Mia looked over at the clock on the wall as it ticked away slowly. She sat on her bed, waiting for the milk she requested, her legs stretched underneath the blanket as she saw the dark sky cascade over the house. The feelings of anxiety plagued her mind whenever her brother would leave for these missions, because she never knew if he'd come home safe or in a body bag, just like the rest of her family.

Mia laid back on the bed, her head on the pillow as she stared at the moon brimming in the sky. She prayed to the goddess to protect Kade, Dario and Nikolai. She couldn't endure any more losses. An ache ran through her as she realized that perhaps prayer wouldn't save them, just like it didn't help last time. She closed her eyes as the horrible memories crept around to capture her in their grip and drag her into their darkness.

Despite her resistance, the memory of that fateful night appeared in front of her. She was that young girl again running away from the men who chased her after they brutally killed her brother Emilio and their parents. The first thing Lucas had done when he caught her was break her left leg so that she couldn't run when the other men grabbed her. Even now, as she laid in bed, her leg throbbed with that sharp pain of when it broke. The bones shattered and it bent in an abnormal angle as she cried out in pain and begged them to stop. But they hadn't. Their thick, disgusting hands seized her from everywhere and made sure she'd never let out a sound and...

Mia sprung out of bed gasping for air, pushing away her hair from her face. She stumbled out of bed, trying hard not to fall from the pain in her leg. She saw all of their heinous faces around her in this dark bedroom. She couldn't get away. She couldn't save herself.

Mia clattered with the lock as she burst open the balcony doors and toppled outside. The cold breeze swept through her hair and dried the tears on her cheeks. She collapsed against the railing as she tried her hardest to breathe again.

She didn't turn around and kept her gaze fixated on the tree ahead of her. She tried to remind herself that she was safe in the house and that no one could attack her here. But nothing was comforting enough. She couldn't even look at the moon anymore.

Unknown of how much time passed, she went back into her room but felt a strange sickness in her gut. Mia abandoned her room and left for the elevator right outside her door, taking her to the ground level. She left through the small door to the garden for some fresh air rather than the stifling nightmares in her bedroom.

-Vadik's POV-

Vadik hadn't received any update on what was going on at Xeon after Alec left to stop Mikhail with Kade and his team. He figured two things happened. First, that his brother stopped Mikhail and they were coming home sooner rather than later. Or Mikhail wasn't there and they were coming home. However, Alec would have told Vadik either way if the plan did or didn't work. Something must have happened to them. An attack? Or perhaps, a diversion?

Vadik crossed the living-room when he saw a maid carrying tray with a cup on it. "Who's that for?" he asked her.

"For Miss. Mia," she answered.

"I'll take it to her," he held his hand out.

She looked a bit stumped but didn't argue back and gave the tray. She gave curt bow and walked off back to the servant quarters alone.

Vadik climbed the stairs and reached Mia's bedroom, he already knew where it was since he visited it before. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Without second thought, he barged in now and it was as he suspected. There was no one here. He put the milk down and looked around the room. He saw that her walk-in closet was empty and so was the bathroom. She wasn't abducted because her scent was close. He walked out onto the large balcony when he saw a figure walking on the grass.

Vadik didn't waste a moment before he put his hand on the concrete railing and jumped off the edge onto the ground. She still wasn't aware of his arrival. He wondered what she was doing out here in the middle of the night all alone.

Quietly, he walked a bit closer. They were in a small garden that was surrounded by tall hedges that closed away the world. She was in a white nightgown staring up at the moon above her. She was alone yet not lonely as her mind was far away from here. Vadik sensed her sweet scent that mirrored a field of flowers but had dampened with sadness. There was a burden in her heart and it ached through him. The only time he ever felt this degree of pain was when his father stabbed him with a poisoned blade, so he was bed-ridden for weeks with a fever.

The breeze carried through, it played in her luscious black hair that was free in the wind. Vadik's gaze never left her because it was impossible. The moon glinted off her luminous skin and it called for his hands to worship it all night long. She must not have realized how sheer her nightgown was because through the flimsy silk, he could trace her curves with his gaze. The curve of her slender shoulder to the small of her back and then her ample hips down to her bare feet. The metal brace clasped around her knee to her ankle.

