MIa POV
"MIA," Atlas's voice boomed, reverberating off the walls. But I was trapped in a suffocating darkness of my own mind, unable to break free. The overwhelming pain coursing through my body was like nothing I had ever experienced before, unbearable and all-consuming.

"I need you to hold her still," Bryn's voice cut through the haze. "She's already in pain, and I fear this will only make it worse before she finds calmness." I strained to listen, desperate for answers.
"First, tell me what's wrong with her," Atlas demanded, his voice filled with concern. "I won't allow anything to be done to Mia until I understand."
I felt the weight of someone's hands on my body, pressing down with urgency. But there was no warmth. A yelp of pain escaped my lips, piercing the heavy silence.
"The spell activated when you marked her," Bryn explained. "Though not as potent since not complete, the caster can still try to summon Mia. This is the consequence of stopping her. I can use a potion to provide temporary relief, but it comes with a price. While taking it, Mia won't be able to shift, which will cause other complications. Given the intensity of her suffering, we need to focus all our efforts on breaking the spell."
Bryn continued, her words laced with a sense of gravity. "This potion will mute Inara's connection to Mia. It will put her wolf in a deep sleep to heal, but without shifting, her wolf's strength will weaken, possibly making Mia sick. I can break the spell, but I need the blood of the caster or someone from their bloodline. You and Flint have to retrieve a vial of their blood, no matter the danger."
I longed to speak, to tell them I would endure the pain or accompany Atlas on his mission. But I was trapped in this state of sensory deprivation, unable to see or speak, only able to hear their urgent conversation.

"Use the potion," Atlas spoke. "I'll get the blood, no matter the cost."
"Hold Mia tightly as I administer the potion. It will initially cause her pain, and she must remain as still as possible."Bryn cautioned, her voice filled with concern
I felt Atlas's grip tighten around me, his presence providing a small measure of comfort. Then, a vile fluid trickled down my throat, leaving a sickening taste behind. An intense, searing pain radiated throughout my body, eclipsing any previous agony. I wanted to scream, but my voice failed me, leaving my mouth open in silent anguish. This pain surpassed the torment of silver I would willingly endure countless silver wounds over this torment.
"It's okay, Mia," Atlas's voice trembled, his words filled with both desperation and reassurance. "Please, you're going to be okay."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, leaving behind a lingering ache.
The darkness slowly receded, like wisps of smoke dissipating, as I gazed into Atlas's eyes. He held me firmly against the table, his grip conveying both strength and tenderness. In that moment, I saw a pained expression on his face, a look I had never witnessed before. It took him a few seconds to register my increased alertness.
"The potion, it worked," Atlas asked Bryn, his voice filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
"Yes," she replied, her gaze shifting from Atlas to me. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Mia. I know this will be difficult for you, not being able to connect with Inara shift. But you must understand how crucial it is for us to keep you safe."
I mustered the strength to speak, my voice trembling. "I'll go with Atlas." The potion had undeniably worked, leaving me feeling hollow and devoid of any connection to Imara. It was a strange emptiness, almost as agonizing as the pain I had just endured.
"Mia, you can't fight in this condition. It's not safe for you to leave," Bryn warned, her concern evident in her voice.
"But Atlas... he's not accustomed to this world," I interjected, my desperation seeping through my words.
"I'll be okay, Mia. Please trust me. I can handle this," Atlas assured me, his voice filled with determination.
"He'll be with Flint, Mia. And you've already seen your mate's resilience. I don't think you have anything to worry about," Bryn explained, trying to soothe my fears. As I attempted to rise from the table, clutching the blanket against my body, the weight of the decision weighed heavily upon me.
I finally moved off the table. The room was filled with an eerie silence, as if even the walls knew the weight of the moment. What was there even to say? Words seemed to fail me. I could not stop Atlas from leaving it was clear he was strong enough now. I understood the position he was in. If he stayed and did nothing, he would have to watch me suffer. Yet now, I have to watch him leave when he is all I have left.
"I need some space for a little," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper in the stillness.
"Mia," Atlas started to speak, his voice filled with longing and uncertainty.
"Don't worry, I won't run. I can't even run, I'm basically a weak human without my wolf," I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue, as I walked towards the door.
Atlas moved to follow me, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty room, but I shook my head, silently pleading for him to let me be. I walked away, holding the blanket against me, feeling its softness against my skin. As I turned the corner, lost in my own thoughts, I bumped into Flint.
He had a set of clothing for me, as well as for Atlas, that he had found rummaging through the palace. "Stay here for a moment. I want to talk with you. Just give me a moment to drop this off to Atlas," he instructed, his voice gentle yet determined.
I nodded, watching as he placed a pair of clothing by me on the ground and left, his footsteps fading away. Taking a moment to gather myself, I slipped the outfit on. The fabric clung to my body, unfamiliar yet comforting in its own way. It was a casual dress, something I was not used to wearing, but it worked. Leaning against the wall, I waited for Flint.
Once he turned the corner, I followed him to a room he was using during our stay here. Flint closed the door, shutting out the outside world, and sat next to me on the bed. The mattress sank slightly under our combined weight.
"You know, I see you like a younger sister, Mia. Maybe it's because your brother was my best friend growing up," he started, his voice filled with both fondness and pain. There was a slight tremor in his voice, a deep sorrow that I could feel.
