Mia POV
"Mate's uncomfortable," Inara warned me in my mind, while walking back into Bryn's living room. I glanced at Atlas, and squeezed his hand for reassurance. He paused, his warm hand slipping away from mine, and gently brushed his fingertips over a healing scuff on my arm from the fight with Flint.
"Fighting like that, is it normal for you?" he asked, concern etching lines on his forehead. I nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words, and shifted my gaze to Bryn. "Atlas and I will be right back in a few minutes to talk," I informed her, reclaiming his hand and leading him back outside. We needed a moment alone, away from prying eyes, to ease his discomfort.

Once outside, I released his hand, and he locked his gaze with mine. "He hurt you," he stated, a mix of worry and protectiveness evident in his voice.
"It's nothing but a scratch. I'm sure Flint is in much more pain, even though I went easy on him," I reassured him.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "That was you going easy on someone?" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback. I couldn't help but smirk at his reaction. "Flint and I grew up together in the pack house. He used to be the one teaching me how to fight until I surpassed him," I explained, a hint of pride lacing my words.
"I shouldn't have reacted the way I did inside. I didn't mean to worry you or make you uncomfortable. Seeing Flint after everything that happened... it angered me. When he bared his neck to me, it was a sign of submission, and fighting him was a matter of trust for me. We weren't fighting to harm each other it was a way for our wolves to communicate and blow off steam. I could sense that he meant no harm," I clarified, hoping to ease Atlas' troubled mind.
Atlas nodded, his grip on a wooden railing tightening for a moment. I could hear the faint sound of the wood cracking under the pressure. Concerned, I wrapped my arms around him, offering comfort and support. His heightened emotions were overwhelming him, and I couldn't help but wonder why my mark had such a strong effect on him. It was unfamiliar territory, marking a human, but I agreed with Bryn that there was something different about Atlas, as if my mark had awakened something within him.
"Talk to me, Atlas. Take a deep breath and talk to me," I whispered against his ear, my voice laced with concern and affection.

"I've never felt this way," he whispered, his fingers grazing my skin gently. "I've never been consumed by jealousy when another man approached a girl I was with. But with you, it's different. My heart races just from holding your hand. Every aspect of you drives me insane, Mia. And even though we haven't known each other long, when he dared to fight you, I wanted to rip him apart," Atlas confessed.
"It's the mate bond," I explained. "When we completed it, it heightened our emotions for each other."
"I know Bryn tried to explain it to me as well," he admitted, his voice tinged with worry. "I just worry I'll end up driving you away or losing you because I still know so little about the world you grew up in."
I took hold of Atlas's hand, guiding it to my chest. "My heart flutters fast for you too," I whispered, my voice filled with genuine emotion. "These feelings, they're strange for me too. Growing up, I knew what a mate bond was, I watched others experience it, but it's different when you actually feel it yourself."

