Alternate Reality

MIA

I woke up with a start and frowned. I recognized the room I was in. It was the flashy and fully furnished bedroom Javier had given me when I arrived at his penthouse.

“What happened?” I asked no one in particular, groaning and massaging my temples.

Someone knocked softly on my door before it opened gently and Javier’s handsome face came into my view.

He had striking silver eyes with silver-platinum hair that looked tousled and rough, almost like he had just stepped out of the bed.

His handsome face looked worried and his thick brow was knitted together in concern. His full red lips parted softly as he spoke.

“Are you alright?” he asked, standing at a safe distance.

I frowned, his muscular frame seemed to fill up my entire doorway and his perfume filled my nostrils. He exuded an aura of sexiness and masculine power. It was odd because I rarely had time to find guys attractive.

“Why are you standing so far away?” I asked my frown still firmly in place.

Javier wiggled his hands like he was a schoolboy. The look didn't suit him at all, given his macho look but it made him look adorable.

“I didn't want to scare you,” he answered.

My frown deepened, “Why would I be scared of you? You rescued me from that crazy man and I must have passed out because I had a crazy dream.”

I laughed as I thought about the slightly blurry dream I had. My head must have been knocked out or something because my imagination seemed to be getting intense.

Javier’s concerned look turned into a frown, “You don't remember?”

“Don’t do it, Javier,” Ivan’s voice came across the hallway as he strolled into my bedroom.

I grabbed the duvet up to my chest and frowned at him.

“You don't know the meaning of privacy or knocking, Ivan?”

Ivan shrugged, “So Javier is allowed to be here if you're not properly dressed?”

Ivan stared at Javier and grinned, while I blushed furiously as I realized what I had insinuated.

“Seems the mate bond is working already, eh, brother?” Ivan asked in a teasing voice.

“Not now, Ivan,” Javier hissed.

I frowned, “What is he talking about, Javier?”

Ivan rolled his eyes, “I thought we were already past this? Why does it seem like you're trying to push everything you witnessed away?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, a scowl forming on my lips.

“You didn't have a nightmare, Mia, you passed out when I shifted to my wolf form before you,” Javier answered guiltily.

I inched up in the bed, my heartbeat increasing as the vivid scene I had witnessed in the sitting room flashed in my mind-eye.

I let out a piercing scream as I scrambled away from the bed and ran toward the bathroom, fear coursing through my veins.

“Oh my gosh! Omg! Holy shit!” I exclaimed, swearing in every word I knew.

“Please, calm down,” Javier said, trying to reach out for me.

I screamed, “Get away from me! What are you? Demon? Monster? Beast? What sort of cruel joke is this?”

I saw Javier’s face crumple with pain at my words and he quietly took a step back, standing at my doorway.

“I wanna go home,” I stated, firmly.

“You don't have a…” Javier started to say but I interrupted him sharply.

“Now! I want to leave this place immediately,” I shrieked.

“Listen here, Mia, I have tolerated your nonsense enough—” Ivan started saying but was interrupted by a low growl from Javier.

“Don’t talk to her like that!” he snapped.

“—I’m not your mate and I won't stand for your stupidity!” Ivan snapped, continuing his words and ignoring Javier.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked him in a challenging tone, “That I should believe whatever freak show Javier put up for me? Is this supposed to be a kind of alternate reality or something?”

“Trust me if it’s an alternate reality I'd rather be drowning in a pool of drinks than helping my brother try to convince you that werewolves are real and he's one and he's your fucking mate!” Ivan snapped.

I stayed silent for fifteen seconds before I glared at him.

“No!” I said firmly, “I refuse to believe your delusions. If this is an elaborate way to hold me hostage then it’s not gonna work! Let me out of this freaking place!”

“Fine!” Ivan snapped, “You wanna leave, there is the door. Go get yourself killed for all I care but do not drag my brother down with you!”

I stared at the doorway which Javier was standing by and sighed. Ivan had shown emotion for the first time since I met him and he wasn't acting like his regular douche self. He was still a douche but it looked like he was being a bigger douche to protect his brother.

“This is crazy,” I shook my head, before bursting into laughter, “How am I supposed to believe that werewolves exist, and what the fuck is this mate thing you're talking about?”

“Maybe if you calmed down for two seconds then Javier can explain it to you,” Ivan snapped.

I noticed Javier didn't make any effort to interrupt Ivan or warn him with the way he was talking to me.

He seemed to have resigned to fate and to let me do whatever I wanted with the way his shoulders slouched a bit.

“I'd like to go home, Javier, you told me once we're far from Leo I can leave,” I stated firmly.

“It’s dangerous, Mia, and you're hours away from your home,” Javier said in a stressed voice.

“I can take care of myself,” I snapped.

He nodded, “Very well. Can I at least drive you back?”

I didn't want to spend any second with him especially not after claiming to be something he isn't. He must have conned me and used theatrics to get me to stay with him.

“That’s not a good idea, Javier,” Ivan sulked.

“Just drop it, Ivan,” Javier sighed.

I frowned, “Why don't you want him to go with me, Ivan?”

“Because you're leaving my brother. And as much as I act like this I still care about him and I don't want him to get hurt,” Ivan replied snippy.

That was when I heard the voice in my head which changed my life forever.

‘He’s our mate, Mia, we can't leave him like that he's going to be so heartbroken.’