Mia’s POV
The storm raged outside, the wind howling like a beast trapped in a cage.
The flickering candlelight cast long shadows against the wooden walls,
making the small space feel even more suffocating. I had tried to keep
myself awake, but exhaustion crept in, my body betraying me as my
eyelids grew heavy.
I barely noticed the soft touch at first. The gentle way fingers brushed
against my hair, tucking a damp strand behind my ear. A warmth
lingered close-too close.
My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself staring straight into
Nathan’s face.
My breath caught, panic clawing at my chest. He was right there,
hovering over me, his face inches from mine. His golden eyes flickered
with something unreadable, his fingers still grazing my cheek.
The moment snapped.
I shot up, pushing myself away from him as fast as I could. “What the
hell are you doing?”
Nathan’s hands lifted in surrender, his lips twitching into something
almost amused. “Relax, Princess. You had a hair strand sticking to your
face. I was just-”
“Don’t touch me!” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I
didn’t care. The past slammed into me, memories of their cruelty, their
torment, the times they had grabbed me, held me down just to watch me
squirm-
The brothers immediately backed off, hands raised in defense, their
expressions shifting from amusement to something more serious.
Xavier let out a sigh, raking a hand through his damp hair. “Mia, we’re
not going to hurt you.”
I hugged my arms around myself, the cold creeping in, my fingers
trembling slightly. “Just stay on your side of the room.”
Rolex exhaled, shaking his head. “We can’t help you if you keep shutting
us out.”
I scoffed. “I don’t need your help.”
Nathan leaned back against the wooden wall, watching me carefully.
“You’d rather freeze?”
I glared at him, but my body betrayed me. A shiver ran down my spine,
making my teeth clench. I had been trying to ignore it, but my thin dress
was damp, and the storm had dropped the temperature drastically.
Sean, who had been quiet all night, suddenly pulled his shirt over his
head, tossing it in my direction. “Wear it.”
I stared at the fabric in disbelief.
Nathan smirked. “Unless you want to cuddle with one of us instead?”
I grabbed the shirt and threw it at his face. “Over my dead body.”
The brothers chuckled, but there was something different this time. No
cruelty, no mockery-just a quiet patience I wasn’t used to.
I huffed, rubbing my arms. The cold was starting to seep into my bones. I
cursed under my breath before reluctantly picking up Sean’s shirt again.
My pride screamed at me to refuse, but my body ached for warmth.
Slipping it over my head, I tried to ignore the scent that clung to it-
woodsy, warm, oddly comforting. I hated that it made me feel safe.
Sean smirked. “Looks better on you anyway.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
For the first time that night, the tension in the room eased slightly. The
storm outside still raged, but inside, something fragile and unspoken
lingered between us.
I didn’t trust them.
I wouldn’t forgive them.
But for tonight, I had no choice but to stay here with them.
The warmth surrounding me was foreign, almost too comforting. I had
fallen asleep despite my best efforts to stay awake. But the moment my
dreams twisted into nightmares, my body jerked, snapping me out of the
abyss.
My eyes shot open, my breath ragged, heart pounding against my ribs.
It was dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of the fireplace. The
storm outside still raged, rain tapping against the wooden roof like
fingers drumming on a table. I blinked, adjusting to my surroundings,
and that’s when I saw them.
The brothers were all around me.
Not in a way that trapped me-no. Their bodies were positioned in a way
that protected me.
Xavier was leaning against the door, arms folded even in sleep, his
breathing steady. Rolex was stretched out beside the fireplace, one arm
resting over his stomach, his head tilted slightly as if listening for
danger even in his dreams. Nathan was closest to me, his body slightly
curled in a protective stance, while Sean-
Sean was already awake.
I tensed as I realized he was watching me, his sharp blue eyes reflecting
the flickering firelight. He wasn’t smirking, wasn’t mocking me.
Just watching.
“You had a nightmare,” he murmured, his voice low enough not to wake
the others.
I swallowed, pushing my hair out of my face. “So what?”
His gaze didn’t waver. “You were trembling.”
I clenched my fists. “It’s cold.”
Sean shifted, moving closer until he was near enough that I could feel his
warmth. He didn’t touch me, but the proximity sent shivers down my
spine for a different reason.
“You never used to be afraid of storms,” he mused. “Or are you afraid of
us?”
I met his gaze, the weight of his words settling in my chest.
I should be afraid of them. I should never let my guard down, never
forget what they did, never forgive them.
But I wasn’t afraid. Not in the way he meant.
I knew it was him before I even turned my head. His breathing pattern
changed, a barely audible exhale escaping his lips as he pushed himself
up from his place on the floor. I felt him watching me, and when I finally
glanced his way, I found those piercing blue eyes locked onto mine.
His expression was unreadable, but the intensity in his gaze made my
stomach twist.
He leaned in, his voice low, just for me. “Why are you still pretending,
Mia?”
My pulse quickened, but I kept my face blank. “I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”
Sean huffed a quiet laugh, moving even closer. The heat of his body sent
a shiver down my spine, but I didn’t move away.
“You think we don’t know it’s you?” His fingers brushed the edge of the
blanket, but he didn’t touch me. “We’ve always known.”
I met his gaze, my lips curling slightly. “And?”
Sean’s eyes darkened, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I want to
know why you’re still playing this game.”
My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. He
thinks this is a game? Fine.
I leaned in, closing the small distance between us, close enough that I
could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips.
“If I confessed right away,” I murmured, my voice smooth, teasing,
“where would the fun be in that?”
Sean sucked in a sharp breath, his jaw tightening.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then, his lips parted, a smirk playing at the edges. “You really haven’t
changed, have you?”
I pulled back, resting my head against the pillow, my smirk still in place.
“Goodnight, Sean.”
His gaze lingered on me a second longer before he exhaled and lay back
down.
But even as I closed my eyes, I could still feel him watching me.