Mia’s POV
Nathan and Sean barged into my room without knocking, their faces tight with urgency.
I barely looked up from my book. I wasn’t in the mood for whatever nonsense they were about to spill.
“We need to talk,” Nathan said, with a serious face.
I flipped a page. “We don’t, actually.”
Sean stepped closer. “It’s about Xavier and Rolex.”
I stilled for a split second but quickly masked it. “What about them?”
“They’re missing,” Nathan said. His usual cocky tone was gone. “They followed Lucas. They never came back.”
A bitter laugh slipped out. “So? Maybe they finally realized I don’t want them hovering over me and left.”
Sean clenched his jaw. “Mia, we’re serious.”
“So am I.” I snapped my book shut and stood, crossing my arms. “You expect me to believe that they just disappeared? Convenient, isn’t it? Right when I finally have something good in my life, you two show up, trying to drag me back into your mess?”
Nathan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Mia, listen for once-”
“No,” I cut him off, my chest tightening. “I spent years being controlled by you, by Xavier, by Rolex. Every single one of you decided I was weak, that I needed to be broken.” My voice shook, but I refused to stop. “Now that I have someone who actually cares about me, who doesn’t treat me like some damn burden, you expect me to drop everything and believe you?”
Sean’s expression darkened. “You think Lucas cares about you?”
I stepped forward, furious now. “Yes! He’s my brother. Something you four never were.”
Nathan’s jaw twitched. “Then tell me-why hasn’t he introduced himself to your uncle? Why is he keeping you separate from the rest of your family?”
I froze.
For a second.
Then I shoved the thought away. “It’s complicated.”
Nathan scoffed. “Right. That’s what he told you?”
I had nothing to say to that, so I turned away. “Get out.”
Sean hesitated, his gaze searching mine, but Nathan grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the door.
“You’ll see,” Nathan muttered before leaving.
I stood there for a long moment, my chest heaving.
They were lying.
They had to be.
Right?
Lucas arrived right on time, his sleek black car pulling up to the estate gates.
I climbed in, exhaling as he drove away. “Take me somewhere fun.”
He smirked. “I was already planning on it.”
I leaned against the seat, forcing myself to relax. Nathan and Sean had put too many thoughts in my head. I didn’t want to think about them. I didn’t want to think about Xavier or Rolex or-
I swallowed.
Instead, I focused on Lucas, on the fact that he was here. He wasn’t lying. He couldn’t be.
But as we drove farther from the city, I turned to him. “Take me to your pack.”
Lucas barely reacted, but I saw the way his fingers tightened slightly on the wheel.
He chuckled, casual. “Why so sudden?”
I shrugged. “I want to see it. My home.”
He didn’t answer immediately. The air in the car shifted, something thick and unreadable settling between us.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he finally said.
I frowned. “Why not?”
Lucas sighed, glancing at me briefly. “Mia, my pack… It’s not safe right now. We’re dealing with conflicts, rogue threats. If you came, you’d be a target.”
His words made sense. They did.
But something about them felt wrong.
Lucas sighed as he drove, his hands relaxed on the wheel, but I could see the tension in his knuckles.
“My pack is dealing with… complications,” he said smoothly. “Border disputes, rogue attacks. It’s not safe for you to be there.”
I frowned, watching his profile carefully. “I can take care of myself.”
His lips twitched into a smirk. “I don’t doubt that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Lucas exhaled, shaking his head. “Mia, you’re… important. I don’t want you in the middle of a war. You’re safer here.”
Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist. It felt rehearsed, practiced.
Safe?
When have I ever been safe?
I studied him as we drove, my mind replaying everything Nathan and Sean had said earlier. I had dismissed them before, but now, with every word Lucas spoke, I felt a nagging feeling in the back of my skull-
Something wasn’t adding up.
I folded my arms. “You trust me, don’t you?”
Lucas glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Of course.”
“Then why won’t you introduce me to your pack?”
There was a pause.
It was slight, barely noticeable-but I caught it.
Then he chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re persistent.”
I didn’t respond. I just waited.
Finally, he sighed. “Fine. When things settle down, I’ll take you there. But for now, let’s just enjoy the night, okay?”
I nodded slowly, even as my mind screamed at me.
That was a lie.
We pulled up near a quiet, abandoned road, the city lights flickering in the distance. Lucas parked and got out, stretching his arms. “Come on,” he said, nodding for me to follow. “I found a place nearby that has an amazing view.”
I hesitated before stepping out, the cold air brushing against my skin. The night was eerily quiet, the wind whispering through the trees.
Lucas walked ahead, leading me toward a small hill covered in tall grass. It was too perfect. Too isolated.
My wolf stirred uneasily.
“Where exactly are we going?” I asked, glancing around.
He smiled. “You’ll see.”
Then-out of nowhere-
A sharp slice of metal against skin.
Lucas let out a sharp curse, stumbling forward.
I blinked, eyes widening as I saw blood dripping from his forearm. He must’ve brushed against an old metal sign, barely visible in the dark.
He hissed, gripping his wound, his expression tight. “Damn it.”
I took a step toward him. “It’s just a cut-”
“Mia, give me your blood.”
I froze.
My heart stopped.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze to his. “What?”
Lucas exhaled sharply, his silver eyes locking onto mine. “Your blood-it can heal me.”
My mouth went dry. My pulse thundered in my ears.
“How do you know that?”
Lucas tensed. Too late. He had already slipped.
I took a step back. “How do you know, Lucas?”
He clenched his jaw. “Mia-”
“Tell me.” My voice was deadly quiet, my body stiff.
He hadn’t seen me heal anyone. He didn’t know about the brothers. He didn’t know about what I was.