25. Intrigue in the reserve

Mia Miller

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes and imagining how everything would be if this whole mess were different.

I'm in the car with the father of my child, and his sister, praying that the wolves won't want to end me just because I'm invading their territory.

I never imagined myself in a situation like this. It all seemed like a fantasy.

"We've arrived," Ethan announces as the car stops. We're in front of a dense forest area. "Welcome to Estes Park."

"Is this a reserve?" I ask, observing everything around.

"Yes. We've lived here, werewolves have hidden here since we settled in Colorado," Ethan replies, his voice full of conviction.

"And... how does no one know you exist?" My curiosity is stronger than my fear.

"Simple, Mia. With the right people, you can hide even the worst of secrets. We're careful. When we kill, we hide the bodies," he says seriously, freezing me for a moment.

"Excuse me?" I say, incredulous.

"Just kidding," he responds, with a cold smile as he gets out of the car. "We only kill when necessary."

The pack's eyes continue to follow me as we walk. Every step is a challenge, every face a new uncertainty. Lorenzo, in my arms, starts crying, sensing the tense atmosphere around us. I try to calm him, but it's hard when I'm on the verge of falling apart myself.

Ethan stops in front of a large wooden cabin, different from the others I've seen along the way. It's more imposing, clearly the pack's command center.

"Go in," he orders, not giving me a choice.

When I cross the door, I'm greeted by a large, rustic room, decorated with animal pelts and old weapons. The feeling of being out of my element is even stronger here.

"This is the pack's main house," Ethan says, without ceremony. "This is where we discuss the most important issues. And from now on, you're part of it, like it or not."

I glare at him, feeling the irritation bubbling up inside me. "I never asked to be part of this, Ethan."

He shrugs, not caring about my response. "But Lorenzo is my son, and that changes everything. Now, you need to get used to our world."

I hate him. I hate the way he bosses people around, how he controls everything and everyone around him, including me. I hate how he makes me obey without me even realizing it. But on the other hand, I can't deny the power he has.

As I stand there, I can't stop thinking about how my life was before. I remember my graduation, the pride my father felt for me. That was the happiest day of my life. My mother, I don't remember much. She died young, and the few memories I have of her are vague.

Now, here I am, terrified, as I follow Ethan. I got pregnant by a wolf, and not just any wolf, but an Alpha. And now, I'm about to meet his pack.

"Lorenzo will have lessons with our wolves. He will learn to be one of us."

"He's a baby. How can he know about that?" I question.

"Exactly, Mia, it's in his blood." Remember our agreement and the contract you signed!

He would never leave me in peace. That was obvious.

I was still digesting Ethan's words when, without further delay, he opened the door to a porch that led to a clearing. As soon as we stepped outside, I was immediately surrounded by a crowd of wolves and humans. All eyes were on me, as if I were an intruder in a sacred territory. Lorenzo, in my arms, started crying, feeling the pressure around us.

The murmurs started immediately. "Who is this human?", "What is the Alpha doing with a child?", "He promised us a Luna, but brings a hybrid." I could feel the stares full of judgment, disdain. The weight of what was happening hit me hard. I was being introduced, not only as the mother of the Alpha's child, but as a problem to them.

What the hell.

Ethan, noticing the discomfort and tension in the air, raised his hand, silencing everyone instantly. The authority he exuded was undeniable, and the respect – or perhaps the fear – his pack had for him was almost palpable.

"Listen up, everyone!" His voice echoed across the clearing. "This is Lorenzo, my son and heir. I won't allow him to be treated any differently just because he's the son of a human. He carries my blood, and that's enough. Anyone who has a problem with that will have a problem with me."

A silence followed Ethan's words. I could feel the discomfort of the pack members. They disagreed. It was visible in their eyes. Ethan, the powerful Alpha, the one who was supposed to bring a strong Luna, one of them, now brought a hybrid child. But no one dared challenge him. I, however, felt every stare, every unspoken thought like a dagger. I wanted to disappear, vanish from there.

Ethan, seemingly satisfied with the silence that followed, turned to me and took Lorenzo from my arms. "I'm going to introduce him to the other pups. They need to get used to the idea that one day he will be their Alpha."

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat, but before I could say anything, he was already walking toward the area where the younger wolves were. I stood there, alone, enveloped by the forest and the stares that still followed me, trying to understand how the hell my life had come to this point.

My thoughts began to wander. How did everything go so wrong? I remembered when I was just Mia, the simple girl who dreamed of a quiet life, engaged to the man I loved, far from any complications. Now, I was in the middle of a wolf pack, the mother of a hybrid child, tied to a man I barely knew, but who controlled every aspect of my life. Unbelievable.

While I was lost in these thoughts, a woman approached. I didn't recognize her, but from her fierce look, I knew immediately she wasn't here to welcome me. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe.

"So, you're Mia, the human bitch who stole my Alpha?" She spat the words like venom, her fists clenched by her sides.

I felt my face flush instantly. I knew I wasn't welcome here, but hearing it out loud made me realize how complicated and dangerous the world I was entering truly was.

"I... I didn't steal anyone," I replied, my voice trembling. But even as the words left my mouth, I realized how weak they sounded. I didn't know what I was doing here, and the truth was, part of me wanted to run away.

The woman took a step forward, invading my personal space, and I could feel the rage radiating from her. "You think you can just show up here and change everything? What do you think is going to happen? That we'll accept you and your child like one of us? You're an intruder, a threat to our pack. Ethan will never want you."

She made a move to touch me, but I grabbed her hand.

"Don't you dare touch me, wolf," I said.

Before she could continue, Ethan appeared at my side, his eyes narrowed and full of rage. He didn't need to say anything. The woman immediately stepped back, her eyes falling to the ground in submission.

"I won't repeat myself, Amber," Ethan said firmly, looking directly at the woman.

The woman nodded in agreement, muttering an apology before quickly walking away.

"I... Sorry, my Alpha."

I stood there, frozen. Shame, fear, confusion.

How could I survive this?

I had no choice. I would have to find a way to survive in this new world, for Lorenzo, and for myself.