MIA’S POV
My heart stopped when I saw Lucas slumped between Tristan and Daisy, his body pale, sweat dripping down his face.
Blood soaked his shirt, the dark stain spreading from a deep wound near his ribs.
“Lucas?” My voice came out shaky, my body already moving before I could think.
He barely lifted his head, his breathing uneven.
Rage flared inside me. Keith. That bastard.
I spun on my heel, eyes burning. “How the hell did this happen?”
Tristan and Daisy shared a look-one that made my stomach drop.
They were hiding something.
I gritted my teeth, shoving past them to wrap Lucas’ arm around my shoulder. He groaned, body weight sinking into mine, but I refused to let him fall.
“Help me get him inside,” I snapped.
We moved quickly, dragging him to his room. I pressed him onto the bed, ignoring the way his face twisted in pain.
Blood soaked through his clothes, and my chest tightened.
I had to stop this.
I grabbed a knife from the bedside table, slicing a small cut on my palm. My blood dripped, glowing faintly as I pressed it to his wound.
Lucas stiffened, his muscles locking up as the magic worked through his system. His face twisted in pain, his body jerking.
“Just hold on,” I whispered, pressing my hand harder. “You’re going to be fine.”
His breathing steadied, the veins around his wound fading.
Relief hit me like a wave.
But it wasn’t enough.
I turned sharply, my gaze locking onto Tristan and Daisy.
“Now,” my voice was like ice, “tell me what the hell happened.”
They hesitated.
Wrong move.
I stepped closer, my hands trembling with barely contained fury. “I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you don’t start talking, I will rip the truth out of you.”
A shudder ran through them, like something forced them to speak.
Tristan clenched his jaw, eyes dark. “We followed him.”
chest tightened, a mix of anger and betrayal clawing at my insides. They followed him? My head spun, every nerve in my body on edge.
Daisy shifted uncomfortably, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. “Mia, we didn’t want to believe he’d actually meet with Keith,” she admitted, avoiding my gaze.
I inhaled sharply, my throat burning. “And you didn’t think I should know? That my own brother-who I just found-was walking into a trap?” My voice cracked, but I shoved the weakness down.
Tristan exhaled, rubbing his temples. “We weren’t sure. Lucas never mentioned he was meeting Keith, but when we saw them together, we knew something was off.”
Knew something was off? That’s all they had? My brother was bleeding out in front of me, and they had doubts? My hands curled into fists.
I turned back to Lucas, my stomach twisting at how pale he looked. I had barely found him, and he had almost been taken from me. Just like everyone else.
A familiar ache spread through my chest. Was this how it always was? Finding something precious, only to have it ripped away before I could hold onto it?
The sight of Lucas unconscious made my stomach twist. His body was limp, his breath shallow, and for a split second, I thought I had lost him.
I clenched my fists, rage boiling beneath my skin. My eyes snapped to Tristan and Daisy.
“You knew.” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. “You followed him, you saw what happened, and instead of telling me, you decided to keep it a secret?”
Daisy looked away, guilt flashing in her eyes. Tristan exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
“We didn’t want to make assumptions,” Tristan muttered.
I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, so watching my own brother get stabbed and meeting with the man who tried to kill me wasn’t enough reason to tell me?”
Lucas groaned, shifting slightly. My focus snapped back to him. His skin looked paler, the deep wound still healing, but my blood had helped.
I sighed, pressing my palm to his forehead. “You’re an idiot,” I whispered.
He didn’t respond, still lost in unconsciousness. My hand curled into a fist against his chest.
I had just found him. I wasn’t going to lose him too.
A strange sensation buzzed through my veins. My wolf stirred, power thrumming inside me like an untamed storm. Something was different.
I could sense it.
A second later, a wave of clarity hit me. My mind stretched, reaching for answers-ones they weren’t willing to give.
And then it came.
The truth.
It was like the universe shifted to align with what I needed to hear.
My head snapped up, my body trembling as realization dawned.
“You lied to me,” I whispered, my voice eerily calm.
Tristan stiffened. “Mia-”
I turned on them, stepping closer, energy pulsing off me in waves. “I didn’t need you to tell me. I just saw it. I just felt it.” My breath came faster, my hands shaking.
They exchanged nervous glances.
My gaze locked onto Lucas. “You met with Keith. You knew what he was up to.”
Lucas stirred, eyes fluttering open, confusion laced in his gaze.
I didn’t wait for him to catch up. “How long have you known?”
His lips parted, his voice hoarse. “Mia…”
“That’s not an answer,” I snapped. My heart pounded, betrayal sinking its claws into me. “You knew Keith was a threat, and you still went to him?”
Lucas winced, trying to sit up. “It wasn’t-”
“Don’t,” I cut him off, shaking my head. “Don’t lie to me.”
Silence.
He swallowed hard, his fingers gripping the sheets. “I didn’t think he’d-”
I let out a sharp breath, stepping back. My throat burned, my eyes stung, but I forced myself to keep it together.
“I trusted you,” I murmured. “I actually thought, for once, that I had found a real family.”
Lucas’ jaw tensed, his expression unreadable.
I turned away from him, rubbing my temple. My wolf was growling, agitated, pushing me toward a choice I wasn’t ready to make.
Then a loud crash echoed through the hall.
A warrior ran in, his face pale, his breathing uneven. “Alpha Lucas… Lady Mia…” He hesitated, eyes darting between us. “It’s your father.”
I went still.
Dread curled in my stomach, a sharp, twisting pain that made it hard to breathe.
Lucas shot up, wincing but ignoring the pain. “What about him?”
The warrior exhaled, his face grim. “He’s dying.”
My breath caught.
No.
Not now. Not after everything.
Lucas shoved past me, moving toward the door. I followed, my legs suddenly feeling like lead.