Chapter 4

Mia's P.o.v:

I can't believe what I'm hearing. I was kidnaped?! Does mom know about this? If she does, why hasn't she said anything to me? Is she and dad my real family? Is this the reason why she always acted strange when I asked her about my father?

So many questions that only one person can answer.

"What is your mother's name?" Austin asks me.

"Sybil Leek," I reply.

I watch his face turn angry. Damian moves in front of me just as Austin lets out a growl. Damian's back is to me, covering any sight of Austin. What the heck is happening?

Damian whispers something to Austin. I don't quite catch what he says but I swear he told him to calm down. Austin moves. I catch sight of his arm. What? Are those claws? They disappear so fast I'm not sure if I did see them or not. Austin walks away and he's out the door.

Damian turns to me.

"What's going on?" I ask him.

"I'm sorry. It's not my story to tell," he replies.

"What is not your story to tell?" I say. "Damian, I'm confused."

"I know. Austin will explain, I promise," he says.

"Fine. Whatever."

Austin comes back inside after a long time. He sits down on the couch across from me. Damian had led me to the living room; we sat in silence. Even now, I wait for one of them to speak up. I look between the two of them. No one says a word.

"Okay, is anyone going to tell me what's going on? Y'all got weird after I said who my mother was," I say. "I understand that that may not be Austin's mother. So what's happening?"

Damian looks at Austin. He nods at him. Austin looks at me.

"Yes, Sybil Leek is not my mother nor your biological one. She is your godmother. Our mother was infertile. She couldn't have children. Mom and dad met someone who said they could help them have children. I've come to find out that it was Sybil Leek. She's well-known for practicing dark magic; she's a witch. It's likely she did a spell to take their firstborn daughter. She may have taken you for her own personal gain. I don't know for sure," Austin tells me. "We are also werewolves."

"I don't understand," I say. "I'm not a werewolf. I don't have supernatural abilities."

"None that you've triggered yet. Our parents are werewolves. It would make you one too. I am," Austin says. "I know it will take time to get used to."

"I... I don't know," I show doubt.

"Personally, I wouldn't want you to go home tonight to her. I don't think it's safe," Austin says.

"She's my mother, Austin. I am doubtful but I'm also scared," I reveal. "Nothing in my life seems real anymore."

"I agree with Austin. I think you should stay here tonight," Damian chimed in. "We can take you home tomorrow morning or whenever you're ready to ask her questions."

"Okay," I agree.

Is this a good idea?

Damian shows me to a bedroom where I could sleep for the night. As I laid in bed did I realize it smelt like him. Fresh. It's a pleasant scent. I must be in his bedroom. I don't give it further thought as I fall asleep.

A knock on the door wakes me up. I hear the door open.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Nella smiles at me.

I smile back, sleepily. "Good morning."

She walks in further. I notice she carries breakfast on a bed table. Yum. She places it down in front of me once I sit up.

"Are you sure you're happily taken because I would totally want to date you," I tell her as I take a bite from the pancakes.

Nella laughs. "I would totally date you if I wasn't happily taken, as you've said."

Her smile fades. "The boys will take you home whenever you're ready."

"Thanks," I replied. "I'd like to take a quick shower first."

"Sure. I'll bring you some clean clothes," Nella says. She leaves me to finish my breakfast in solidarity.

I finished breakfast she brought me. I head into the bathroom for a shower. When I re-enter the bedroom, wrapped in a towel, I find some women's clothes neatly folded on the bed. There's a note on top of it.

Nella said you needed some clean clothes. These are new.

- Damian

I smile. This is very generous. I dress in the black jeans and red tee provided. Everything fits perfectly - as if it was bought for me.

I make my way into their living room. I find them there sitting on opposite couches.

"I think I'm ready," I announced.

"Okay," Nella is the first to talk.

"I'll get the car ready," Damian walks out.

I sense a bit of attitude coming from him. I don't give much thought as I turn to my brother.

"Do you really think she's the bad guy in this story?" I ask.

"Who else would it be?" He replies with a question of his own.

~*~*~*~

We're all tense as Damian parks in front of my house. I'm the first to open my door. Damian follows and then Austin. I pull my keys out as I walk up the driveway. The door opens before I can reach it.

"Mia, what the he---," her voice dies off when she sees the boys behind me.

"Austin," she says as if she can't believe it's him.

"Sybil," Austin greets her.

"Alpha Gray," she greets Damian. I still find it weird that everyone calls him that.

"Ms. Leek," Damian says.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of you boys dropping off my daughter home this pleasant morning?" her voice drips with sarcasm. "And you, young lady, never replied to my text messages or phone calls."

"'I'm sorry, mom," I replied.

"Sybil, you know very well that Jessica is not your daughter," Austin taunts her.

Sybil rolls her eyes.

"I see you've found your brother, Mia," she says before turning to Austin. "I may not have given birth to her but she is very much my daughter. I raised her."

"Then you won't mind answering why you took her from her real parents," Damian prompts.

Sybil smiles. "I will talk to my daughter about that. Alone."

She reaches for my arm.

"No," Austin body-shields me. "You've taken so much from my parents. I deserve to know why you took my sister."

"You little pest. I didn't take her. She was brought to me by the man she grew up thinking was her father. We took her in to save her from danger," Sybil explains. "The Royals were wiped out. Only you and your sister survived."

"The Royals?" I ask.

"You didn't tell her about her bloodline?" Sybil asks.

"I haven't gotten to that yet," Austin replies.

"Your parents made a deal with me to take in Mia because they knew they would die. It's part of the reason why you, Austin, are a rouge," Sybil continues. "There are supernatural creatures after you both. As a rogue, your scent changes. They wouldn't be able to find you as easily. As for Mia, I've masked her with a human scent. If she were to trigger her wolf genes that scent would be back. So, if you would please, let me do my job."

I turn to look at Austin and Damian.

"I'm sorry. I know you guys want to see her as the bad guy. I can't. She's my mother," I say.

I focus on Damian. "Tell Nella I'll see her in class on Monday."

I walk into the house. I leave mom to deal with them. I head up to my bedroom and flop onto the bed. My head feels like it's going to explode. I close my eyes.