Vadik drew in a breath of her whimsical scent that carried all her thoughts to him. She never concealed anything and it was such a pure trait to have in such a harsh world. He could never be that way, he wasn't allowed, not when so many wanted the Waldorf's dead.

"I can't protect you if you wander off," Vadik broke the soft silence.

Mia gasped and turned at his intrusion, her soft green eyes gaped at him. "Y-you," she couldn't believe that he actually stood here before her.

Vadik's eyes trailed over the low cut of the nightgown that dipped showing the curve of her breasts to him. There was a pink ribbon that called his name and he could easily cross the space between them and pull it open. But he didn't move from his spot and it took all the power in him to do so. Mia wasn't used to his presence and he wouldn't shock her. Well, couldn't shock her just yet.

"How are you doing that?" her soft voice caressed his ears calling to the wolf inside him.

"Doing what?" he spoke as he took a step closer into her guarded space.

"Concealing your scent," she clarified. "I can't sense your pheromones."

"Years of practice," he told her, which was the truth.

Mia turned her body away from him, crossing her arms because the breeze was too cold her. "Why would anyone need to practice that?" she asked.

"When you live in a cage with predators hungry for your blood, you learn a thing or two," Vadik answered.

She stared at him again with warmth in her beautiful eyes. "I'm sorry," she muttered regretfully.

Vadik almost laughed. "Are you going to tell me what you're doing out here now?" he crossed the path between them but not close enough to touch her.

Mia's eyes hardened with pain like she recalled what she was trying so hard to forget. Vadik's wolf emerged with a starving desire to kill whoever caused her pain.

"Answer me, Mia," his voice deep and low for her alone. He needed to know the answer so him and his wolf could shred that thing apart.

Her long lashes lifted and she stared at him as he stood before her now. "I was thinking of the night when your father attacked my family," she told him.

Vadik's entire body stiffened with the insidious intent to murder his fucking father all over again. He didn't know what to say or how to comfort her because everything that happened to her was because of his family. He was just as guilty as his father. He almost desired to hand her a gun and kill him too so she could find some relief. But he had no strength to do that. He only found himself wishing he could hold her in his arms and tell the whole world to rot in hell.

"I'm sorry," she put up a gentle smile for him, "I know you didn't support your father."

Vadik stared down at his innocent mate and lost himself to her sweet scent that engulfed him in this beautiful dream. Although, that sinister shard in him knew that he was a Waldorf. Every way to kill and possess was in him like an incurable disease. His hands had taken more lives than a sane person could imagine. He hurt and tortured whoever the fuck got in his way. He was an animal that maimed whatever pissed him off. His own wolf was hungry for this woman right now and to do things to her body that were undoubtedly erotic. Both of them could push her down onto the ground and easily claim her as theirs. She was delicate and soft, nothing about her would be able to resist if he laid his hands on her to coerce ecstasy that she'd enjoy too.

He tilted his head. "Are you scared of me, Mia?"

Mia looked up at him. "No," she answered firmly.

Vadik lifted his hand and brought it to her face, he ached to touch her and he wondered if she would let him. The backs of his fingers caressed down her warm cheek, she didn't move away or flinch, but stood stiffly as he trailed his fingers down her jaw and then along the soft line of her neck. Her skin was delicate under his touch and his eyes feasted on the pulse racing in her throat.

"Your eyes, how can they be different colours?" she spoke with fascination in her tone.

Vadik was deformed because of his different coloured eyes. Lucas always made sure to remind him of that fact.

"Did you get this from your mother?" Mia asked.

"I don't know," Vadik confessed. "I never met her."

Mia's eyes saddened. "Why?"

"She was kept away from us," Vadik said. He really didn't know the real reason why his mother was kept away from them. Lucas just never let the poor woman out of her room. He even remembered when he tried to sneak in and meet her, but he was beaten when Lucas found out.

"Lucas did that?" she guessed.

"It doesn't matter anymore," he said.

Mia looked away from him. "A mother is the most precious person in the world," she mumbled.

"I can think of something else more precious," he said as he stepped towards her and she backed away until she was cornered to a tree. His mind hungered for his mate's touch that was a lot more valuable to him.

