Atlas POV
I held Mia tightly in my arms, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. My emotions overflowed, overwhelming me. I never wanted to be rough with her like that, and I knew I had hurt her. The pain was evident in her eyes, yet all I saw was love and understanding. She had freed me from the suffering caused by that potion, taking on the pain with me.
When I finally released my grip on her, I ran my hands gently over her skin. As my fingers moved, I noticed a faint hint of blood, a reminder of the damage I had caused. Meeting her gaze once again, I proceeded to inspect every inch of her body, needing to ensure she was okay.

When my hand reached her thighs, I felt her tense slightly, and it pained me. I knew her wolf could heal her, but it was clear that she needed time to recover. If she didn't heal quickly, her body would bear the marks of my roughness. I could feel how forcefully I had held her, the nips on her skin, and the intensity of my thrusts.
Gently, I shifted her legs to get a better look, and she allowed me, understanding my need to ensure her well-being. I noticed some dried blood, and it devastated me. Mia then wrapped her arms around me again, reassuring me.
"I'm okay, Atlas," she whispered. "I can't imagine how difficult it was for you to fight that potion. If you had been intimate with that other woman, it would have hurt me too. But I know you well enough to know that you would never betray me unless something was controlling you. You held back, not just for me, but also for that innocent woman. I'm sure she'll be grateful to you as well. I'm sorry you had to suffer like that, and I know you're beating yourself up mentally for having rough sex with me. But I mean it when I say I can handle it. I can handle all of you, Atlas. I was made for it, just as you can handle me."
Mia paused for a moment before continuing, "Can you tell me everything that happened before we found you?”
I meticulously went over every detail of what had transpired, replaying the events in my mind. The words of Thora lingered, her admission that she needed to break Mia for her spell. "Well, it seems she has underestimated us," Mia spoke, her voice filled with a mix of determination and realization. "Yet, we too underestimated her. I don't blame you for following her or falling for her tricks, especially with everything that's going on."
We sat together, Mia and I, making a pact. "From now on," she instructed, her voice filled with authority, "we are never alone when we leave the protective barrier around the lycan kingdom. If one of us asks the other to go off somewhere alone, know that it is a trick." Her words carried a sense of caution, a reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.

As Mia rose from her spot, she began to dress herself, gracefully slipping into her clothing. Then, with a gentle touch, she found my boxers and gathered the rest of my attire. "I love you, Atlas," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and devotion. "It is our love for each other that will help us survive. I am well aware that this is just the beginning, merely a taste of what Thora has planned. But we will not let anything she does break us. Instead, we will break her until she crumbles completely."
Leaving the shelter, we ventured into the forest. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth. As we walked, Bram greeted us. Alongside him stood one of Alpha Jack's warriors.
"Thank you for watching over while Atlas recovered," Mia expressed her gratitude, extending her hand towards the warrior. Without hesitation, he accepted her gesture, a silent acknowledgment of their shared purpose.
The warrior then showed his neck to her, "I will always follow any and all requests, Superior Alpha Mia," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. His words caught me off guard.

