Mira wakes up the next morning, snug under a blanket on the sofa. She sits up, feet swinging, and stretches, yawning.
A few strands of hair fall over her left eye. She crosses her eyes to watch the hair as she blows it out of her way.
The delicious smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes fills the air, courtesy of her amazing grandmother.
“You’d better hurry and wash up before your breakfast gets cold,” her grandmother teases. “Or before I eat it all.”
She hears Mira’s small footsteps scamper to the bathroom, which makes her laugh even more.
Mira quickly climbs up onto what she considers a high chair. She’s always had to climb on and off furniture her whole life.
She needs a ladder to reach items in the cupboards or anything remotely out of her reach.
Everything is built to accommodate the height of werewolves. The kitchen island and counters come up to her shoulders.
One day, her father surprised her with a swing chair in her bedroom that she could easily climb into. It made her so happy to finally be able to reach the floor and swing herself.
Mira suddenly misses her swing chair. “Grandma?” Her lavender eyes gaze at her loving grandmother. “Misty and Aqua don’t want to be mated. At least not to Alpha Black.”
Her grandmother looks at her, curious. “Oh, really? Why is that?”
Mira sips her orange juice to wash down the bacon she’s eating. “Misty wants to train to be a warrior, and Aqua is already in love.”
Grandmother shakes her head, laughing. “So he’s coming for nothing.” She sighs then looks at Mira. “If Alpha Black saw you, he would fall in love at first sight.”
Mira’s big lavender eyes look at her in disbelief. “Grandmother, you know it’s against the Wolf Council Law for runts like me to be mated. One look at me and he will be disgusted.”
Grandmother takes Mira’s small hand. “That law is nonsense, Mira. You are not disgusting, and don’t call yourself a runt.” She rolls her eyes as she scolds.
“I believe if you’re allowed to be mated, you will live a long and prosperous life.”
Mira smiles at her grandmother, kissing her knuckles. “With the Council law in effect, we’ll never know. I just want you to know I love you so much and I’m so happy to be part of your life.”
Her grandmother barely smiles. “So am I, sweetie. So am I.”
They both finish eating their breakfast in a sad silence.
Destan arrives in a car with Delta to pick up Mira and their grandmother. Destan smiles when he sees Mira come out of the cabin, waving hello.
He gets out of the car, opening his arms to Mira, who runs into his embrace. “Hey, Mira. Did you have fun bugging Grandma?”
Mira giggles into his chest. “She’s trying to get me mated.”
Destan lightly pushes her away, still holding her shoulders. “Seriously?”
Mira nods her head, laughing.
Destan rolls his eyes, then shakes his head with a smirk.
On the ride home, Destan turns slightly to look at Mira, who is sitting behind Delta Roman, who is driving.
“Hey, Mira, I have to tell you something that you’re not gonna like.”
Mira scrunches up her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
“Councilman Fredrickson is at the house.”
Both Mira and Grandmother look at each other, then at Destan.
“Ew, who let that thing in the house?” Mira asks, her tone full of disgust.
“He came to officiate Alpha Black and his mate.”
Grandmother grabs Mira’s hand, squeezing it softly.
“I thought both your sisters declined.”
Delta Roman nods, taking a quick look at Grandmother. “They did decline, but Fredrickson requested to stay the night after the long journey he took for nothing.
“He will be leaving this morning, Mira, so don’t you worry, okay?” He winks at her through the mirror.
Mira feels uneasy. She hates when Councilman Fredrickson is around. She can feel his eyes burning through her clothes.
“How early this morning is he leaving?” Mira hugs herself. “I really don’t want him to see me.”
Destan smiles at Mira. “Don’t worry, Mira. I will never let him touch you.”
Mira sighs, knowing that her little brother means what he says. She sits back, feeling a bit more at ease.
“Where are you going?” Dalton asks as he walks to the adjoining bathroom.
Phoenix is wearing only his jogging pants that hang low, showing his deep V indentation. He’s shirtless, showing off all his tattoos, including his massive chest and ripped, hard muscles.
“I’m going for a run. I’m sure Luna Jenna and the other ladies are making breakfast for all of us. I’ll be back by then.”
Without another word, Phoenix takes off for his morning run. He takes in the beautiful surroundings and inhales the fresh morning grass and trees.
Phoenix runs for five miles around back to the guest house. As he approaches the guest house, he hears the sweet sound of a violin playing. Or someone playing.
