Chapter 10

Mia

"Sylvia," I called her and she turned from whatever new potion she was experimenting on, to have a look at me.

"Oh good Lord! Mia?" She ran to me, engulfing me in a hug. "What the hell even happened? How did you get back?" My heart ached because this was the kind of reaction I was expecting from my father. I had made a little trip to my room to hide the book of enchantments before making my way here. I had planned to study it all night.

"Well, I tricked them." She gave me a look that screamed 'are you kidding me'.

"You need to give me more than that honey," she said. My thoughts wandered off to the whole situation of finding my mate, to making them trust me until I betrayed them. Was I going to give her the details? I didn't know.

"Sylvia, I need to ask you a few things." She nodded her head, indicating for me to go on. "Dad. Was he … was he worried when I wasn't here? Did he send out people to look for me? Was he planning on attacking them to get me back?" I searched her eyes for honesty. And I got my answer when she didn't meet mine.

"He was busy with a few people…but he.. he was worried about you Mia. I know he was." I caught the lie instantly. It didn't sound convincing at all. "But that doesn't matter. You're here and that's enough! How did you even get back?"

"I told you I tricked them."

"But how exactly? Mia, don't be stupid thinking I don't know what those creatures are capable of. They don't let their enemies leave that easily." That's the thing, Sylvia. I made them believe I wasn't until I did become one. For dad.

"I don't really want to dwell on it," she nodded, probably thinking I didn't want to recall the bad memories of torture they had put me through. If only they had, it would have been easier to hate them. To hate him.

"Sylvia, about mates .." I trailed and her ears perked.

"What about them?" Her eyes grew curious, waiting for me to continue.

"You were 100% sure that Werewolves only get paired to werewolves, right?" She squinted her eyes, taking me in keenly.

"You are hiding something, Mia. What is it?"

"No, I'm just um.. curious. I heard that well, maybe there was a chance that werewolves could get paired with, you know, other species like vampires, witches and-"

"No! It can't be Mia. Which is why I am asking you what happened in the Red Moon Pack?" I gulped, seeing her sudden outburst. Could I trust her? What would she do? Would she think I'm at fault? Fuck, this is crazy.

"I..well the Royal Beta Christian…he… he said that….he claimed that-"

"He's your mate?" Her eyes widened as she completed the sentence for me. Not having the words to agree, I just nodded in approval.

"Fuck!" She exclaimed, making me confused.

"Why? I thought you said that couldn't be possible, yeah?" I questioned.

"Mia, promise to me you will not utter a word in front of your father. He will kill him," she warned, taking quick steps towards me.

"But that's what he's doing anyway. That's what our mission is. He wants to erase the whole pack. And why shouldn't I tell him? What is it that you are hiding, Sylvia?" I grew suspicious.

"Mia, I can't. Not here. Not now. I'll just let you know that there is a lot you are still unaware of. He'll not only kill him, but you too, if he finds out you're his mate. Things...they are not sometimes exactly what they look like." I was shocked at her words. Dad wouldn't do that. He would never kill me. He loved me. I was the only person who he trusted and would bring those werewolves to their knees before him. That's what he trained me for all these years, hasn't he? What had gotten into this woman?

"Are you out of your mind, Sylvia? Why would he kill me?" I exclaimed. This was too much. I wasn't getting answers and too much was happening all at once.

"Quiet!" She hissed, giving me a glare. "Don't announce it to the whole world. Please, Mia, you'll know everything in time. For now, just don't do anything that will get you and me in trouble. Please."

"Fine," I gritted. "But it better be worth the wait. Where did dad go anyway?"

"Alliances," she said simply.

"And what about the prisoner? The Gammas daughter? Is she still alive?" Thinking about her death, didn't settle with me. She hadn't done anything to deserve this and the more I compared the treatment I got in the Red Moon Pack and the treatment she might be getting here, it made me feel sorry for her. But then again, would it be the case for me if I hadn't been Christian's mate?

"Of course she is. You are forgetting, Balthazar will use her like the bait she is. Just don't mess up anything and do as I told you. It's for your own good, Mia. Trust me on this one."

"What's for her own good?" We got interrupted when one of the patrolling guards entered her little tent. Sylvai gave him a glare before speaking.

"It's for her own good if she keeps her eyes open for the Werewolves and trains as much as possible," she lied.

"Whatever, I came to inform you that Sire will be back in two days. And by then he needs everything ready," I wasn't aware of what needed to be ready. But it was clear that he hinted something with the slight glint in his eyes, there was a silent communication that went on.

"You can leave if that's all you wanted to let me know, Desmond," Sylvia's voice came dismissively, forcing the young man in his late twenties to oblige, not before giving me a harsh glare. What was with everyone glaring at me?

"Go, before anybody grows suspicious," she started, pushing me out of her tent.

"Why would anybody be suspicious? And about what?" What the hell was happening? This was getting frustrating.

"Not now Mia, we'll talk about this later."