Mia
Where the fuck is Damon? It’s already late, and he’s still not back. Both him and his dad. I mean, weren’t they just supposed to grab Christmas decorations? What the hell is taking them so fucking long?
I just got out of the shower, and now I’m lying on the bed, bored out of my damn mind. I already tried mind-linking Damon, but all I got was a quick “We’re busy, be back soon.” Super helpful.
I called Aria next, but that naughty girl is probably still tangled up in Lucas’ arms, or even fucking. And Lily? Yeah, I wish I could disturb her right now, but after everything that went down today, I can’t. Though, I am fucking dying to know if my plan worked.
It had to work. That plan always works.
A knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts. I jump up and head straight for it, opening it without thinking.
“Hey, Mia.” Anna stands there with a warm smile, before stepping inside. She’s all elegance and grace, like a freaking queen. “How are you, dear?”
I plaster on a smile. “I’m great. Just… relaxing, you know?”
She gives me this soft, motherly look before stepping closer. “Oh, Mia,” she sighs. “I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I don’t know what got into Aaron… I’m so sorry.” She reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze.
I shrug, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. “It’s alright, Mom. I don’t really care about anything he said.” Even though I’d love to punch that bastard in the face.
She nods, sighing again. “Aaron’s like the black sheep of the family. He tends to do these… silly little things.”
I almost choke on my spit. Silly little things? That bastard has been making my life a living hell since this morning. Silly little things my ass.
Anna moves to the window and starts pulling the curtains closed, taking her sweet time, just like Damon always does when it gets dark. “I’m just so glad you’re here, Mia. Ever since you came into Damon’s life, he’s become more… responsible.”
I press my lips together, trying so damn hard not to laugh. Responsible? Damon? There’s nothing responsible about me, so how the hell did I make him responsible?
But I can’t break her heart. “Aww, thank you so much, Mom. That’s so sweet,” I say, forcing a straight face.
She whips around, her eyes lighting up. “I’m also glad I finally have a daughter. My goddess, I’ve been dying to have one.”
Okay, that’s adorable. Anna is adorable. I smile genuinely and wrap my arms around her. “Thank you for saying that.”
She pulls back with a warm smile. “Don’t mention it. Oh, and Mia, if Damon forgets, please close the curtains for him when it gets dark.”
I frown. “Why?”
She chuckles, looking amused. “It’s from when he was a child. He watched a horror movie where a monster came through the window at night to snatch kids away.”
Silence.
And then I lose it.
I burst out laughing so hard I have to clutch my stomach. “Wait, wait, wait…Damon? Scared? Of a monster?”
Anna laughs along with me. “I know, right? But he’s never let go of that fear.”
I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye, still giggling. “He’s literally one of the strongest guys I know! If any monster dared to show up now, Damon would tear it to shreds.”
She nods. “Exactly! But childhood fears are hard to shake, I suppose.” She pats my arm. “Alright, I need to check on the maids and see if dinner’s ready. I know you must be hungry.”
I nod. “Thanks for checking up on me, Mom.”
She winks. “It’s fine. And don’t worry…your mate will be back soon.” Then she strides out of the room like the elegant queen she is.
I shake my head, laughing to myself. Anna is so damn sweet, almost as cheesy as Lily. Bless her heart for giving me this new secret weapon. Damon is scared of some monster? Oh, he is never living this down.
I turn around, about to flop back on the bed, when there’s another knock at the door. Did Anna forget something?
“Come in,” I call out.
The door opens, and ugh-Max, Damon’s not-so-attractive cousin, peeks inside.
“Hey,” he says.
I tilt my head. “Hey?” What does he want?
“I came to tell you Damon’s back,” he says, stepping inside. “He’s unloading the Christmas decorations in the store.”
My eyes light up. Finally! “Really? Fuck, I’ve missed him! Where’s the store? I’ll help out…I’m bored as hell in here.”
Max chuckles. “I’ll show you. Come on.”
I follow him out of the room and down the stairs, my excitement growing. Finally, some action. But then, a thought crosses my mind. Where the hell is Aaron?
