MIA."What are you doing here?" Lucien grabbed my arm but once I walked outside the castle, I withdrew from him. There was a furrow between his brows, an anger in his eyes."Meeting Ezra? Have you lost your mind?" He gritted through his teeth and I lifted my eyes to him. "Do you know how dangerous that is—" "Enough Lucien, I don't need you pretending to care," I said."You think that's what this is?" He asked. I swallowed a hard lump down my throat. His eyes scanned my body and then he sighed."Look at you, you're wounded." He whispered, his hands reaching to my face but I moved away. I could feel the blood drip down my temple right between the corner of my eyes and my ear. "Come back with me. I'll take care of it." Lucien said. I shook my head, staying still. "I'm fine. I'll see Alice when I get back.""It wasn't a question, Mia. You're coming with me, with the amount of blood coming from your head you're lucky you're still standing." He said. I rolled my eyes to the back of my head
MIA."So who are you?" I asked and Oscar turned to me with a smirk across his lips. He narrowed his eyes. "I've already told you my name haven't I?" He replied. I rolled my eyes to the back."I mean like who are you? You're not a face I've seen Rosewood much. Or at all even" I said. "Well, you haven't been around much." That was a fair point but I could see through Oscar. I could see through the wit and the sarcasm and the cockiness.And I could tell immediately what kind of man he was. His gaze lingered as he took a sip of his vodka. He sat right next to me just behind the bar counter. "I'm kidding," He chuckled. "But I could say the same about you. Long lost daughter of an Alpha returns to her hometown—" Oscar paused and I turned to face him."You know me." I muttered."News spreads.""That is creepy" I downed the rest of my tequila and Oscar leaned back in his chair with a laugh. "I promise you it's not. I just know everything that happens in this town." He said."What Pack?" I se
TARA.I could hear voices from behind the door. Lucien's as well as a feminine one. It couldn't be her, I shook the thought off my head as my hand enveloped the door handle.He wouldn't hurt me that much. And then I pushed it open to see the both of them, barely inches away from each other with his hand against her face. My heart dropped into my stomach and my hands clenched into a fist.It was her. Mia Harper.The name that haunted the walls, the name on everyone's lips—she was the one who got away, everyone knew. Her departure was what led the Alpha into a year-long solitude. Everyone who knew Lucien knew how much he loved her. It wasn't a competition, it could never be. But when she left, that was when he finally looked at me. When I felt like Lucien really saw me and how foolish I was to think there was a world where we could be together.A world where he would finally love me after I loved him my whole life and we could raise a beautiful family—his father had all these aspirati
MIA.Three weeks had passed since anyone saw Ezra. I believed only then that was truly gone at least for now but each time I thought about him, my stomach would tie in a knot. Ezra was a dangerous man and it was worse especially when he was out of reach. When you had no idea where he was or when he was going to strike next."Ezra has something up his sleeves," I muttered, walking the path through the forest with Alice. "We have to figure it out so we're not completely blindsided. We have no idea what he's capable of or what exactly he wants to do with me." I added."Or he could just be gone?" Alice replied. The idea was laughable.He couldn't.Ezra was planning something, I knew deep down. "It just doesn't make sense, he had me. He couldn't killed me but he didn't. You'd think about all the years of trying to find me and killing innocent people in the process that he would waste no time when he finally had me but he didn't. Almost like he couldn't." I muttered."I may sound crazy bu
MIA.Alice opened the door and walked in on me tucking the twins into their bed. It had been a long day in the town but finally, we were back home with Kyra. I had missed my kids and days like this when I was faced with the brutal reality of what had become of Rosewood and the families that had been torn apart, I loved them even more. I was glad I had them and I knew in that breath that I would do anything to protect them. I wasn't going to let any more of my family down. "How is Kyra?" I turned to Alice, walking towards the door where she stood. "She's just had a shower but she isn't eating anything.""Lena made some oat as well soup but she's just sitting there, staring blankly at everything," Alice paused. "I don't blame her. She's already been through so much. Every one of them has" I said."We just have to take care of her until she's feeling better." There was a sliver of worry in Alice's eyes. "She's family," I reassured her."It's not like it used to be. I can't turn my back
LUCIEN. There was a knock on the door before Alice walked in. I lifted my face, scanning behind her for Mia but she was all alone. "Where is she?" My brows arched in disappointment. "I got her call early this morning about the Winter Ball she's planning—" I continued. "I tried to talk her out of it, it's almost near impossible to come up with something for tonight but she was hellbent on it.""It's fine Alice. I already gave her my word. We'll help in any way that we can," I muttered. My lips curled. "I just thought she'd be here." Alice sauntered into the chambers."She had a lot of work to do for tonight, to get the decorations up. Luckily, she has some help. Oscar came around earlier today." I felt my jaw clench and my wolf retract from underneath my skin. "Oscar?" I echoed, the name leaving a bitter taste in the back of my throat. "They're only friends," Alice was quick to correct but I already felt the fury in the blood. Oscar. Who the hell was Oscar?"I came around to help wi