Mia peeked a smile. "Y-you're really tall," she said as she leaned back to face him.

Vadik took her smile and kept it locked into his soul. He leaned down and wrapped his arms under her legs surprising her. She gasped cutely when he swiftly lifted her off her feet and let her rest her back against the tree as her legs wrapped around his waist. The smile on her lips tugged at the strings inside him and he knew that he would treasure that smile forever.

"Better?" he asked. Both of them were near enough that their lips could touch. Mia put her arms on his shoulders to support herself even though his arms were securely holding her up and he'd never let her fall.

"I think your eyes are beautiful," she confessed sweetly.

Vadik bit back his smile. "No one has ever said that before," he told her.

She leaned closer to him, her eyes focusing on his and she brushed her fingers over the small scar that trailed over his cheek to his jaw. "I remember you," she revealed. "I thought I was dreaming." Mia frowned as she connected the puzzle pieces in her own mind. "You came to my room that night."

Vadik realized that she spoke of the night he planned to rescue Alec. "It wasn't intentional," he told her. "I needed to rescue my brother."

"Oh," she understood right away. "But you didn't rescue him. The alarm went off."

"Alec didn't want me getting caught either," Vadik responded.

Mia tilted her head then. "You know, I could tell my brother about that night," she said. "Aren't you worried?"

"Not at all." Vadik only thought about the way her warmth wrapped his body. The opulent curves of her body plush against him was all he needed.

"Why do you trust me so much?" she asked. "My brother made it quite obvious that we hate your family."

"Kade and Alec are mates," he told her directly.

Mia's eyes gaped. "A-are you serious?" she stuttered over her own words because she couldn't believe it.

"Alec won't hurt Kade because he's trying to do a lot more with him," Vadik didn't bother keeping this from her. They'd all eventually find out anyway. Besides, it was probably for the better that Mia knows about their bond too.

"I can't believe it," Mia covered her mouth from falling open. "Does Kade even know about this?" she asked.

"You could always ask him," Vadik suggested.

Mia blinked. "He'll never accept this," she urged. "Can you put me down?"

"Don't you think we have something to discuss too?" He prompted but didn't put her down. Instead, he pressed closer between her legs until the buckle of his belt was lush against her warm skin.

"Wh-what?" Mia's voice dropping to a mere whisper.

"How long are you going to fight our bond?" he asked.

"I'm not fighting it," she said. "But this can't happen between us."

"Our brothers are mates," he told her. "Kade will accept the bond one day."

"How do you know?" Mia asked.

"My brother's relentless," he smirked.

Mia brushed away her hair behind her ear. "I'm not rejecting the bond, Vadik," she said.

His name off her lips made his head spin with desire. Fuck, it sounded exotic. "Good," he tried to focus on what she said.

"But you need to give me time to tell my brother," she said. "Can you stay quiet about our bond until then?"

Vadik stiffened. It wasn't in his nature to hide and play games about this matter. He desired to claim his woman and let everyone know that she was his alone. He craved for her to wear his mark proudly like he'd wear hers.

"Vadik?" her voice soothed the rage inside him.

He stared at the delicate eyes that beckoned the bit of obedience in him for her. He couldn't win her trust if he didn't give heed to her wish now. "Fine, we'll do it your way," he said.

She graced a smile for him. "Thank you," she leaned in and laid a kiss on his cheek. "Can you put me down now?"

Vadik's cheek warmed with her soft lips. His grip on her legs tightened as he controlled his own desire. Swallowing the storm inside him, he put her down on the ground.

"How'd you even get in my room?" she asked as she tipped her head back and looked up at the high balcony.

"I climbed the tree," he told her as he pointed at the culprit beside them

She laughed. "Kade's going to cut the tree down as soon as he finds out," she said.

"Don't tell him," Vadik said as he followed her to the door towards the house.

"Since I like that tree, I won't," she said.

Vadik opened the door for her and she walked in. They walked together towards an elevator.

"I didn't know there was an elevator?" he shared.

"There's elevators all around the house," she said as the door pinged open on the floor of her bedroom.

