Mia POV
Flint's presence always brought a warm smile to anyone's face. He had a knack for brightening the atmosphere and relieving stress. In moments like these, his ability to uplift others was truly appreciated. He was not only a good friend but also a great listener. Even back when we were in our pack, he would lend a helping hand without hesitation.
As I sat on the cozy couch, waiting for Atlas to return, Flint joined me, his eyes occasionally flickering towards the door. "Waiting on Bryn?" I asked him. He chuckled, "Am I that obvious?" I smiled softly and said, "You love her, don't you?" He nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Yes, I do. Thanks to the gift you and Atlas gave me, I have a chance at a future with her. I just hope she'll accept my mark one day. But even if she doesn't, I'll always stand by her."

"I'm sure she will," I reassured him. "I see the way she looks at you. It's clear that you're her forever, just as Atlas is mine." As we spoke, my gaze kept drifting towards the door. It had been quite some time since Atlas had left, and a sense of unease began to settle in. Looking out the window, I noticed Bryn conversing with Alpha Jack and a few warriors. "That's odd," I muttered.
"What is?" Flint asked, sensing my concern. "Bryn is outside, but I don't see Atlas," I replied, trying to tune into my link with him. However, all I received was silence. "I think Atlas may be in trouble," I confided in Flint, causing him to spring to his feet. "Did he link you?" Flint inquired urgently. "No, I can't even reach out to him. Seeing Bryn without him means he never came to this room. And with how on edge he's been acting, I know he wants to be by my side at all times. We should go look for him," I suggested.
Flint nodded in agreement. "It's unlike him to stay away from you for this long. Let's go find him. Just stick with me for safety, and we'll seek assistance from Bryn and Alpha Jack as well.”
"Thank you," I said to him, my voice filled with relief, as we quietly exited the room together. The lingering scent of Atlas hung in the air, but it was faint, indicating that he was not present at the moment. Urgently, we hurried outside.
As we caught up with Bryn, her voice filled with concern, she exclaimed, "Oh, Mia, there you are! We searched the kitchen, but you and Atlas were nowhere to be found."
"Why would I be in the kitchen? I've been waiting in the room with Flint, as requested," I replied, confusion etching across my face. Bryn's complexion turned pale, her eyes widening with fear.

"You weren't in the kitchen... Where is Atlas?" she asked, her voice now trembling with panic. My heart raced in my chest, fear gripping me tightly.
"I was hoping you knew," I responded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mia, a guard came and took him to the kitchen, claiming you were there. They even mentioned seeing both of you outside. That's why I came out here. If it wasn't you, then that can only mean someone disguised as you, someone with a power of that extent..." Bryn explained, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"Thora," I growled, my frustration evident. Bryn nodded in understanding. "I know I should be cautious and safe, but right now, I have to find Atlas," I said, my determination seeping through my words. I scanned my surroundings, my senses on high alert.
"Mia, the scent of our mate is faint, but it seems to lead towards the forest," Inara's voice echoed in my mind. My eyes widened with realization. "He went into the forest," I said, my gaze shifting towards Alpha Jack, seeking guidance.