Curiosity gets the best of me. “Where’s Aaron?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
Max scratches the back of his head. “Uh… he went out to grab something.”
I roll my eyes. “Thank goddess. At least I won’t be running into him.”
We keep walking, but then I notice something weird. Instead of heading toward one of the doors, Max leads me through the living room. My steps slow down. “Uh, where exactly is the store?”
“Oh, that,” he says over his shoulder. “There’s a storehouse nearby.”
I nod, still following him, but something feels off.
We step outside, and I pause for a moment, taking in the view. The compound is lit up beautifully with all the Christmas lights. I can’t wait to see how it looks once everything’s fully decorated.
But the weird feeling won’t go away.
I glance at Max. His hands are shoved into his pockets, and he’s walking a little too fast.
Max stops in front of a shady-ass shed, the kind where I fully expect to find a serial killer or at least a very pissed-off horse.
“Damon’s in there?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“Yeah,” Max nods.
I don’t waste a second. I push the door open and step inside, only to be met with pitch-black darkness.
What the fuck?
“Damon?” I call out, taking cautious steps. “Are you in here?”
Nothing. Silence. The kind that makes my skin crawl.
The lights suddenly snap on, nearly blinding me.
I flinch, blinking fast, and just as I’m about to curse out whoever did that, my eyes land on him. Damon.
Wait… no.
Not Damon.
“You!”
“Hey, Mia,” Aaron fucking says, already moving toward me with that creepy-ass smirk.
Oh, hell no.
I let out a dry chuckle, shaking my head. “Is this a fucking joke? Did you and Max plan this?”
“Plan what?” He tilts his head, all innocent-like.
I cross my arms. “Max told me Damon was here. Where is he?”
Aaron shrugs. “He’s not important right now. All that matters is me and you.”
“Oh my Goddess. What is wrong with you? Do you really think I’d leave Damon for you?” I scoff, glaring at him.
He steps closer, invading my space, and my whole body tenses. “I can give you anything you want…”
His voice is low, smooth…like he actually believes this shit.
I bark out a laugh. “Aaron, you’re not even richer than Damon, and even if you were, you’re still a fucking asshole.”
“But I’d treat you better, Mia,” he insists, his eyes darkening as he inches even closer. His hand brushes against my arm, deliberate and slow. “I’d give you everything. My father’s the Alpha, and soon, I’ll be taking over. You’d be my Luna. Don’t you want that?”
A full-body shudder runs through me…but not the good kind.
I step back, pulling my hand away. “This is stupid.” I turn to leave, but before I can take another step, his hand grabs my wrist.
“Wait,” he says, his grip tightening just enough to make my breath hitch. “Don’t you want to be Luna?” His voice dips lower, more persuasive. “Damon can’t give you that. He thought he’d be Lucas’s Beta, but let’s be real…we all knew it would be Theo. And now? That’s impossible. Lucas isn’t even part of the pack anymore. But me? I can give you a future, Mia. A real one.”
Has this dude lost his damn mind?
“Get your hand off me,” I warn sharply. “Or I’ll break it.”
Aaron laughs. But he finally lets go, running a hand through his hair.
I exhale sharply. “I’m only gonna say this once, Aaron. I don’t like you. So quit wasting your time and leave me the fuck alone.”
“Then why didn’t you tell Damon about last night?” his voice cuts through the air, just as I turn to leave.
I freeze, and then glance over my shoulder.
His lips twitch, eyes glinting. “Or even today,” he adds. “You haven’t said a word.”
I clench my jaw. “Because I don’t want Damon to commit murder.”
Aaron smirks, stepping closer again, this time with purpose. “Or maybe…” His gaze drags down my face, lingering on my lips. “Maybe it’s because you feel it too.”
“You’re insane,” I hiss, stepping back.
Aaron tilts his head. “You know what’s really insane?”
And before I can react, his arm wraps around my waist, yanking me flush against him.
Then he kisses me.
“What. The. FUCK!” A voice yells.
I shove him off instantly, and then whip around, and there he is.
Damon…standing in the doorway. His Jaw is clenched and his eyes are literally shooting lasers.
I take a step toward him, panic already setting in. “Damon, I can explain…”