Phoenix follows the sound, stopping at the partially opened French doors. The white sheer curtains are covering the doors, blocking his view of who is on the other side.
Phoenix quietly pushes the door open and steps in. He stands frozen on the spot, for before him, playing the violin, is the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen in his entire life . . . and she’s a runt.
His eyes roam her pitch-black thick, wavy hair that flows beautifully down her back and past her behind. Her eyes are closed as she plays, as if she were in a trance.
He smiles at how long and thick her eyelashes are, matching her dark, long, semi-thick eyebrows. She has a small, slim nose and high rosy cheeks that make his hand itch to caress them.
Her pink lower lip is fuller than her pink upper lip, and both are slightly parted, smiling at how the music makes her feel.
Phoenix is breathless when she opens her eyes. They’re the most stunning eyes he’s ever seen. This girl keeps surprising him.
She jumps, gasping, her violin still clutched in her hands. “Oh!”
Phoenix raises his hands and takes a step back.
“I’m not going to hurt you, little one. I just got back from my run and heard you playing so beautifully. I had to see who was behind the music.”
His voice softens as he continues to talk to her. “Who are you? What’s your name?” He watches as she relaxes a bit.
“M . . . my name is Mira. I’m Alpha James and Luna Jenna’s daughter.” Mira looks down at her feet, shy. “You must be Alpha Black,” she whispers.
“Yes, that’s me. But why didn’t I meet you last night when I first got here?”
Mira’s lavender eyes meet his blue ones as she bites her lower lip. “I . . . I was visiting my grandmother.”
Phoenix inhales sharply, watching her lower lip slowly escape from her teeth. “Mira,” he whispers, liking how her name sounds coming from his lips.
He notices her bright lavender eyes scanning the tattoos on his upper body. She seems mesmerized by the art and the stories they tell.
She blushes when she realizes he’s watching her, and he chuckles.
“It’s okay, Mira. You can look as long as you want,” he teases, making her shy away and look down at her feet again. Phoenix takes a step toward her when the door opens.
Destan walks in, his smile fading when he sees a half-naked Phoenix in front of his blushing sister.
Destan steps in front of Mira, blocking Phoenix’s view of the girl who makes his heart pound. Phoenix’s wolf growls, wanting to be near her.
Destan, stubborn as ever, doesn’t back down from Phoenix. His job is to protect Mira.
Without taking his eyes off Phoenix, Destan speaks. “Mira, I’m taking you to Mom.” His voice is firm.
Mira’s small hand wraps around his muscular arm as she comes back into Phoenix’s view. “Okay, Destan.” She looks at Phoenix. “It was nice meeting you, Alpha Black.”
She smiles, trying to ease the tension between the two men. “Take me to Mom, Destan.” She starts to pull on his hand to leave the room.
After they’re gone, Phoenix smirks. That kid has balls of steel. It’s clear that Destan is Mira’s protector, and he does a good job.
Phoenix leaves the same way he came in, running straight to the guest house. Dalton isn’t in the room, which means he went to the main house for breakfast.
Phoenix showers and changes. He can’t believe how quickly Lady Mira has made him forget about other women. He knows from the moment he sees her, no other woman will ever compare.
It has to be Lady Mira.
He knows what he has to do. He came here for a mate, and he’s leaving with one. Today.
Luna Jenna is in Mira’s room, folding her clean clothes and putting them away. Mira walks in with Destan, running up to her mother and giving her a hug.
“Mira, my beautiful baby girl. I’m so happy you’re home.” She hugs her daughter tightly. “Did Grandma make you drink her special tea?” Jenna laughs as she continues to fold.
Mira flops onto her bed, grabbing a shirt, and starts to fold it. “Yup. It did make me feel better though.”
Jenna smiles and nods.
“Hey, Mom, when are Alpha Black and his men leaving?”
Jenna looks at her son as if asking him to explain himself.
“I’m just wondering. I caught him talking to Mira . . . half-naked.” He crosses his arms over his chest, angry.
Jenna’s eyebrows shoot up as she looks at Mira, who blushes again. “Is that so?”
Mira tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “He liked my violin music.” Mira smiles.
“Did he now?” Jenna waggles her eyebrows, making both Mira and Destan cringe.
“Mom!” they both shout at the same time, making Jenna laugh.
Grandmother walks into Mira’s room with another cup of her special tea, handing it to Mira to drink. Destan scrunches his nose in disgust.