"May I ask for a favor?" I pleaded, my voice filled with urgency. "I desperately need some of your bravest warriors to aid in the search for Atlas. If he were to fall into Thoras' hands, the consequences would be dire for all of us."
Alpha Jack, nodded in agreement. "Of course, I will lend my assistance. I shall gather a group of skilled warriors and we will search the forest.”
"Thank you," I said, the wind whipping through my hair as I ran towards the dense forest. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, urging me to find Atlas.
"Atlas, hold on tight. I'm on my way," I whispered through our mental connection, though I doubted he could hear me. The scent of Atlas was faint, masked by some unknown substance, making it difficult to track him. The forest stretched out endlessly before us as we tirelessly searched for hours. Bram caught up with us, his voice filled with concern. He hadn't sensed anything out of the ordinary at the border, indicating that Thora had arrived before us. He mentioned that a few pack members had left, but if Thora had, she must have disguised herself, as Bram knew what she looked like.
I focused on the small tracking dot Bryn had implanted on us. It confirmed that Atlas was somewhere in this forest, yet there was an invisible barrier preventing me from pinpointing his exact location.
Alpha Jack and his warriors scoured the lands tirelessly, the sun beating down on us as we searched for any sign of Atlas. Hours passed with no luck, and frustration began to creep in. Finally, Alpha Jack made the decision to send a warrior to retrieve old pack land maps from before his time as the leader. We gathered around the worn-out maps, studying them intently. It didn't take long for us to pinpoint a potential underground shelter.
I shifted into my wolf form and ran with Flint. Together, we were faster than anyone else in the pack, and I knew we had to reach Atlas as quickly as possible. As we arrived at the designated area, I shifted back to my human form, my heart pounding in my chest. The scent of Atlas and something unfamiliar hit me as soon as I opened the door.
With caution, we ventured further into the underground shelter. And there, restrained by a collar, was Atlas. His eyes looked wild locked onto mine, I could sense a struggle within him. Another she-wolf cowered against the wall, fear etched across her face. Atlas's voice growled through the air, commanding us to focus on saving her first.
"Don't go near him, Mia," Bryn warned, her voice filled with urgency. I could sense the tension in the air as I hesitated, the room enveloped in a suffocating silence. The dimly lit space was heavy with an unsettling aroma, a mixture of chemicals and something sickly sweet.
As Flint and Alpha Jack rushed to assist the she-wolf, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, knowing that Atlas was still trapped, his feral instincts unleashed. Bryn, ever vigilant, carefully inspected the room, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene. She picked up a syringe.
Chanting a spell under her breath, Bryn revealed the truth. "She gave him a strong potion," she explained, her voice tinged with frustration. "It drives one wild and arouses their desires. Given the circumstances, it's surprising he's managed to resist the she-wolf. Thora must have intended to hurt you by pushing him to mate with her. Unfortunately, there's no way to reverse this but to wait it out or let him mate"
Concern filled my heart as I contemplated the best course of action. "Have a guard and a barrier placed around here," I instructed Bryn. "I will help him through this."
Bryn's voice grew heavy with caution. "Mia, he could hurt you in this state," she warned, her worry palpable.
But I couldn't ignore the connection we shared, the bond that had grown stronger over time. "Get Mia out of here," Atlas growled, his voice laced with both desperation and a flicker of protectiveness.
I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. "I can handle him. Just give me a way to remove his restraints," I insisted, my voice steady despite the uncertainty that gnawed at my core.
"I can't, they are spelled," she explained, her voice tinged with concern. "I can sense it and would assume it naturally removes once the potion wears off."
"Then no need for a barrier, just leave a guard to watch this shelter," I said to Bryn, my voice determined. "I will return with Atlas when he is better."
"Mia, leave," Atlas growled, his voice filled with a mix of pain and frustration.
"No," I simply snapped back at him, standing my ground as Bryn left us alone. The moment I heard the door close, I took a step closer to Atlas. I could see the struggle in his eyes, the potion causing him great torment.
I started removing my clothing, the sound of fabric rustling in the quiet room. "I can't hurt you," he said, his voice strained, but his desire evident as he tried to reach me, restrained by the chain around his neck.
I could feel the heat radiating from his body, mingling with the coolness of the room.
"Knowing you are in pain right now is far worse than anything you can do to me," I whispered. "So you are going to use me as the cure, Atlas. I can handle you, even when you are not in control. You held off something I'm sure not many can. Now, we are staying down here until you are calm."
As I peeled off the last article of my clothing, I could see the primal instincts flickering in his eyes, the struggle to maintain control.
"I can't force myself on you," he pleaded, his voice laced with desperation. "If you come any closer, I won't be able to stop."
But I knew better. I knew the depths of our connection, the trust we shared. I knew I could handle him, even in his most feral state.
I took the final step towards Atlas, bringing myself within his reach. In an instant, his strong arms enveloped me, pressing me against the wall. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, his breath hot against my skin. As he kissed me, his hands held me firmly in place, rough with desire. The undeniable evidence of his arousal pressed against me, igniting a fire within me. He had lost control, but his eyes revealed a mix of emotions - a reluctance to be rough with me, yet a primal need.
Whispering against him, I reassured him, giving him permission to unleash his passion. In that brief moment, he released one hand to remove his boxers. I had anticipated this moment, prepared for him. As he grabbed onto me again, he effortlessly lifted me up, pinning me harder against the wall, and thrusting into me forcefully. I felt a sharp pain, underestimating his strength, but I knew I would adjust. This intense connection between us would last for a while, judging by his fervor.
He growled with each movement, slamming himself deep into my core. His lips were both hungry and rough, nipping at my lip until it bled. I could feel him release deep within me, only for him to push me down to my knees on the ground. He gripped my chest as he entered me again, even deeper this time, causing an unintentional yelp to escape my lips. My breasts were squeezed firmly as I adjusted to the intensity, moans escaping my lips.
He growled again, his thrusts becoming harder, taking me with an insatiable force. Each release brought us closer to our limits. Then, he moved me to my back, he pulled me against him. Part of me was lifted off the ground, and once again, he entered me with a force that made me gasp. It felt as if he reached my very core, the intensity overwhelming. I struggled to keep my eyes open, the sensations too powerful. Pleasure mingled with pain, creating an intoxicating mix.
I heard the faint click of the collar releasing from around his neck, and in an instant, it vanished into thin air. As his eyes met mine, a silent understanding passed between us. He began to move within me, his pace returning to a more normal rhythm, but his unwavering gaze never left me. No words were spoken, only the sound of our breaths filling the air.
As he released one last time he then pulled me tightly into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the tremor that coursed through his entire body. Silently, he wept against me, his tears dampening my shoulder. In a hushed voice, I whispered to him, "I love you, Atlas. Thora's plan failed, thanks to your strength and ability to endure the pain and not give in until I found you. Don't blame yourself. I wanted to be here for you. You can lose control with me, even without the potion. It's natural, and I can handle every part of you."
As his grip tightened, we held each other, finding solace in the embrace.