Mia stepped into the spacious living room, the soft glow of the evening light filtering through the tall windows. Her heart thumped loudly as she glanced around, only to find Zander lounging on the couch, his dark eyes fixed on her. Aiden was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on his lips.“Mia,” Zander greeted, his voice low and smooth. The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine.She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. "Zander. Aiden. I thought you’d be busy."Zander’s smile deepened, and he patted the space on the couch beside him. "Come sit with us. We’ve been waiting for you."Mia hesitated. There was something in his gaze, something intense and almost predatory. She glanced at Aiden, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she walked in.“Don’t make him ask twice,” Aiden said, his tone teasing but firm.She walked slowly toward the couch, feeling the heat of their stares on her. Her body betrayed her, every nerve ending t
The house felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves could feel the tension brewing between the Hawthorne brothers. Mia sat on the couch, trying to steady her breath. She could sense something was about to happen, something she couldn’t stop. The brothers had been quiet since the previous night’s encounter, but their silence was loud with unspoken words.Zander leaned against the kitchen counter, his jaw tight. Aiden stood beside him, his arms crossed, eyes sharp. Across from them, Liam and Matthew sat at the dining table, their expressions a mix of frustration and concern. Mia felt the weight of their gazes, even though none of them were looking directly at her.Finally, Liam broke the silence. “We need to talk about last night.”Zander straightened, his body taut like a bowstring. “What about it?”“You know what,” Matthew said, his voice calm but firm. “This isn’t just about you or Aiden. It’s about all of us.”Mia’s stomach twisted. She didn’t want to hear this. She didn’t
Mia woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for air. The dream was still vivid in her mind, her father’s face, his kind yet stern voice. He had looked at her with both love and sadness, saying, “You must do what’s right, Mia. Remember who you are.” His words lingered in her heart, heavy like a stone. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring into the darkness, her chest tight with guilt and confusion.She couldn’t keep living like this feeling torn between what her heart wanted and what her conscience screamed was wrong. Her feelings for her stepbrothers weren’t something she had planned or wanted, yet they consumed her, leaving her feeling lost. And then there was her mother, who had finally found happiness with Victor. Could Mia risk destroying that happiness?“I need to leave,” Mia whispered to herself, the words barely audible. Her voice cracked as tears slid down her cheeks. She wiped them quickly, determined to hold herself together. Grabbing a small bag, she started packing
Mia’s eyes fluttered open in the middle of the night, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. The moonlight spilled into her room, illuminating the scattered thoughts in her mind. She pressed a hand against her heart, trying to calm the erratic beats that echoed through her body. Sleep was impossible tonight. Her emotions were too tangled, her feelings toward the brothers too confusing to sort out.She sat up, hugging her knees, and stared out of the window. The cool night air seeped through the cracks, whispering against her skin. It reminded her of something she had tried to suppress a conversation she had with her mother, Sarah, just before moving into Victor’s estate.The memory came rushing back, vivid and sharp, as if it had happened just yesterday.“Mia, sweetheart, sit down,” Sarah had said, her voice unusually serious. Mia had paused mid-step, turning to face her mother. Sarah’s expression wasn’t the warm, loving one she was used to. Instead, it was filled with worry
Mia felt like an outsider in her own life. Every step she took in the Hawthorne estate felt heavy, as though the weight of four pairs of eyes was constantly on her. The brothers weren’t making things any easier. Their presence was suffocating yet magnetic, drawing her in despite the overwhelming tension simmering between them.Aiden was the most obvious about it, his protective nature showing in the way he hovered around her, always finding excuses to stay close. Whether it was offering her a glass of water when she didn’t ask or positioning himself in the room like a silent guardian, his actions spoke louder than words. Mia appreciated his kindness, but his watchful gaze made her feel like a fragile doll under constant surveillance.“Do you always have to keep such a close eye on me?” she finally asked one evening, unable to keep the question to herself anymore.Aiden looked at her, his eyes softening. “I just want to make sure you’re okay, Mia.”“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her