MIA. l stepped out of Oscar's car, looking around for a moment. And I could feel my heart gleam in my chest. There were people here, familiar faces from my Pack and they'd showed up. Some in their dresses and others in plaid materials but that didn't matter. What mattered was that they were here. "Oh Oscar," I whispered, my eyes stinging with tears as he crept up towards me. His arm stretched around my shoulder and I leaned into him. "I can't believe it. They came. They're all here.""Of course." He replied. "Only you can pull off the perfect party in the shortest amount of time. I looked at him with stark eyes. This wasn't just a party, it was a sign of a new beginning. A sign of change. Something about seeing my Pack the other day and for a moment, feeling even if it was just a bit of the pain and suffering they endured over the years, it opened my eyes to why I was here.It gave me a purpose and for the past two days, I'd been repeating it to myself, I'll make their lives bette
MIA.The night started out slow. After my speech, I spent most of the time in Oscar's arms where we danced to the slow, soft music playing from the piano. I intertwined my fingers with his while his other hand fell to my waist. This was my first ball. It was my first dance.Growing up, I wasn't old enough to attend one of these but I remember being here nonetheless. I would sneak in with my mother and peek through the doors. Then father would catch me and he'd yell at the top of his voice.But I wouldn't go back still. Everyone wanted to be at the ball, there was something really magical about it, especially when it snowed. Standing there with Oscar, I could see why it was."Are you okay?" He asked when I pulled away. My eyes narrowed at my watch. It was almost midnight. I ought to return to the cabin to get Lena and my kids before the ball was over. I wasn't sure I wanted them here, at least not yet. But I wanted them out of the house, at least close enough for them to see the fir
LUCIEN.I opened my eyes to the sun pouring in through the windows and the first person I saw was Tara. She sat by the edge of the bed with a cup of coffee in her hands which she placed by the bedside."Good morning," She greeted. An exhale left my lips as I sat up. I instinctively looked at the clock to figure out how much time had passed. I didn't realize just how tired I was till I closed my eyes. "It's okay, I told Roman to have you rest and not to wake you." Tara said. "I just—" I ran my hands through my head. I had to see Alice, we were supposed to meet in the clinic early that morning. "I just had to do something that's all," I muttered back to Tara who curved her lips slightly with the expectation of something from me. Like she wanted me to say something. Otherwise, she wouldn't be sitting in front of me. There was also something quite strange in her eyes—an emotion I couldn't decipher. Tara wasn't the easiest to read but I could always tell when something was wrong at leas
LUCIEN.My Beta Roman crashed in through the doors, drawing both Mia's and my attention towards him. "She's awake!" He exclaimed. The sight of relief almost instantly washed over Mia's face. "Let's go. We have to see her" She pulled my arms and we walked straight to the clinic. Somehow, I felt so much better with Mia beside me."Alice!" She exhaled, running into her arms. Alice let out a deep breath when Mia hugged her but she too was happy to see her best friend. When Mia pulled away, there were tears in her eyes. "Oh my God. You scared me so so much, Alice." She whispered."What happened?" Alice looked around the room with a questionable expression. "I don't know what happened. Roman said I fell down the stairs but I have no recollection of last night." Alice replied.I arched my brows. "Last night was the ball." I added."It was?""It seems like it was like days ago. My memory is a mess right now." Alice said. There was a bandaid across her temple, a wound probably from the fall
LUCIEN. I remembered that night like it was yesterday, the snow falling across the window and the air thick with tension. My mother reached for my hands. This was many years ago, the day I first met Ezra, my brother. My Mum and I found out the same way that my father cheated some time ago with some woman whose name he couldn't even recall. It was around the same time she was pregnant with me. That woman went on to birth this child too. She named him Ezra. However, when she died and eighteen years later, Ezra found his father after searching for a long time. It threw the entire Pack off to learn about the Alpha's secret unnoble child. And it hurt my mother to know that he cheated on her. I was eighteen too when she sat me down. I'd heard all the whispers and the gossip amongst the Pack members and I feared for the truth but if there was anything I remember, it was her holding my hands. "You should know something," My mother, Elizabeth whispered. Her eyes were moist as if fighting
