Ryan sat alone in his study, the firelight flickering against the stone walls. His head rested heavily against his hands, elbows braced on the desk, but no amount of stillness could calm the storm inside him.
Images swirled in his mind—Mia's soft smile, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. And then Daniel. Daniel leaning closer to her, Daniel daring to make her laugh, Daniel stealing moments that Ryan believed only belonged to him.
His wolf snarled in the back of his mind.
Go to her. She's ours. She's with another man—claim her.
Ryan's fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. Every instinct in his body screamed to leave everything behind, to storm into that restaurant and pull her away from Daniel, to show her—show him—that Mia was his mate and no one else's.
He could almost feel the plane beneath him, almost hear Mia's voice if he were to call her name. The urge was unbearable.
But then his Beta's words echoed in his memory.
The rogues are planning something bigger. The borders are weakening. The pack needs you.
Ryan squeezed his eyes shut, breathing hard. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "Why does it have to be now?"
The wolf inside him thrashed, demanding he abandon all reason. But Ryan was Alpha, and Alpha was responsibility. If he left now, if he turned his back on the pack, more lives could be lost. The blood he had already seen on the battlefield was more than enough to haunt him.
"I can't leave," he whispered, his voice low and torn. "Not now. Not when they need me."
The thought of Daniel's hand brushing Mia's, of her smiling politely at him, burned Ryan's chest like fire. His heart ached, his body restless, but he forced himself to stay seated.
His wolf growled in defiance, but Ryan slammed a mental wall down. "I will not abandon my duty."
For a long while he sat there in silence, staring at the flames, his heart divided between the woman he loved and the people he was sworn to protect.
At last he whispered, almost like a vow, "Mia… wait for me. When this is over, I'll come back for you. No one—no one—will take you from me."
The fire popped, and Ryan leaned back in his chair, his decision made. He would stay. Even if it tore him apart.
.....
The morning sunlight spilled softly through Mia's curtains, painting her room in shades of gold. For the first time in a long while, she had slept deeply, without tossing or waking in the middle of the night. She stretched under the covers, a content sigh slipping from her lips as she blinked awake. Today already felt different—lighter, warmer, as though the world had conspired to give her peace.
She rose from bed, padding barefoot to the window. Pulling the curtains wide, she let the cool breeze brush against her skin. Birds chirped outside, their melodies blending with the hum of city life far below. She smiled, her chest loosening with quiet joy.
In the kitchen, the kettle whistled as she prepared tea. The scent of jasmine filled the air, calming and sweet. She plated a simple breakfast—toast with honey, a few fresh strawberries, and scrambled eggs. Sitting at her small dining table, she ate slowly, savoring each bite, not rushing for once. She even hummed softly to herself, a tune she didn't quite remember but one that lifted her spirits nonetheless.
After finishing, she took her time with a warm shower, the water cascading over her, washing away the residue of yesterday's exhaustion. She chose a sleek outfit for the day—something sharp yet elegant—a fitted blouse tucked into a pencil skirt, paired with heels that clicked smartly on the floor when she tested them. Her hair framed her face neatly, and a touch of lipstick brought out the glow in her complexion.
Standing before the mirror, she allowed herself a smile. "You've got this, Mia," she whispered.
By the time she stepped out of her apartment, the city was alive but not overwhelming. The sun shone brightly above, not too hot, just right. She caught a cab, slipping into the backseat, and leaned her head against the window, watching the world rush by.
Her phone buzzed with a reminder—several meetings lined up today, a lunch appointment with a client, and stacks of documents that needed her attention. Instead of dreading it, she felt ready. Energized.
The cab pulled up in front of the company building, tall and gleaming against the sky. Mia paid the driver, smoothed her skirt, and walked briskly toward the entrance. Her heels tapped confidently against the marble floor as she stepped into the lobby.
Employees greeted her as she passed, and she returned their smiles with ease. She carried herself with quiet authority, not harsh but firm, the kind of presence that made people feel both respected and compelled to respect her back.
As she entered her office, she set her bag down and exhaled with satisfaction.