The Hawthorne mansion buzzed with an energy that was both intoxicating and unsettling. In the living room, the four brothers sat together, a rare sight that spoke volumes of the gravity of the situation. Aiden leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, while Liam lounged back, a smug grin tugging at his lips. Matthew, calm and composed as always, tapped his fingers rhythmically against the armrest of his chair, and Zander stood by the window, staring out into the night with a scowl.“She’s our mate,” Aiden said finally, breaking the tense silence. His voice carried a mixture of awe and frustration, his hands clenched into fists.“No,” Liam corrected, his grin widening. “She’s not just your mate. She’s our mate.”Aiden shot him a glare. “This isn’t something to joke about, Liam.”“I’m not joking,” Liam said, his tone light but his eyes serious. “It’s the truth, whether you like it or not.”Matthew sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “This complicates everything. She’s our steps
The night was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made Mia feel uneasy. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Her wolf stirred restlessly inside her, a sensation she hadn’t quite gotten used to. It was as if her instincts were trying to warn her of something.The distant sound of howling broke through the silence, sending a shiver down her spine. She bolted upright, her heart pounding. It wasn’t the playful howls she’d occasionally heard in the woods. These were guttural, aggressive and warning of danger.Mia threw off the blanket and rushed to her window. The moonlit grounds of the Hawthorne estate stretched out before her, but what caught her attention was the shadowy movement near the treeline. Her breath hitched as figures began to emerge from the darkness wolves, but not like the ones she’d seen before. Their eyes glowed with malice, and their massive forms moved with deadly intent.Her door burst open, and Aiden stor
The aftermath of the attack left a heavy silence over the Hawthorne estate. The once-vibrant yard was now marred with signs of the battle, broken furniture, and bloodstains that told stories of pain and struggle. Wolves, both in human and beast form, moved around, helping the injured and cleaning up the chaos. The air was thick with tension, grief, and an unspoken fear of what might come next.Mia stood on the side, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her clothes were torn, her body bruised, but it was the weight in her chest that hurt the most. She felt like she didn’t belong, like she had somehow been the cause of all this. Her wolf, restless and agitated, stirred within her, whispering words of comfort she couldn’t understand.“Keep moving! We need to secure the perimeter!” Aiden’s commanding voice snapped through the stillness, jolting Mia from her thoughts. He stood tall and fierce, barking orders to the pack members, his eyes blazing with determination.Liam walked over to
Mia sat between Aiden and Liam, her hands resting on the table, still trying to process everything that had happened. The mate bond was real. She could feel it in every breath she took, in every beat of her heart. It was no longer a lingering thought in the back of her mind; it was a truth she could not ignore. She lifted her gaze, looking at her stepbrothers one by one. Aiden, with his sharp eyes, was watching her closely as if waiting for her to say something. Liam’s fingers drummed lightly on the table, his usual calmness masking the storm within him. Zander leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his lips pulled into a small smirk as if he already knew what was coming. And Matthew, silent yet observant, was waiting just like the rest of them. Mia took a deep breath. “I accept it,” she finally said, her voice steady. “I accept the bond.” The room fell into a heavy silence. Then, Aiden’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood, his intense gaze locked onto hers. “Say it
Killian’s sharp eyes locked onto Mia just as her body swayed dangerously. He saw it before anyone else did the way her breath hitched, the way her pupils dilated as the overwhelming force of the mate bond crashed into her like a tidal wave. Her legs buckled. Before she could hit the ground, he moved. In one swift motion, Killian closed the distance, catching her before she collapsed. His arms wrapped around her trembling body, his grip firm yet careful, as if holding something both fragile and powerful. Aiden, Liam, Zander, and Matthew barely had time to react before Mia’s body went completely limp against Killian’s chest. A deep growl rumbled from Aiden’s throat, but Killian didn’t flinch. His wolf was already on edge, instincts screaming at him to move, to protect. He tightened his hold around Mia and shot the brothers a sharp look. “She can’t stay here,” he stated, his voice calm but laced with authority. “She needs rest.” Liam took a step forward, his entire body tense.
