MIA’S POV
Lucas leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me closely. “You should come live with me.”
I hesitated, my fingers curling into the fabric of my sweater. “I need time.”
He didn’t argue, just nodded slowly, but I could feel the weight of his disappointment.
I had only just found out about him. A brother. My twin. It still didn’t feel real. How was I supposed to just pack up my life and leave with someone I barely knew?
Uncle agreed with my decision, though I could tell he was relieved. Maybe he didn’t want me too far away either. But Lucas wasn’t completely alone-so I introduced him to my cousins, Damon and Daisy.
Damon, ever the protective one, studied Lucas for a long time before finally shaking his hand. “Took you long enough to show up.”
Lucas smirked. “Better late than never.”
For the first time in a long time, I felt whole.
I had family. A real family.
A warmth spread through me, one I hadn’t felt in years.
But that warmth didn’t last.
Damon pulled me aside later, his expression tight. “You need to come with me.”
Something in his voice made my stomach twist. “Why?”
He hesitated, then exhaled, as if bracing himself. “Your… stepbrothers. They were poisoned.”
The words barely registered at first.
Poisoned?
I rushed after Damon without another word, my heart hammering in my chest.
When we arrived, I found them lying on the bed, their bodies weak, their usual arrogance stripped away. But even in this state, they still had the audacity to flirt.
I shouldn’t have cared.
I shouldn’t have felt anything but satisfaction seeing them weak, suffering-helpless the way they once made me feel.
But looking at them now, pale and trembling, their usual cocky smirks replaced with exhaustion, I felt something I didn’t want to name.
Nathan smirked weakly. “What’s this? Did you miss us, princess?”
Nathan-cruel, ruthless Nathan-who used to look at me like I was worthless, was now looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
Sean, who had once cornered me in the dark and taunted me until I was too scared to breathe, now barely had the strength to sit up. His lips were cracked, his breathing shallow.
Rolex, the one who always had some arrogant remark, some teasing insult, wasn’t grinning like he used to. His fingers twitched against the sheets, his eyes dull.
Rolex sighed dramatically. “Mia, just let me rest my head in your lap one last time.”
Sean chuckled, though it came out strained. “I always knew you’d be the death of us.”
And Xavier.
Xavier, whose touch used to feel like a threat, now barely had the strength to hold my wrist, his fingers trembling as he held onto me like he was afraid I would disappear.
Xavier, despite looking like hell, gave me a lazy grin. “If I have to die, I’d rather it be in your arms.”
I rolled my eyes, ignoring the way my chest ached seeing them like this.
For the first time, I saw fear in their eyes. Not fear of dying-but fear that I wouldn’t care. That I’d leave them like they once left me.
Maybe I should have.
“Idiots,” I muttered, grabbing a knife and pressing it against my palm.
Nathan’s brow furrowed. “What are you doing?”
“Saving your sorry asses.”
They stiffened.
“Mia, don’t,” Xavier warned, his usual smugness vanishing.
I didn’t listen.
I sliced into my palm, watching as crimson pooled in my hand before I pressed it to Nathan’s lips.
But as I pressed my blood to Nathan’s lips and watched his body slowly regain strength, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart twisted.
He jerked back, shaking his head. “No. This is our punishment.”
A punishment?
My blood boiled. “Are you seriously telling me you’d rather die?”
Rolex grinned, though it was weak. “Wouldn’t be the worst way to go, especially with you looking at me like that.”
“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath.
They were poisoned. Dying. And they were still flirting.
I ignored their protests, forcing the blood onto Nathan’s lips first. He clenched his jaw but swallowed, his breathing evening almost immediately.
One by one, I made them drink, ignoring their weak attempts to refuse.
By the time I reached Xavier, he grabbed my wrist, his grip trembling. “Why are you doing this?”
I met his gaze, heart hammering. “Because I don’t want you dead, you arrogant ass.”
His lips quirked, something soft flashing in his eyes before he finally drank.
The moment it was done, I sat back, exhaling.
Silence stretched between us.
Xavier was the first to break it. “Mia…”
“Don’t,” I cut him off, standing. “Just get better.”
Because even though I hadn’t forgiven them-even though I never planned to-a part of me still cared.
And that realization terrified me.
Lucas barely had time to settle in before the stepbrothers made their move.
They walked into the room together, like they’d planned this whole thing. Four Alphas, confident, cocky, and shameless as ever. But for once, they weren’t trying to intimidate me.
They were trying to impress my brother.
Nathan was the first to speak, smirking like he was enjoying this way too much. “Lucas, nice to finally meet you. We’re your sister’s mates-and also, you know, her stepbrothers.”
Lucas stiffened beside me. His gaze flickered to mine, waiting for me to deny it, but before I could, Xavier leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“She’s a bit shy about it,” Xavier added, voice laced with amusement. “But yeah, she’s ours.”
I nearly choked.
“Excuse me?” I spun toward them, glaring. “I’m not yours.”
Lucas’ expression darkened, looking between me and them like he was trying to piece together a very disturbing puzzle. “Stepbrothers… and mates?”
Rolex grinned. “Crazy, right? Fate works in mysterious ways.”
Lucas did not look amused.
Sean, ever the quiet one, shrugged. “We’re not blood-related, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
Lucas’ gaze snapped to me, waiting for me to say something.
I exhaled sharply, feeling my patience shatter. “I’m not involved with them.”
Nathan sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. “That hurts, princess.”
Xavier smirked. “Give her time. She’s still playing hard to get.”
I growled in frustration, shooting them a glare before turning to Lucas. “Ignore them. They mean nothing to me.”
Lucas looked skeptical but didn’t push it.
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with their nonsense, so I left the room, ignoring their amused chuckles behind me.
I made a point to avoid them.
I woke up earlier to avoid seeing them at breakfast. I spent my afternoons training or with Daisy, and I locked my bedroom door at night, refusing to let them sneak in with their ridiculous excuses.
But they didn’t give up.
Each morning, I’d find my favorite breakfast waiting outside my door.
Pancakes with honey. Fresh fruit. Black coffee, just the way I liked it.
At lunch, someone would slip a tray onto my desk, filled with all the things I used to eat before they made my life a living hell.
Dinners were even worse. The table would be set with extra care, a single white rose placed by my plate-a symbol of apology, of peace.
I ignored it all.
Even when I found a bouquet of wildflowers outside my window-flowers I once mentioned I loved in passing, years ago.
They remembered.
But I wouldn’t let myself believe in their change. Not yet.
If there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that this Lucas was nothing like the fake one.
Keith had been slimy, manipulative, calculated. He smiled too easily, talked too smoothly. There was always something off about him.
But my real brother?
He was calm, steady. He didn’t push me to trust him. He let me set the pace, let me breathe.
And that was how I knew… he was better.
I hadn’t had much time to process the fact that my father was alive.
That he had been poisoned.
That someone had done this to him.
And now, as I sat across from Lucas and Damon, listening to them discuss his condition, something inside me shifted.
I had a choice.
I could let him stay this way-let fate decide if he ever woke up.
Or I could do something about it.
Lucas sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “His condition hasn’t changed in years. We’ve tried everything.”
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. “Then let me try.”
Damon frowned. “What?”
I lifted my chin, the decisionI have already made. “I’m the white wolf. I can heal people. Maybe… I can heal him.”
Lucas’ breath caught. While Damon’s eyes widened.