MIA. Once I had put the kids to bed, I walked back out to the terrace. Time had already passed and it was too late for me to return to the Ball. Too late for Lucien too. I pulled off my dress and put on something more comfortable—a T-shirt and some plaid pants. I walked out onto the terrace and there he was, Lucien, leaning against the wooden railings. At the sound of the door, he threw a look over his shoulders and I walked to him. "They're finally asleep," I whispered. I had his jacket in his hands which I handed over to him."Thank you for this." I said. Lucien reluctantly collected it, a cigarette perched between his lips. He blew it to the winds. It was such a chilly night. I don't think it'd been this cold since I came here."You didn't have to." Lucien collected the jacket. I did. I stood right next to him, folding my arms on the ledge too. I looked over the terrace with the winds blowing through my hair. Lucien let go of the cigarette and crushed it beneath his feet. For a
MIA.The car came to a halt and my eyes parted open slowly. I had fallen asleep and didn't realize we'd already arrived at the cabin. It was half an hour past midnight which only meant we had less time to make it back for the fireworks. But at least, we were here.I walked out of the car, right behind Lucien. "I didn't want to wake you." He muttered over his shoulders. "You seemed to be really tired. I'm not sure you've rested enough since you got back here" Lucien said. "I'll rest once tonight's over" I said. Grabbing the keys, I sauntered up the porch steps. Lena was already waiting by the door when I pushed it open and the kids were in his arms. "Mommy!" Theo leaped towards me and I held around him for a hug."I'm so sorry. Mommy was caught up in something and I had no idea how much time had passed. I really am sorry" I looked up at Lena and all she did was nod. It was Ella who puckered her lips with her arms folded across her chest."We're going to miss the fireworks now. I rea
MIA.The night started out slow. After my speech, I spent most of the time in Oscar's arms where we danced to the slow, soft music playing from the piano. I intertwined my fingers with his while his other hand fell to my waist. This was my first ball. It was my first dance.Growing up, I wasn't old enough to attend one of these but I remember being here nonetheless. I would sneak in with my mother and peek through the doors. Then father would catch me and he'd yell at the top of his voice.But I wouldn't go back still. Everyone wanted to be at the ball, there was something really magical about it, especially when it snowed. Standing there with Oscar, I could see why it was."Are you okay?" He asked when I pulled away. My eyes narrowed at my watch. It was almost midnight. I ought to return to the cabin to get Lena and my kids before the ball was over. I wasn't sure I wanted them here, at least not yet. But I wanted them out of the house, at least close enough for them to see the fir
MIA. l stepped out of Oscar's car, looking around for a moment. And I could feel my heart gleam in my chest. There were people here, familiar faces from my Pack and they'd showed up. Some in their dresses and others in plaid materials but that didn't matter. What mattered was that they were here. "Oh Oscar," I whispered, my eyes stinging with tears as he crept up towards me. His arm stretched around my shoulder and I leaned into him. "I can't believe it. They came. They're all here.""Of course." He replied. "Only you can pull off the perfect party in the shortest amount of time. I looked at him with stark eyes. This wasn't just a party, it was a sign of a new beginning. A sign of change. Something about seeing my Pack the other day and for a moment, feeling even if it was just a bit of the pain and suffering they endured over the years, it opened my eyes to why I was here.It gave me a purpose and for the past two days, I'd been repeating it to myself, I'll make their lives bette
LUCIEN. There was a knock on the door before Alice walked in. I lifted my face, scanning behind her for Mia but she was all alone. "Where is she?" My brows arched in disappointment. "I got her call early this morning about the Winter Ball she's planning—" I continued. "I tried to talk her out of it, it's almost near impossible to come up with something for tonight but she was hellbent on it.""It's fine Alice. I already gave her my word. We'll help in any way that we can," I muttered. My lips curled. "I just thought she'd be here." Alice sauntered into the chambers."She had a lot of work to do for tonight, to get the decorations up. Luckily, she has some help. Oscar came around earlier today." I felt my jaw clench and my wolf retract from underneath my skin. "Oscar?" I echoed, the name leaving a bitter taste in the back of my throat. "They're only friends," Alice was quick to correct but I already felt the fury in the blood. Oscar. Who the hell was Oscar?"I came around to help wi
MIA.Alice opened the door and walked in on me tucking the twins into their bed. It had been a long day in the town but finally, we were back home with Kyra. I had missed my kids and days like this when I was faced with the brutal reality of what had become of Rosewood and the families that had been torn apart, I loved them even more. I was glad I had them and I knew in that breath that I would do anything to protect them. I wasn't going to let any more of my family down. "How is Kyra?" I turned to Alice, walking towards the door where she stood. "She's just had a shower but she isn't eating anything.""Lena made some oat as well soup but she's just sitting there, staring blankly at everything," Alice paused. "I don't blame her. She's already been through so much. Every one of them has" I said."We just have to take care of her until she's feeling better." There was a sliver of worry in Alice's eyes. "She's family," I reassured her."It's not like it used to be. I can't turn my back