Mia POV
The tantalizing aroma of a home cooked meal enveloped my senses as I made my way towards the kitchen in Bryn's house. The warm, savory scent of spices and herbs filled the air, making my mouth water in anticipation. I had intended to offer my help in preparing the meal, but it was evident that Bryn was already steps ahead of me as I entered the kitchen.
"It would seem Atlas has discovered how to soothe you," she remarked. I chuckled softly."Thank you for teaching him more about me and my kind. I have so much to share with him," I expressed my gratitude.

"It is my duty to protect you and your chosen one," Bryn replied, her voice tinged with a sense of devotion.
"Please, sit, Mia. We haven't had the chance to have a proper conversation in private," she invited me, guiding me towards the wooden chairs.
As I settled into my seat, I couldn't help but voice my confusion and frustration. "My father never mentioned that I had a witch as a protector. I don't understand why he kept so much hidden from me," I admitted, seeking answers.
In response, Bryn turned her wrist to reveal a tattoo, a symbol that mirrored the one I bore as a white wolf. It was a mark I had carried since birth, a symbol of my heritage. "Your mother and father withheld much from you out of fear for your destiny. Your father, though a noble Wolf King, shared the belief of many that it was time for the royal white wolf lineage to come to an end," she began to explain.
"Your mother was his destined mate, and he did not wish to deny the bond between them. However, he persuaded her that her wolf and her powers were more of a danger than a gift. For years, we tried to reason with them, to make them see the truth. Your kind, especially you, Mia, possess the power to bring peace to our world," Bryn revealed, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and determination.
"The future holds an impending disaster, caused by evil forces, but the exact nature of this remains unknown. It is foretold that you are the key, the one who will either save or destroy the world. Without you, the world stands no chance at all," she concluded, her words hanging heavily in the air.

"Was my family aware of this prophecy?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity. Bryn nodded gently, her eyes reflecting the weight of the truth. "Yes, they were made aware," she began, her voice tinged with sadness. "But your father chose to ignore the prophecy for a long time. Your parents even sought the counsel of another coven before you were born, desperate to ensure that your mother did not conceive another white wolf. They believed it worked until you came into this world. Your father saw your existence as a curse, though he never admitted it to your face. He consulted many to suppress your powers, not out of fear that the wrong person would find you, but because he did not want your kind to carry on. He couldn't bring himself to end you, for he still loved you as his child. Yet, he refused to let your kind live on. Recently, something changed within him, whether it was your mother's illness or the realization that his actions were slowly killing you. He reached out for assistance in training you and started to believe in the prophecy. But it was too late, Mia. Before any support could be given, your packs time ran out."
Bryn's words hung heavily in the air as I absorbed the truth. My father's fear of my wolf had always been apparent, but I had never known the reasons behind his strict rules that confined me to our pack lands. It was to prevent me from ever finding my mate or having a pup. The revelation left me speechless, and I whispered my disbelief.
"But you must have known, Mia," Bryn's voice broke through my thoughts, filled with concern. "You were dying. Your wolf is special she needed her mate." Suddenly, Atlas's startled voice joined the conversation from behind me. "Dying," he repeated, his voice filled with worry. I turned to meet his eyes, seeing the concern etched on his face. "I knew," I responded, my voice barely a whisper. Atlas's hand gently rested on my shoulder as he processed the news.
"Your dying?" he asked, his voice strained with emotion.