The night air was thick with tension. Growls and the sound of clashing bodies echoed through the battlefield. Mia’s paws pounded against the earth as she tore through the enemy ranks, her wolf moving with an agility that startled even her. She didn’t remember ever fighting like this, yet every movement felt natural like her body had done this before.Her stepbrothers fought alongside her, their wolves just as fierce, their bond strengthening with every attack. She could feel it now, deep inside her, like a tether pulling her toward them. It wasn’t just a familial bond it was something more, something primal. The mate bond.It shook her to the core.Liam leaped at an enemy, his massive black wolf pinning the rogue to the ground before his sharp fangs ended its life. Aiden fought with raw power, his golden fur streaked with blood as he protected Mia’s side. Zander moved with deadly precision, dodging attacks effortlessly and striking with lethal force. They were in sync, their wolves co
A strange sensation jolted me awake. My body burned not in pain, but with something deeper, something alive inside me. My breath came in sharp gasps as I forced my heavy eyelids open. The room spun for a moment, shadows dancing across the walls, but that wasn’t what made my heart race.It was them.I felt them. Their presence, their emotions, their pain. Aiden. Liam. Zander. Matthew. The names whispered through my mind like a prayer, a force stronger than anything I had ever known pulling me forward. My chest tightened as an overwhelming sense of urgency crashed into me. They were close, but something was wrong. My hands trembled as I pushed myself up from the bed, my legs shaking beneath me. Every nerve in my body screamed for me to run. To find them. To reach them before it was too late.I stumbled to the door, gripping the handle so hard my knuckles turned white. My breath was uneven, my mind clouded with panic. Where were they? Why couldn’t I see them? The walls of the villa seeme
I woke up with a sharp gasp, my chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. My body felt heavy, my limbs weak, as if all my strength had been drained out of me. My head was throbbing, and a dull ache spread through my legs, making it hard to move.The room around me was dimly lit, unfamiliar. The walls fell too far away, and the silence pressed against my ears. I tried to sit up, but my arms trembled beneath my weight. Something was wrong.I swallowed hard, my throat dry and burning. "Aiden...?" My voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.No response."Liam? Zander? Matthew?" I called again, a little louder this time. My heart pounded against my ribs, a sickening panic curling in my stomach.Still nothing.I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the way my head spun. My body screamed in protest, but I gritted my teeth and swung my legs off the bed. My bare feet touched the cold floor, sending a shiver up my spine. I needed to find them. Now.Pushing myself forward, I stumbled toward the
Killian’s presence filled the room like a storm rolling in, unpredictable and charged with energy. He had always been like that loud without saying much, a force that could shift the balance in any room he entered. But now, there was something darker beneath his usual smug confidence. Something cold.Sarah met his gaze, searching for a trace of the boy she had once known. The one who had spent sleepless nights debating philosophy with her, who had dared her to break rules just for the thrill of it. But the man standing before her wasn’t just a reckless troublemaker anymore. He was a hunter. A killer. A weapon that Victor had just unsheathed.Yet, despite the years, despite the blood on his hands, Killian still had the nerve to smirk at her like nothing had changed.“You really haven’t aged a day, sweetheart. What’s your secret? Hate? Or just stubbornness?”Sarah huffed, folding her arms. “And you still talk too much.”Killian’s grin widened, like he enjoyed the challenge. “I’ll take
The silver coin shattered in Victor’s palm, leaving behind a faint, pulsing energy in the air. A signal. A call. A demand. Somewhere in the darkened lands beyond their reach, the Bloodhound would feel it. And he would come.Sarah watched Victor, her chest tightening. She had seen him like this before: calm, focused, deadly. It wasn’t just about revenge. It wasn’t even about justice. This was a war declaration.She swallowed, taking a step forward. “Victor…” Her voice was softer now, lacking the earlier anger. “If you bring Killian into this, there’s no turning back. He won’t just kill the ones responsible. He’ll destroy everything in his path.”Victor’s eyes flickered toward her. “Good.”Sarah shook her head, frustration burning in her veins. “I don’t want innocent blood spilled. Mia wouldn’t want that.”Victor’s jaw clenched. “Mia wouldn’t want to be lying in pain either, but here we are.”Sarah’s breath hitched. His words were cruel, but they were true. The reality was brutal. Someo
The silence inside the villa was thick, almost suffocating. Mia had fallen asleep in Sarah’s arms, exhaustion pulling her into an uneasy rest, but Victor, Aiden, Zander, Liam, and Matthew stood in the main hall, their expressions hard, their rage barely contained.Victor’s presence was suffocating, his Alpha aura pressing down on his sons like a weight, demanding answers. His jaw was clenched, his sharp eyes scanning each of them, and the air crackled with barely restrained fury.He had trusted them. He had left Mia in their care, believing that no force would dare touch her with them around. But now, she has been attacked. Someone had gotten past them. Someone had played them for fools.And Victor Hawthorne did not take betrayal lightly.His deep, rumbling voice shattered the silence.“You will tell me exactly how this happened.” His tone was not of a father but of an Alpha demanding answers. “Now.”Aiden was the first to step forward, his face twisted in frustration. “We don’t know.
The moment Victor stepped into the villa, his fury exploded. His eyes darkened, his jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists. The sight of Mia trembling in Sarah’s arms, her small body marked with bruises, was enough to break something inside him. He had trusted his younger brothers to protect her, to guard this house, and they had failed.His blood boiled as he reached out through the mindlink, his voice cutting through the connection like a blade.“Aiden! Liam! Zander! Matthew!” His tone was raw with authority, not as a brother but as Alpha Victor Hawthorne. “Where the hell were you?”There was a pause before his brothers responded.“Alpha?” Aiden’s voice came first, confusion lacing his words. “What happened?”Victor’s eyes flickered to Mia, who buried her face in Sarah’s shoulder. His rage intensified.“You were supposed to protect her! You were supposed to guard this house with your lives! But instead, she was attacked! She was left alone, scared because of you!”Silence