“What’s so funny?” She picks up a brush sitting next to Mira and starts to brush her long, dark hair.
Destan covers his ears. “I don’t want to be part of this conversation. I’m out. Going to practice with Misty in the fighting field.” He’s gone before anyone can tease him to stay.
“So, it seems our little Mira here had an encounter with a half-naked Alpha.”
Grandmother looks at Jenna then Mira. “Really? Hmm.”
Jenna stops to look at her mother.
“Jenna, have you ever thought that if Mira were to find a mate, she would survive?”
Mira sips her tea, remembering this conversation from earlier this morning.
“Of course it has, Mom. I think about it every day.”
Mira pinches the bridge of her nose. “You both know darn well it’s against the Wolf Council—”
Grandmother rolls her eyes. “Fuck those assholes. Why the fuck do they get to decide that? As old as I am, I don’t remember getting a vote in this stupid decision.”
Mira’s eyes widen at her grandmother’s outburst. She’s never seen the woman angry.
“I agree with you, Mom, I really do. Maybe . . .” Jenna cups Mira’s face. “I think we should let Mira find a mate without the Wolf Council knowing.”
Both women seem to have made up their minds.
“We need to get rid of Councilman Fredrickson first. He’s creepy. Plus, I need to talk to James.”
Mira gives a firm shake of her head at the two women she holds dear. “Enough already. I won’t let my family get into hot water with the Wolf Council—”
A knock at the door cuts her off. The door swings open to reveal Aqua.
“Mom, Alpha Black wants to chat with you and dad. He says it’s urgent.”
Jenna nods. “Mom, keep an eye on Mira. I don’t want her alone while that creature is here.” Jenna exits Mira’s room and trails Aqua down to the family room.
“I trust you and your men enjoyed your breakfast, Alpha Phoenix.” Jenna grins, standing next to her mate, James.
“Yes, we did, and thank you, both of you, for your hospitality. But I have something crucial to discuss with you.”
Dalton takes a seat next to Alpha James and Luna Jenna, curious about Phoenix’s impending announcement.
“This morning, I met your daughter Mira, and I’ve decided to make her my mate. I want her to be my Luna.”
Alpha James’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise as he glances at his mate, Jenna. Her eyes are sparkling, seemingly on board with Alpha Phoenix’s decision.
“That’s not possible and it’s against the Wolf Council Laws,” Fredrickson states flatly, standing by the entryway and drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
A threatening growl rumbles from Phoenix, causing Fredrickson to swallow hard and even blanch. “Y . . . y . . . you know it can’t . . .”
Phoenix charges at him in fury. “I don’t give a damn about your fucking laws, so who’s gonna stop me? You?” Phoenix challenges, making Fredrickson practically shrink in size.
Misty and Destan return from practice, and Aqua hears Phoenix’s shout. The siblings enter, wondering what’s happening.
“What’s up?” Aqua asks as she walks over to her parents.
“Alpha Black wants to mate with your sister Mira and make her his Luna,” James tells her.
“Really?” Destan and Misty ask together.
“But this smug jerk is trying to tell me that I can’t,” Phoenix growls.
“Ugh, Mom, I told you not to let that thing in.” Misty stomps her right foot, scrunching up her nose in disgust at Fredrickson.
The arguing halts when Grandmother comes running down the stairs. “JENNA! JAMES! IT’S MIRA! HURRY!”
Everyone but Fredrickson dashes upstairs to Mira’s room. Dalton blocks Fredrickson from following the family and his Alpha.
Mira is lying in bed, pale, practically lifeless.
“OH NOOO, BABY, PLEASE DON’T LEAVE US!” Destan slides down the wall, wrapping his large arms around his long legs as he watches the life drain from his beloved sister.
Neither Aqua nor Misty can hold back the tears streaming down their faces, and Grandmother holds them both for comfort.
Phoenix’s heart pounds in his chest with pain, realizing that his chance of being with Mira might not come true. Phoenix pushes past everyone, cradling Mira’s delicate, limp body in his arms.
He gently brushes her thick hair away from her face. “I won’t let you leave me, munchkin.”
He tilts her head to the side, exposing her neck and shoulder, and licks it to make his bite easier on her. His teeth elongate, then bite down, breaking her skin.
Mira screams, making everyone in the room hold their breath as this giant wolf claims her.
Phoenix pulls back, praying he wasn’t too late to save her life.
