From the window, I watched them. All four of them.
Standing outside like lost puppies, their arms crossed, looking like they
were on some kind of mission. It was almost comical-four powerful
Alphas reduced to this.
But the longer I stared, the more my irritation boiled over into
something darker.
Just yesterday, they had the audacity to accuse me of trying to kill
Nathan. They yelled at me, pointed fingers, acted like I was some kind of
criminal-when I was the stupid one who actually saved him!
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. What a joke.
They didn’t deserve kindness. They didn’t deserve anything from me.
The only thing they deserved was punishment.
And yet here they were, standing there like bodyguards, as if I needed
their protection.
I rolled my eyes and yanked the curtain shut. Idiots.
A knock on my door made me groan. “What now?”
“Princess, Alpha Damon is calling for you,” a maid announced.
I sighed, snatching my phone off the dresser. Just what I needed. Another
reason to be annoyed.
I pressed it to my ear. “What?”
“You’re going with the Atwood brothers today,” Damon’s voice was
calm, but firm.
My fingers tightened around the phone. “Excuse me?”
“It’s an errand for the pack. You need to oversee the deal, and they’ll be
your escorts.”
I stopped pacing, my jaw tightening. “I don’t need them,” I snapped. “I
can go alone.”
“They’re coming. It’s already decided.”
I froze in place. What?
Frustration bubbled up so fast I nearly threw the phone. “So I don’t get a
choice?”
Damon didn’t answer.
Of course I didn’t.
My stomach twisted, a mix of anger and disbelief settling deep in my
bones. Just yesterday, they were accusing me of attempted murder, and
now I’m supposed to play nice and run errands with them?
I clenched my teeth, forcing a breath through my nose. “Fine. But if one
of them breathes the wrong way, I swear I will throw them off the
moving car.”
Damon chuckled. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
I ended the call, tossing my phone onto the bed.
Was the universe punishing me?
I had plans. I was supposed to be making their lives miserable-not
hanging out with them!
I groaned, rubbing my temples. I should have let Nathan die. The
thought was cruel, but I didn’t care. I owed them nothing. And yet, here I
was, stuck with them like we were some kind of dysfunctional family.
Just yesterday, I wanted them all to suffer, and now I was being forced to
go somewhere with them like we were all some happy little group.
It was infuriating.
I yanked open my closet, grabbing my coat and slipping it on. Fine.
If I had to endure this, I was at least going to look good doing it.
And maybe-just maybe-I’d find a way to make their lives hell along
the way.
I sat in the car, arms crossed, staring out the window as the trees blurred
past. The tension in the vehicle was suffocating. Sitting next to me in the
driver’s seat was Xavier, his usual cocky smirk in place as if he didn’t
have a care in the world.
“You know, Princess, you could at least pretend to enjoy our company,”
Xavier mused, glancing at me with a side smirk.
I didn’t even blink. “I’d rather enjoy the silence.”
Nathan chuckled from the backseat. “Cold as ever.”
“Maybe because she still hates us,” Rolex added, stretching his arms
behind his head.
Sean leaned forward, resting his chin on the back of my seat. “Hate is a
strong word, Mia. I’d say you secretly love having us around.”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You all must be delusional.”
“Come on,” Xavier teased, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
“I’m sure if you just give us a chance, you’d-”
I turned to him with a deadpan expression. “If you’re about to say
something ridiculous, save your breath.”
Xavier let out a low chuckle but didn’t push further. At least they knew
when to shut up.
My uncle had sent me on this ridiculous errand, and I still couldn’t
understand why. Out of all the packs in the region, why this one?
It wasn’t just some random place. It was a pack that had history with the
Atwood brothers. A pack that hated them.
I narrowed my eyes. Did Damon do this on purpose?
Maybe this was his way of punishing them-forcing them to go
somewhere they weren’t welcome. A cruel joke at their expense. But why
drag me into it?
My fists curled in my lap.
If he thought I’d care about what happened to them, he was wrong.
Was this some kind of twisted revenge?
The thought made my stomach churn.
Just as I was trying to piece it together, Xavier suddenly slammed on the
brakes, sending the car skidding to a rough stop.
“What the hell-” I started, but then I saw them.
A group of men stepping out of the trees, blocking the road. Their eyes
glowed with challenge, their stance predatory. The scent of wolves filled
the air, but it wasn’t just any wolves-it was the Nashor pack.
We were in enemy territory.
Nathan cursed under his breath. “Of course.”
Sean let out a sigh, cracking his knuckles. “This day just keeps getting
better.”
Before I could even react, the men lunged.
The brothers were out of the car in seconds, meeting the attack head-on.
Xavier was already throwing punches, Nathan shifting partially, his
claws slashing at the enemies. Rolex and Sean stood protectively in front
of me, pushing back anyone who got too close.
“Stay in the car, Mia!” Sean ordered, dodging a blow.
“Like hell I will,” I muttered, reaching for the door handle.
A figure rushed toward me, but before he could grab me, Rolex
intercepted, landing a brutal kick to his stomach.
“Protect Mia first!” Xavier yelled, blocking an incoming attack.
Figures emerged from the trees, surrounding us in an instant. The air
filled with the sound of growls and shifting bodies.
My stomach twisted. This wasn’t just an ambush. It was a planned
attack.
I barely had time to react before one of them lunged at me.
I moved back on instinct, but before I could counter, Nathan was there.
His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me out of the way just as
sharp claws slashed through the space where I’d been standing.
I gasped, stumbling as he shoved me behind him.
The others sprang into action. Xavier moved like lightning, his fists
colliding with one of the attackers so hard that the sound of bones
cracking echoed through the trees. Rolex and Sean fought in sync,
keeping them from reaching me.
I should have run. I should have helped.
But something in my chest ached.
Why were they doing this?
Why were they protecting me?
I shook my head. No. Don’t be stupid.
This didn’t change anything.
They weren’t my heroes. They weren’t suddenly good people just
because they fought off some enemies.
I clenched my fists, trying to shake the strange feeling bubbling in my
chest. No. I can’t be moved by this. Not after everything.
But then Sean took a punch to the side, and I felt something twist inside
me.
More men emerged from the trees, surrounding us completely. My
breathing quickened. There were too many of them.