"Mia is special, as I've already explained to you, Atlas. It harms her wolf when she doesn't use and accept her power. It also harms her wolf if she doesn't find her mate and accept the bond, for she must share the overwhelming power her wolf possesses with them. Otherwise, it eats away at her. Mia's wolf, being special, would have been able to locate you when she turned eighteen. But her father forbade her from leaving the pack lands and restricted outsiders from entering. This was all to prevent Mia from finding her mate."
Bryn's words hit me hard, and I struggled to comprehend it all. Turning to Atlas, I asked, "You were pushed to accept me? I never wanted you to feel forced into this. Did you only accept my mark because you were worried about me?”
"I accepted you and your mark, Mia, because I love you," Atlas admitted, causing me to relax a little. The sound of his soothing voice eased my worries. "So you're saying Mia has been slowly dying for the past seven years because she was blocked from finding me?" Atlas asked, seeking clarification.
"Correct," Bryn replied, her voice filled with concern. "Although Mia may act and fight strong, she constantly battles her wolf's powers. At times, it has overwhelmed her to the point where her wolf, Inara, takes over in an attempt to heal Mia. Flint made me aware that this has happened to you several times, Mia, while he was in the pack. He claimed that shortly before he left, you lost control for almost a week. When you finally shifted back, your father had you confined to a secured room at the medical facility for another week before you could even walk again on your own. The attack on your pack was devastating, Mia, but it led you to your mate. However, you need to stick by him now for some time so the scars of the past seven years can heal.”
As Bryn spoke, Atlas's arms wrapped around me, providing a comforting embrace. He effortlessly lifted me and settled me on his lap. "Then we stay together as much as possible," he whispered against me, his breath tickling my neck.
"May I see your hand, Mia?" Bryn asked, and I nodded, holding it out for her. Bryn chanted a few words, and a pleasant warmth spread through my body. I could feel Atlas nuzzling his nose against my neck At the same time.
"It seems your wolf is already healing, thanks to your bond, but slower than expected," Bryn commented, glancing at Atlas for a moment. "Although I believe the reason behind that is, although you may feel like the bond is completed, it is not. Atlas has yet to mark you."
"Mark Mia, but how?" Atlas asked, confusion lacing his voice. Bryn let out a friendly laugh. "You will know naturally, and by the looks of it, real soon, since you are already sniffing her marking spot. It is very apparent, even without my spell running, that you are a shifter. We just need to find out why your wolf is hidden, and once we do, Mia will surely help you on your first shift," Bryn explained.
"If I don't mark Mia, does that mean her power will still hurt her?" Atlas asked, his voice laced with concern. I could feel his grip tighten on me as he awaited Bryn's response.
"Yes, it still overwhelms her," Bryn explained. "We got a small taste of that with the storm, but you were still able to help her instead of her losing full control. For now, I believe she is safe. But for her to survive what is to come in the future, she will most likely need your mark, Atlas."
I took a deep breath, feeling Atlas's fingers tighten on my arm. "Please don't worry," I reassured him. "I've managed just fine. Bryn, I'm unfortunately not aware of how to handle my wolf's powers, and as a result, I do lose control. Since you seem to know a good deal about them, can you help me learn? I apologize for continually asking so much of you."
"It is my duty, Mia," Bryn replied, her voice filled with conviction. "I was bound to be your protector, and it would be my honor to help. We will start tomorrow. Training with Atlas may also help figure out his true power. I'm making a late-night dinner that I think you will both like, but it will be another hour or so. How about you two go out and spar."
I slowly got up from Atlas's lap, turning to face him. His expression was a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "What do you say? Do you want to train a little with me?" I asked, hoping he would agree.
"Sure," he responded, but there was a nervous edge to his voice. "You don't have to if you don't want to," I quickly added, not wanting to pressure him.
"It's not that... it's just... well..." Atlas struggled to find the right words.
"You're embarrassed to fight her because you're weaker," Bryn blurted out, her words blunt and unfiltered.
Atlas sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Yes," he admitted. "I've been training since I was a child, and you have not. So, of course, I'm better than you right now. But I've also seen you fight, and you were good, Atlas. I'm sure you are at least equal in skills to some that were in my pack. And if you train with me, I can help you get to my level."
"Fine, just no laughing at me," he chuckled, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. Bryn turned on her light outside, casting a soft glow over us as I led Atlas outside. I could feel the excitement bubbling within me as we prepared to spar. Inara was howling in my mind, thrilled, training was one of our favorite things and now she could train alongside her mate.
I looked at Atlas with a smile, "Attack me," I said confidently. He stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"It's okay," I reassured him. "I need you to do this so I can firsthand access your skills." He nodded, and without hesitation, he charged towards me.
With each step, the sound of his footsteps grew louder, a rhythmic thud echoing in the air. I swiftly moved to the side, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins as I effortlessly dodged his attempts to grab me. His movements were quick, almost like a blur, and I couldn't help but admire his agility.
But then, in the midst of our intense exchange, I noticed something peculiar. A fleeting glow in his eyes, like a flicker of light dancing within them. Before I could fully process it, his fist connected with my body, causing me to stumble backward. The impact reverberated through my bones, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through me.
"Mate's eyes," Inara howled in my mind. "I still can't sense any wolf in mate. His wolf must be in some sort of deep sleep." Her warning echoed in my thoughts, heightening my awareness.
"Mia, I'm sorry," Atlas apologized, his gaze filled with remorse as he looked at me. I shook my head, a mix of admiration and reassurance in my eyes.
"Why are you apologizing?" I replied, my voice laced with encouragement. "I told you to attack me. You are fast, Atlas. It may have taken you several tries, but you were able to finally get me. And once you did, I could feel the incredible strength behind your punch." I smiled, acknowledging his progress.
"Now, it's my turn to attack you," I declared, a mischievous glint in my eyes. Without giving him any warning, I lunged towards him. But to my surprise, he mirrored my earlier movements, skillfully dodging me with ease. It took me three attempts before I finally landed my hand on him, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my touch.
"You learn fast, don't you?" I asked Atlas, sweat glistening on his brow."You mimicked some of my moves."
"I've been told that by many," he admitted, "That's why I did well in school."
"Well, let's go a few more rounds and then head in," I suggested, “And don't go easy on me, Atlas. I can handle your punches and more. I'm used to it."
A smile played on my lips as I spoke, my heart pounding in anticipation. "You enjoy this?" he asked, a mischievous smirk on his face.
"Yes, but even more so with you," I responded honestly, my voice filled with excitement. A playful look crossed his face as he lunged towards me again. I swiftly dodged his attacks.
But finally, he managed to catch me, his strong arms wrapping around me, pulling me close. Our lips collided in a passionate kiss, leaving me weak at the knees. As we broke free, his warm breath tickled my ear as he whispered, "Your sweet lips make the perfect reward."
Taking advantage of the moment, I gently kicked him to the ground, a playful smirk on my face. "Distractions get you killed," I teased, causing him to laugh.
I extended my hand to help him up, but he had other plans. He pulled me on top of him, holding me tightly against him. "I'm sorry I walked in on your conversation with Bryn," he began, his voice filled with sincerity. "But hearing that about you angered me. Not at you, just that you were kept from finding me when your life was actually on the line. Promise me you will always be open with me about how you feel, Mia. Just like you, I've lost many in my life, and I don't ever want to lose you.” He admitted.
"I promise I will," I assured him, the weight of my words carried by the intensity in my voice. "I've been honest that I feel fine now, but deep down, when I was on my pack lands, I was slowly fading. I should be angry at my father for lying to me, but I'm not. Many fear power like I have, and he was always about protecting our kind. I believe he did what he honestly believed was best. So, I'll leave that in the past and look forward to the future” I responded.
With a gentle touch, I brushed my hand against Atlas's face before getting up. "Now, let's go inside. Whatever Bryn made, it's making my stomach growl," I said, a smile on my face as I sprinted towards the door.