XAVIER’S POV
Mia had been acting different lately, and it wasn’t just a subtle shift. She
was colder, more confident, and completely unbothered by our presence.
It was as if she had decided that we didn’t matter anymore. The thought
alone made my jaw tighten. Something had changed in her, and I
couldn’t figure out what.
“She’s hiding something,” Rolex muttered, leaning against the wall as
we watched her leave the house for the third time this week.
“She’s always hiding something,” Nathan scoffed. “The question is
what.”
Sean looked between us, his brow furrowed. “Are we really doing this?
Spying on her? It’s not like she’s out there plotting against us.”
“She might be,” I said, my voice sharp. “She’s been different ever since
Diego mentioned the curse. We need to know what she’s up to.”
Sean sighed, but didn’t argue. Rolex straightened up, his expression
hard. “Then let’s follow her.”
When she stopped as she was stepping out of the house, I decided I’d had
enough. Moving in front of her, I crossed my arms, blocking her path.
“Where are you going, Mia?”
She turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. “Work. Now move. I’m late.”
Rolex stepped up beside me, smirking. “Not so fast. We want to know
what’s really going on.”
Her shoulders stiffened, and she let out an exasperated sigh. “Nothing is
going on. I’m trying to get to my job. Why is that so hard for you to
understand?”
I took a step closer, studying her face for any cracks in her calm facade.
“Because you’ve been sneaking around, avoiding us, and acting like
you’ve got something to hide. We’re not letting you out of our sight until
we figure out what’s going on.”
Her jaw tightened, and I could see the flicker of annoyance in her eyes. “I
don’t have time for this. If I’m late, Tristan’s going to-”
The name hit me like a physical blow. “Tristan?” My voice dripped with
suspicion. “You’re working for Tristan?”
Her jaw tightened, and I knew she hadn’t meant to let that slip. How
could she work with him? After we have said her to be away from him.
Are they dating each other?
“Yes. He offered me a job, and I took it. Is that a problem?”
“Yes, it’s a fucking problem,” I snarled. “He’s not just some random guy,
Mia. He is a threat.”
“To you, maybe,” she shot back, her eyes flashing. “But not to me. Now,
if you’ll excuse me, Tristan would come soon to pick me up.”
She didnt even hesitate for once, like she didn’t fear from us anymore. If
she is playing this game, then I would show her today. But I can’t let that
Tristan be a hero in her eyes, thats what he want me to do.
Rolex’s hand shot out, gripping her arm as she tried to push past.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
The look she gave him could have frozen hell itself. “Let. Go. Of. Me.” I
took a deep breath and try to come up with an excuse.
“You’re not safe with him,” I said, trying to make her understand.
“Tristan has his own agenda, and I’m not going to let you get caught up
in it.” This may be a lie for her, but I was sure he had some agenda and he
was going closer to her, with a purpose. How can alpha like him date an
omega?
“I can take care of myself,” she snapped, yanking her arm free.
“Can you?” Nathan’s voice cut in, skepticism dripping from every word.
“Because last I checked, you’ve got a habit of getting into trouble.”
Before she could respond, a sleek black car pulled up beside us. The
window rolled down, revealing Tristan’s perfectly composed face, and
my blood began to boil.
“Mia,” he called out, his eyes taking in the scene with calculated
precision. “Is everything alright?”
She moved toward the car like it was a lifeline. “No. These idiots are
trying to stop me from going to work.”
Tristan stepped out the car, positioning himself between Mia and us.
Always the fucking hero. “What’s going on here?”
“This doesn’t concern you,” I bit out.
His lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It does if Mia’s
involved. She works for me now, which means she’s under my
protection.”
Rolex’s laugh was sharp and humorless. “Your protection? That’s cute.”
Tristan ignored him, turning to Mia with a gentleness that made my wolf
snarl. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, relief evident in her voice. “I’m fine. Just annoyed.”
“Let’s go,” he said, his hand landing on her shoulder in a way that made
me see red.
I stepped forward until we were chest to chest, my eyes boring into his.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
“She’s free to make her own decisions,” he replied, cool as ice.
“She’s our mate,” I growled, letting him hear the threat in my voice.
“And you’ve done such a great job of taking care of her,” he shot back.
“If you had, she wouldn’t have needed a job in the first place.”
My fists clenched at my sides, control slipping. “This isn’t about money.
It’s about keeping her safe. Something you clearly can’t do.”
Mia pushed between us, fury radiating from her small frame. “Stop it.
Both of you.”
Neither of us moved. The air crackled with tension and unspoken threats.
“Mia, quit this job,” I demanded, my voice leaving no room for
argument.
“No.”
The single word hit like a slap. “What did you just say?”
“I said no,” she repeated, crossing her arms. “I’m not quitting. I like this
job, and I’m not going to let you control me.”
I caught Tristan’s smug smile before he could hide it.
“She’s made her decision,” he said smoothly. “Now, if you’ll excuse us,
we’re late.”
He reached for her arm, but I was faster, pulling her back toward me.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Tristan’s eyes darkened to midnight. “Let her go, Xavier.”
“Make me.”
His fist connected with my jaw before I could blink, sending me
stumbling back a step. Rolex and Nathan surged forward, ready for
blood, but Tristan held his ground.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Rolex warned, his voice deadly quiet.
“I’ll do it again if you don’t back off,” Tristan promised.
“STOP IT!” Mia’s voice cracked through the air like lightning, freezing
us all in place. She stood between us, arms outstretched, trembling with
rage. “I’m not a toy for you to fight over. I’m not yours to control, and
I’m not going to stand here and let you treat me like I am.”