He walked her up to the door and she stepped inside. "Can you help me with something?" she asked. His eyes stayed on her to continue. "My brace is hurting me, so I'm going to take it off," she told him. "But I need to wash my feet and I don't want to fall. I would ask the staff but they're probably asleep by now so I don't want to bother them." He responded with a curt nod.

Vadik stepped into her room and shut the door behind him. She looked away and went to the bathroom turning on the golden light that spilled onto the dark floor of the room. He joined her at the door as she bent down to the clasp behind her knee and unbolted it. The brace loosened easily.

Vadik came over bending down on his feet. He viewed the clasp around her ankle. "Do I pull this?" he said as he grabbed the latch.

"Yes," she answered shyly.

He did and the brace fell off. Picking it up, he put it on the counter as Mia stood on her own two feet. The brace left dark red marks on her fair skin letting him know how tightly it had been secured to her leg. Vadik touched the marks and the curve of her knee, he looked up at her eyes that were studying him just as closely as he was her.

Vadik stood towering over her when he picked her up and placed her on the edge of the tub to allow her to sit comfortably. She grabbed the soap off the ledge and poured it over her feet. Vadik turned the tap on to a warm temperature for her before he bent down to clean them.

"No, don't do that," she pushed at his shoulder. "You just need to stand at the door."

Vadik didn't listen. He lathered the soap that was rose scented and grabbed her small foot in his large hands.

She started to laugh. "My feet are really ticklish," she protested as she gripped his shirt in her palm. "Vadik, stop it, please."

Vadik loved the sound of her laughter that was without concerns or fears. She was being herself and being as lively as her heart allowed. He finished cleaning both her feet before rinsing them with warm water.

"Why didn't you stop?" she chided gingerly.

"You were being too cute, that's why," he responded.

She smacked his shoulder, but it didn't hurt him. "Are you going to keep doing what you want?"

Vadik leaned close to her. "Yeah," he answered before he lifted her off the tub and took her to her bedroom. He placed her on the bed with her legs dangling off the edge. He returned to her side with a towel and wiped her feet dry.

"Do you need to put the brace back on?" he asked her.

"I can put it on in the morning," she answered. "You don't have to do all this."

Vadik looked up from her small feet to her bashful green eyes. "I will do anything for you," he whispered softly, as he wickedly kissed the top of her foot, his hand running along her calf and memorizing the slender curve of her leg, as his lips trailed over to her ankle then her shin. Mia held her breath as he laid his lips on the scar that had been sliced across the middle of her knee.

"What do you mean by, anything?" she questioned.

Vadik got up leaning towards her until she fell back on the bed with him practically on top of her. "Anything," he affirmed.

"That makes me a bit nervous," she said hesitantly.

Vadik grinned as he held himself above her with his arms braced on each side. He knew why she was nervous when he claimed that he'd do anything for her, because the dead serious look in his eyes stared at her like she could ask him to kill someone and he'd do it, which he would.

"It should just show how much power you have over me," he replied.

She laughed briefly. "Me? Have power over you?" she said.

"You don't believe me?" he said darkly. "Even after I've done nothing despite having you defenceless this whole time, and now, you're laid out under me in this nightgown that doesn't leave anything to imagination." He stared at her parted lips with hunger aching in his mismatched gaze.

"What did you want to do?" she bravely asked.

"First, I want to kiss you," he said against the soft line of her ear, "then take this silk gown off your beautiful body and-" suddenly, the commotion from the front door was heard.

"Kade's back," Mia panicked. "You need to get out." Vadik didn't move as she nudged his shoulders back. "Hurry, Vadik, please."

He almost asked her to say 'please' again for him. But didn't when he saw the panic cross her face. Vadik got off the bed but he didn't leave. He pulled the duvet back and waited until she laid down. When she did, he covered her and put the towel back in the bathroom.

"Thank you for helping me," she said as he approached the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he winked at her.

Mia smiled and turned onto her side away from him as he shut the door and left her to sleep the night away.

Vadik really didn't want to leave her all alone in this room while she was in bed. He craved to stay by her side, protect her while she slept and hold her, as her fragrance wrapped him up in a pure temple, that he had never been honoured with before in his morbid life.

But he couldn't think about that right now. He needed to see if his brother successfully completed the mission or not? He joined the men downstairs immediately. Holding the memories of this night in his soul. 

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