"I know, Flint. I saw you as a brother before you left as well. When I thought you were a traitor, it really hurt," I admitted, my voice tinged with sadness.
"I can sense when you're upset," he said, his voice filled with concern. "And I can also tell when you're about to shut everyone out, Mia. You've spent your whole life hiding your fears and problems. I saw the way you walked out of the room, ready to lock us all away from your emotions, including your mate."
"I'm not locking anyone away," I replied, my voice firm. "I used to, yes, but not anymore. Right now, I'm just upset. I needed a moment to clear my mind so I could think rationally. I was actually going to find a training gym in this palace to blow off some steam and regain my focus."
Flint smirked at my admission. "I found the gym here. Want me to take you?" he asked. I nodded, and he led me out of the room, down a long hall, and then down a flight of stairs. The journey continued through another long hall. "This place is like a maze," I sighed. Flint chuckled in response as he opened the door to a spacious gym.
"This might become my new favorite room," I admitted to him. "I probably should've chosen something other than a dress for you," Flint joked. "I'll make it work," I replied, smirking, as I made my way to the mat and started stretching.
"Fight with me on the mat," I challenged him. "Show me that I have nothing to worry about when Atlas leaves with you later." Flint laughed, his laughter echoing in the gym. "I don't know why you and Bryn think I'm the one who needs to protect the Lycan. It should be him keeping little old me safe," he joked.
"I mean what I say, Mia. Your mate's Lycan is bigger than the typical Lycan. He's like a damn Lycan on steroids. But you know I'll make sure he's safe since I can navigate our territories better," Flint claimed. "Yes, but you're still fighting me," I reminded him. He laughed again. "I know," he replied, joining me on the large mat.
There was just something about a friendly fight that always cleared my mind and made me feel better. The rush it gave me coupled with the ability to release steam with someone I trusted, created a sensory experience like no other. It was invigorating, refreshing, and therapeutic all at once.
As we started to spar, a rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins, heightening my senses and sharpening my focus. Each punch, each block, and each dodge sent a surge of energy pulsating through my body. The physical exertion combined with the thrill of the friendly fight cleared my mind, pushing aside any lingering stress or worries.
I could feel my muscles working in harmony, responding instinctively to Flint's movements. Our bodies moved with a synchronicity that could only come from countless hours of practice and trust in each other's abilities. It was as if we were engaged in a carefully choreographed dance, anticipating each other's next move.
Because of my current state of not being at full strength, Flint effortlessly flipped me onto the mat. The impact sent a jolt through my body, momentarily knocking the wind out of me. But I refused to stay down for long. With determination, I quickly rose to my feet, brushing off the minor setback.
The dress I wore, designed more for elegance than practicality, posed an additional challenge. Its fabric restricted my movements, hindering my agility. But even with this hindrance, I couldn't help but revel in the joy of the spar. The dress swirled around me, adding a touch of grace to the intense physicality of our encounter.
With every punch thrown, every parry executed, I could feel my mind becoming clearer, my worries and doubts fading into the background. The physicality of the fight became a vessel through which I could unleash my frustrations and find solace.
As Flint and I continued to spar, the friendly attacks and the occasional laughter filled the room. Despite being better than him now, I cherished these moments of camaraderie and shared strength. In the midst of the fight, I found myself feeling alive, invigorated, and truly at peace.
Finally, the two of us collapsed onto the cool, worn-out mat. Gasping for breath, I turned towards him and spoke with him. "I'm trusting you with Atlas, Flint. The two of you must return safely to me, and that's an order."
Flint, still catching his breath, nodded and sat up. Suddenly, he reached out and playfully tickled me, just like he used to when we were children. Laughter escaped my lips as I tried to squirm away.
As we laughed, the sound of someone entering the gym interrupted our moment. With Inara sleeping within me, I couldn't rely on my heightened sense of smell to identify.
"Looks like I missed out on some fun," Atlas's voice echoed above us. He extended his hand to help me up, his presence comforting.
Apologizing, Atlas held me close, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm not mad at you," I confessed, feeling a weight lifted off my chest. "I was just angry about the whole situation and needed to clear my mind before saying something I didn't mean out of anger."
Atlas smiled at Flint, acknowledging his assistance. "I trust you both to stay safe," I expressed. "Though it's difficult for me not to join you, I understand and appreciate both of you for taking on this task. I'll be fine here. I'm saddened that I can't feel my wolf, but I'll use this time to train and research with Bryn. When you return, we can continue our mission of eliminating the threat."
Flint briefly stood up, leaving the gym and granting Atlas and me a private moment.
Atlas gently brushed away a few strands of my hair that had fallen onto my face, his hand then trailed down the fabric of the dress I was wearing, causing a slight rustling sound. "Looks good on you," he murmured softly. "Yes, but it was quite a challenge to spar in." I admitted. His eyes soon locked onto mine again. "You're no longer in pain," he asked, seeking confirmation. I nodded, "No, I'm not, thanks to you and Bryn acting so quickly," I replied gratefully. "I don't want to leave you, Mia," Atlas confessed. "But I promise I'll return as soon as possible. When I do, I'll have what we need to break the spell on you, and then we can complete our bond. I know that once we finish the process, I'll be able to protect you even better." As he spoke, his arms tightened around me, providing a sense of warmth and security.
In this moment, no words were necessary. I had complete trust and faith in him. He was the first person who had ever fought for me.