s hiding something,” Scarlet insisted. “How else do you explain
how quickly she healed? She was limping a second ago, and now she’s
fine!”
“She’s stronger than she looks,” Xavier countered. “But that doesn’t
mean she’s hiding anything.”
Rolex’s voice cut through the argument. “You two attacked her. Do you
really think you’re in any position to question her strength after what
you just did?”
“She’s not normal,” Layla argued. “And you’re all too blind to see it.”
I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. They were arguing
about me-about my strength, my abilities. And none of them knew the
truth. I’d managed to fool them, to turn them against each other without
lifting a finger.
“Smart,” Ima mused.
Later that night, I retreated to my room, letting the weight of the day
settle over me. My body felt fine, but my mind was exhausted. I couldn’t
keep playing this game forever. At some point, the truth would come out,
and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep it hidden.
But for now, I had the upper hand. And I was going to use it.
The next morning, I dressed quickly, determined to leave the house
before anyone could stop me. Tristan was expecting me at work, and I
needed the distraction.
As I reached the front door, Xavier and Rolex appeared, blocking my
path.
“Going somewhere?” Xavier asked, his arms crossed.