"If you're worried that your desire to be with me will push me away, don't be. I want to be with you just as much, if not more," I confessed, my voice filled with conviction. "I loved you before I even knew your name. From the moment you came into my life and helped me, it wasn't just the mate bond that drew me to you. It was your compassion, the way you looked out for me even when I was nothing more than a wild animal."
"You saved me when I shifted back, when others may have taken advantage or hurt me further. You cared for me, kept me safe," I continued, my voice filled with gratitude. "You gave up your previous life, without even knowing about our mate bond. You risked it all for me, and for that, I am eternally grateful."
I leaned closer to him, feeling a sense of closeness and connection that words couldn't fully express. The weight of his body against mine, the warmth of his breath against my skin, it was a tangible reminder of the depth of our bond.
Silence enveloped us for a moment, the only sound being the soft rhythm of our breathing. But then, I felt him shift, a subtle movement that spoke volumes. It was as if he was finally letting go of his worries, allowing himself to fully embrace what we shared.
In that moment, I knew that our love was strong, unbreakable. As long as he wanted me, I would never leave his side. And so, I whispered those words to him, "I'm not leaving you, unless you ask me to.”
Atlas wrapped his arms tightly around me, pulling me closer. I could feel the warmth of his embrace seeping into my skin. The soft rustle of his clothes filled the air as he held me. "Thank you, Mia," he whispered. "I can sense your emotions now, it's becoming familiar to me. But hearing these words from you means the world to me. I was scared to express myself at first, but I can't deny that I'm deeply in love with you." I nestled my head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my cheek. "I know," I murmured, my words barely audible. He inhaled deeply, taking in our surroundings.
"You smell really good," he admitted, his voice filled with surprise.
"You can smell me?" I asked.
"It's odd. I did not notice it before, but you smell like fresh strawberries," he explained.
"Mate can pick up on our unique scent." Inara said with surprise.
"Atlas, you said your parents passed when you were younger. How much of your background do you know?" I inquired.
"I'm afraid I don't remember much. To be honest, my grandmother is not blood-related. She was actually a family friend who took on the role of my grandmother. I was in the accident with my parents when they passed and suffered some memory loss, so I don't have many memories with them, as well as limited photos that I had kept with me. Why?" he asked, curiosity lacing his words.
"It's just a thought, maybe I'm wrong, but it could be possible that you are not completely human, Atlas. I may be a special wolf, but you are far stronger than I expected you to be with just my mark. I mean, you broke the railing, and now you can pick up on my scent. You also seem to feel our bond incredibly strong. I know Bryn was questioning it as well, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe one of your parents was human, and the other was a witch or something," I suggested, my voice filled with wonder.
"I doubt I am anything special," he admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty, as he took another deep breath.
"Well, even if you are just human, you are special and important to me," I replied, my words carried by a soft breeze.
"Do you think you're okay going in now?" I asked. "I have to talk to Bryn about the information she has, and I need to get up to date on what Flint knows too. I understand if you want to go to the room and rest, or do something else. I don't want to force you to sit through all of this," I explained.
"I want to be part of this," he insisted, his voice determined. "I want to learn what I can do to keep you safe. Although learning about others who want to cause you harm angers me, I still want to make sure I learn everything, so I am prepared. You have already been hurt more than once because of me, and I want to make sure that doesn't happen again," he explained.
As I made a move to go inside, Atlas grabbed onto my hand, stopping me for a moment.He brushed his hand against my face, his touch gentle, before bending down to kiss me. It was a brief kiss, but every connection with him felt electrifying, causing my wolf to howl in my mind.
Together, we then made our way back inside, the sounds of Bryn and Flint's laughter filling the air as we entered.
"Seems like you two are good friends," I said as we took a seat.
"I reviewed a good amount of the information in the file you gave me, Bryn," I continued. "I understand now that the attack on my pack was all to get me. Artemis needs to be stopped, and it's clear that as long as I'm alive, he will hunt for me, as well as the packs that have now sided with him."
Turning to Flint, I continued, curiosity burning in my eyes. "My father sent you to the human realm to investigate, but what exactly did he have you looking into?"
Flint took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. "Your father had known for some time the potential danger you were in, especially when news of your mother being ill spread. We all know that if you were to fall into the hands of a power-hungry Alpha, they would exploit you to make themselves stronger."
His words hung in the air, a heavy reminder of the risks I faced. "Based on information from Bryn's coven, we received a warning about several packs claiming territory in this realm. They were also utilizing other witches to aid them. Disguised as no longer associated with the wolf king, I managed to navigate Alpha Artemis's pack lands."
"Since you are a royal wolf, Mia, you possess greater strength and faster healing. Artemis believes that through witchcraft, he can harness your powers and infuse them into himself and other selected werewolves, creating a more superior breed. And from what I witnessed, they may very well succeed. They plan to dismantle the borders that separate our kind from humans and take control of specific areas, establishing themselves as the dominant beings. They have garnered substantial support."
A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I processed the gravity of the situation. "So now they want to use me as some sort of experiment," I murmured. "I need to find out which packs are still loyal allies and devise a plan to confront Alpha Artemis and any pack supporting him. Our ultimate goal is to restore peace in our realm."
"It's not going to be easy, Mia. From the knowledge the witches have obtained, now that the wolf king is dead, many packs also believe it may be best to eliminate you as well," Flint continued.
"So that there are no longer rare wolves," he added, his voice tinged with concern. "Some fear your power, and Mia you have taken a human as a mate. It will be almost impossible to get other packs to support us and see him as a superior."
"I do not need to reclaim my father's title," I replied, my voice firm. "Maybe it's time to do away with us royal wolves being used to create a superior Alpha. But I still need to get justice for all my fallen pack members. I can't stand by and allow Artemis to go through with his plans. I cannot let those who took so many lives go unpunished."
Flint nodded, his eyes filled with unwavering loyalty. "You are meant to rule our kind, Mia. It is in your blood," he reminded me.
I closed my eyes, contemplating his words. The weight of responsibility sat heavy on my shoulders, but a flicker of doubt entered my mind.
"You mean I am meant to create a ruler," I said.
"I believe our realm needs to change. Perhaps that's why I'm destined to be with Atlas. I may not know what that change entails yet, but I won't allow myself to be used. Many have sacrificed for me, and I won't let their efforts be in vain. I will find a way to protect our kind as I'm meant to, but I won't create a new king." I explained.
"Thank you," I responded, the words slipping from my lips as he excused himself and left.
"Atlas, if it's alright with you, I would like you to train with me tomorrow. I want to witness your fighting firsthand. I need to teach you how to defend yourself against my kind," I explained.
"And Bryn, with your guidance, perhaps you can help me understand what my mark may hold for Atlas. I want to know if I possess the power to heal him or make him stronger. I will devise a plan that ensures the safety of my kind while ending Artemis," I continued, my thoughts swirling in my mind..
"But perhaps Artemis has one valid point. Maybe it's time for me to dismantle the barriers that separate our species. Maybe, with Atlas by my side, we can establish a peaceful coexistence with humans," I concluded, fully aware of the arduous journey that lay ahead. Failure was not an option I was resolute in my determination to succeed.