Mia watched from her bedroom window, her heart pounding as she noticed the four brothers heading toward the forest with grim expressions. Their tense body language hinted that something serious was happening. She knew she shouldn’t leave the safety of the house, especially after Matthew’s stern warning, but curiosity burned inside her. What were they hiding?Slipping on a pair of shoes and wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, Mia quietly crept out of the house. The night air was cool and damp, and the faint rustling of leaves filled the silence. She kept her steps light, careful not to draw attention. Reaching the edge of the forest, she crouched behind a large tree, peeking through the foliage.What she saw took her breath away.The brothers were confronting a group of rogues. They moved like a perfectly coordinated unit, their strength and skill evident in every strike and dodge. Aiden’s sharp commands echoed through the clearing as he led the charge, while Zander fought with a da
Mia sat in her room the next morning, her thoughts restless as sunlight poured through the curtains. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind, each detail more unsettling than the last. The rogue’s cryptic words, the brothers’ secret glares with each other , and the tension that had thickened the air left her with more questions than answers. She needed to know the truth, and waiting for it to be handed to her was no longer an option.Her resolve hardened as she threw on a light sweater and jeans. Mia wasn’t the type to sit back and wait. If the brothers wouldn’t tell her what was going on, she would find out for herself. Quietly, she made her way downstairs, her footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floors. The packhouse was unusually quiet, the faint hum of activity coming only from the kitchen. She found Zander sitting at the table, his hair tousled and a mug of coffee in his hand.“You’re up early,” he remarked without looking at her, his tone laced with suspi
Aiden knocked on Mia’s door softly before stepping inside, carrying a tray with food. “I figured you might be hungry,” he said, his voice warm.Mia, sitting on the edge of her bed, looked up at him with a faint smile. “You didn’t have to do that, Aiden. I could’ve gotten something myself.”Aiden set the tray on the bedside table and gave her a pointed look. “Not after the night you were attacked. You need to eat and rest.”She sighed but didn’t argue. Her stomach growled softly, betraying her. Aiden smirked. “See? Even your body agrees with me.”He picked up a piece of bread and held it out to her. “Here. Start with this.”Mia hesitated for a moment, then took it from him. As she ate, Aiden settled into the chair by her bed, watching her closely. “You scared us tonight, you know,” he said softly.She looked up, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I didn’t mean to. I just… I couldn’t sit there and do nothing.”Aiden leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “I get it, Mia. But you h
Mia's POVAs I stood in front of the mirror, my hands trembling slightly, I stared at the white satin dress Aiden had given me. It was stunning, simple yet elegant, with a flowy skirt that swayed as I moved. My cheeks warmed as I thought about the effort they’d all gone to tonight. Four brothers, my stepbrothers, are preparing something special for me. It was both flattering and utterly confusing.I bit my bottom lip, trying to push down the swirling emotions in my chest. My mom had finally found happiness after so many years of struggle. She deserved this new life with Victor, and I couldn’t let my confusing feelings for his sons ruin everything. I took a deep breath, smoothing the dress nervously, before stepping out into the backyard.The scene took my breath away. Fairy lights were strung across the trees, casting a warm glow over the garden. A table was set in the center, surrounded by candles, with soft music playing in the background. It felt like a dream.And there they were,
The villa felt eerily quiet after last night’s confusion emotions. Mia sat on her bed, staring at the sunlight filtering through the curtains. Her heart was still racing from the overwhelming feelings she had experienced with her stepbrothers. Each one of them had stirred something inside her, something she wasn’t ready to face.Her mother’s happiness depended on her keeping things normal. I can’t ruin this for her, Mia thought, biting her bottom lip. She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. She needed space, a way to clear her mind and distance herself from the brothers.The sound of muffled voices outside her room caught her attention. Peeking out, she saw Victor talking to Aiden, Liam, and Zander. “The rival packs are moving faster than we thought,” Victor said, his tone serious. “We need to handle this now.”“We can’t leave her alone,” Aiden protested, glancing toward her closed door.“She’ll be fine,” Victor said firmly. “We’ll be back before she even notices.”Mia’s hear
Mia sat on the edge of Emma’s couch, her knees pulled close to her chest as she stared out the window. The warmth of Emma’s home did little to calm the storm inside her. She had run away to clear her thoughts, but her mind was just as tangled as before. Her stepbrothers’ faces, their touches, their words they haunted her, leaving her confused and overwhelmed.Emma walked into the living room holding two mugs of tea. She placed one in front of Mia and sat down beside her. “You’ve been quiet since you got here. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”Mia sighed, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. “It’s... complicated.”Emma gave her a pointed look. “Complicated is when you can’t decide what to wear for a date. Running away from home without telling anyone? That’s not complicated that’s serious.”“I needed space,” Mia muttered. “That’s all.”Emma frowned. “Space from what? Your new fancy life? Those gorgeous stepbrothers of yours?” She paused, then her eyes widened. “Wait. Did th
Mia stood in the middle of the living room, her heart pounding. Aiden, Liam, Zander, and Matthew surrounded her, their expressions a mixture of concern and frustration. She had expected them to be angry, but the intensity of their emotions left her speechless. The air between them felt thick, every second stretching painfully.“Mia,” Aiden finally spoke, his voice firm but calm, “why did you leave without telling us?”“I needed space,” Mia replied, trying to steady her voice. “I needed time to think.”“Think about what?” Zander demanded, stepping closer. His tone was sharper, more direct, and his piercing gaze made her feel exposed.Liam placed a hand on Zander’s shoulder, as if to calm him. “Mia, we’re not trying to control you. We just want to understand why you felt the need to run away.”Mia looked down, unable to meet their eyes. How could she explain the storm of emotions inside her? She couldn’t tell them about the way her heart raced whenever they were near, or how their touch
The evening breeze carried a gentle chill, rustling the leaves in Emma’s backyard. Mia and Emma stood near the wooden fence, chatting softly. Emma was trying her best to steer Mia’s thoughts away from the tension of earlier events. She had just managed to get Mia to smile when the sound of hurried footsteps caught their attention.Emma’s eyes widened in surprise as a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. “Oh no,” she whispered under her breath.Mia turned toward the approaching figure and blinked in surprise. “David?”David Miller, one of Mia’s classmates from her previous university, stood a few steps away, looking slightly nervous but determined. His sandy brown hair was neatly combed, and he clutched a bouquet of red roses in his hand.“I-I hope I’m not interrupting,” David said, his voice shaking slightly. He looked between Mia and Emma, his gaze lingering on Mia with an expression of admiration.Emma stepped back instinctively, her heart racing. She glanced nervously toward t
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