Mia’s POV
By the time we pulled up in front of his house, my palms were slick with
sweat. I paid the driver and stepped out, staring up at the elegant
building. It was much quieter than the chaotic mess I had just left
behind, and I found myself hesitating.
What if this is a mistake?
Before I could second-guess myself, the door opened, and Tristan stood
there, his eyes widening slightly when he saw me.
“Mia,” he said, stepping forward. “What are you doing here?”
I felt a lump rise in my throat. “I needed to see you. Are you… okay?”
He smiled faintly, his gaze softening as he stepped aside to let me in.
“You’re the one sneaking out in the middle of the night, and you’re
asking if I’m okay?”
As I entered the house, I couldn’t help but notice how much better he
looked. His skin was no longer pale, and the wounds I had seen earlier
were completely gone. It was like the attack never happened.
“You’re… healed,” I murmured, my fingers brushing against his arm as
if to confirm he was real.
Tristan’s smile grew. “I have a pretty good recovery rate. But I could say
the same about you. Last I checked, you were being dragged away against
your will.”
I hesitated, glancing down at my hands. “I’m fine. They didn’t hurt me.”
“Not physically, maybe,” Tristan said, his voice carrying an edge. “But
that doesn’t mean you’re fine.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off, his gaze narrowing
slightly. “Mia, about earlier. What did you do?”
My stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
He leaned against the back of a couch, crossing his arms. “I’m not
stupid. I was bleeding out one minute, and the next, I’m healing faster
than I ever have before. You did something, didn’t you?”
I swallowed hard, trying to think of a way out of this conversation. “I
don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you’re just stronger than
you realize.”
Tristan shook his head, his eyes locking onto mine. “Mia.”
His tone left no room for argument, but I wasn’t ready to share the truth.
I couldn’t let him know about Ima or the power coursing through me. If
he found out, it would only put him in more danger.
“I was desperate,” I admitted, keeping my voice low. “I didn’t want to
lose you, so I did what I could to help. That’s all.”
Tristan studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he let
out a sigh, his shoulders relaxing. “You’re a mystery, Mia. One I’m not
sure I’ll ever figure out.”
“Maybe it’s better that way,” I whispered, offering a faint smile.
He smiled back, though there was a flicker of something-concern,
maybe-in his eyes. “Come on. Let’s sit down. You look like you could
use a break.”
We spent the next hour talking, and for the first time in what felt like
forever, I felt at ease. Tristan didn’t push me for answers or try to control
me. He just… listened.
“You shouldn’t have to go back there,” he said at one point, his voice
filled with frustration. “You know that, right?”
I nodded, staring down at the tea he had made me. “I know. But it’s not
that simple. They’re my mates. The bond…”
“The bond doesn’t give them the right to treat you like this,” Tristan
interrupted, his voice firm.
I glanced up at him, my chest tightening at the intensity in his gaze. “It’s
complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” he argued. “You could stay here. With me.”
The offer hung in the air, and for a moment, I was tempted. Life with
Tristan would be so much easier-safer. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t
a real solution.
“I can’t,” I said softly.
“Why not?”
“Because running away won’t solve anything,” I admitted, my voice
barely above a whisper. “And because they’d never let me go.”
Tristan frowned but didn’t press the issue. Instead, he reached across the
table, his fingers brushing against mine. “You don’t have to fight this
alone, Mia. I’m here for you.”
His touch sent a warmth through me, and for a moment, I let myself
believe that everything might be okay.
By the time I realized how late it was, the temptation to stay had grown
stronger, but I knew I couldn’t. I stood up, smoothing out my dress. “I
should go. If they find out I’m here, it’ll only make things worse.”
Tristan stood as well, his brows furrowing. “You don’t have to go back.
Stay here, at least for tonight.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. If I don’t go back, they’ll come looking for me.
And if they find me here…”
“I will drop you then,” he said, and nodded slowly.
His jaw tightened, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but he stopped
himself. I couldn’t shake the image of the brothers, their unrelenting
anger toward Tristan, and what could have happened tonight if I hadn’t
stopped them. A war between packs. Bloodshed. Chaos. All because of me.
The thought of them killing Tristan-of watching him fall to their claws
-made my stomach twist in guilt and fear. I couldn’t let that happen, no
matter how strained things were between us. But how much longer could
I keep playing this dangerous game?
“You sure you’re alright?” Tristan asked as he glanced over at me. His
voice brought me back to the present.
I nodded, forcing a faint smile. “I’ll be fine.”
His jaw tightened as he pulled up outside the house. “Mia, listen to me.
You don’t have to keep going back there. You’re going to break if you
keep this up.”
I hesitated, gripping the door handle as I looked at him. His concern was
genuine, and for a moment, I wanted to let myself believe that staying
with him could solve everything. But I knew better.
“They’ll come looking for me,” I whispered. “It’ll only get worse if I
don’t go back.”
He exhaled heavily, his hand brushing against mine. “You don’t deserve
this. None of it.”
“I know,” I murmured, my chest tightening. “Thank you for caring,
Tristan. It means more than you know.”
He nodded reluctantly, watching as I stepped out of the car. “If they push
too far, Mia… you know where to find me.”
I nodded, turning back toward the house. The darkness loomed ahead
like a suffocating shadow, but I didn’t let myself hesitate.
The house was quiet as I slipped inside, the stillness unnerving. I made
my way up the stairs, careful to avoid any creaking boards. My heart
raced with every step, knowing the brothers would be furious if they
caught me sneaking in.
But as I reached my room, I froze. The door was slightly ajar, a sliver of
light spilling into the hallway. My pulse quickened as I stepped closer,
pushing the door open slowly.
Sean was sitting on the edge of my bed, his arms crossed and his gaze
fixed on me as I entered.
“Where were you?” he asked, his tone calm but laced with tension.
I hesitated, my hand tightening on the doorknob. “Washroom.”
“Liar.” He arched an eyebrow, his gaze dropping to the faint smudge of
Tristan’s scent still clinging to me. “Your were with him, I assume.”