Curiosity filled my gaze as I looked at her and asked, "Superior Alpha?" Her piercing purple eyes met mine, and she explained, "It is another term used for the Wolf King. Since I defeated Alpha Jack, I am seen as stronger and worthy of the title of Wolf King, or in my case, Queen." Her words lingered in the air, and a smirk tugged at the corners of my lips.
"So, my mate is a queen now," I mused. She nodded, a regal aura surrounding her. "And mine is a king in reality, since you are the last of the Lycans and of royal blood," she pointed out. It was a realization that had escaped my thoughts until now. "I guess so," I chuckled, a sense of pride swelling within me.
Her words were comforting as she spoke, "I'm happy to see your smile back, Atlas. For a moment, I was worried it may not return for some time. Know that I'm here for you, and I know Flint and Bryn are as well. If you need to talk more about what happened or even just how you are feeling, we're here." Gratitude filled my voice as I replied, "Thank you."
As we made our way back to the pack house, the early morning sun cast a warm glow over the landscape. We had missed the feast, but that was of little consequence. Bryn stood outside with Flint, our car parked nearby. Behind it, several more cars lined up, their engines humming softly. "I informed Flint that we were returning," Mia explained.
Just then, Alpha Jack emerged from his pack house, his authoritative presence commanding attention. "For the safety of both of you, it has been decided that we will host a feast in the future," he declared. The air was filled with anticipation as he continued, "Several of my strongest warriors will accompany you to the Lycan Kingdom to assist, protect, and join any battles on your side. At the next Alpha gathering, I will make an official announcement of my pack's support for you, the Lycan King, and the Wolf Queen. It will be an honor to serve and be a part of this new world you wish to create."
His words were followed by a gesture, extending his hand for me to shake. I accepted, feeling a sense of unity and camaraderie. But before we could leave, Alpha Jack had one more request. "Atlas, before you go, the she-wolf who was trapped with you wishes to speak with you. She is a pack member of ours, She was visiting family outside of this pack, so we were unaware of her capture," he explained.
"Sure," I responded, the sound of my voice echoing through the pack house as we entered and followed Alpha Jack down a hall. He knocked on the door, and it creaked open, revealing an older woman. "Alpha Jack, thank you for bringing the man Anna was trapped with," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Please come in," she gestured for me to enter, and as I stepped inside with Mia.
Bryn and Flint remained outside the door, their presence a comforting presence to prevent overwhelming the woman inside. The she-wolf, Anna, was lying in bed, but she sat up when she caught sight of me. Her body was adorned with several cuts and bruises, evidence of the ordeal she had endured.
"They say your name is Atlas, that you are a Lycan," she began, her voice shaky yet filled with curiosity. "I was taught your kind was one to fear, yet you resisted harming me and caused yourself pain and suffering. My name is Anna. My father is a pack warrior. I am seventeen and don't even have my wolf yet."
She continued, her words pouring out with a mix of fear and relief. "I was captured on my way out of the pack to visit family in a neighboring pack. I learned today that they were killed after we contacted their pack, so the news never reached here. The witch who took me told me what she was going to do to you before you woke up. She told me that due to me not having a wolf, chances were you would not have only mated with me it may have killed me with how feral it makes you."
Her eyes filled with tears as she recounted her terror. "I was terrified that either I would die in that way or be destroyed to the point where, when it was time, my mate may reject me. Yet you fought something she claimed impossible. I watched you suffer, but throughout it all, you kept telling me to stay calm, telling me not to worry, that you would never do that to someone. You kept your promise, and because of you, I am alive. Thank you, Atlas."
As Anna finished speaking, another man entered the room, breaking the intensity of the moment. I turned my attention towards him. "My name is Nathen," he introduced himself, his voice filled with gratitude. "Anna is my daughter. I will forever be in your debt. She already told me what happened. You have my respect, and I will gladly fight for your cause."
We exchanged a firm handshake, and then he went to his daughter's bedside, offering her comfort. Mia gently squeezed my hand as we left the room, the weight of the moment lingering in the air. "The restraint you showed, to many, is seen as great strength," Bryn commented as we walked towards the cars. "Not just that, you have earned this pack's respect as well.”
Once in the car Mia immediately leaned against me. She dramatically rubbed her belly, a playful smile on her face. "Well, I'm starving," she said, her voice filling the air, causing me to chuckle.
Mia snuggled closer to me, her warmth enveloping my side. "What's our next plan?" I asked, curiosity lacing my voice.
"Build a strategy to attack first," Mia replied, her voice confident. "Since Thora is using Alpha Artemis, we should focus on attacking him and his pack of followers. That will weaken her support. With our small army supporting us, we should assign some of Alpha Jack's warriors to spy and gather more intel for a day or two. Based on what we gather, we can formulate the best way to attack. The warriors will focus on the enemy warriors, while we focus on Alpha Artemis. We also need to figure out if Thora stays with him or not. It would be to our advantage to attack when she's not there."
Her words resonated with me, aligning with my own thoughts. "That's a plan I would have suggested as well," I responded, a sense of unity filling the air.
As we continued the drive, I reached out to Mia through our mind link. "How are you feeling?" I asked, concern evident in my thoughts.
"Just a little tired, that's all," she admitted softly through the link, her weariness palpable.
"Please sleep against me and stay in my arms for the rest of the day. I need to know you're healed, and I need to feel you against me to remain calm," I expressed through our link, my voice filled with a mix of worry and longing.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of breaking away from your embrace. I cannot lose you again," Mia responded, her words carrying a sense of determination. With that, she closed her eyes, surrendering to sleep.
Bryn, glanced back at us for a moment, her eyes filled with warmth. "She loves you more than anything, and it's a love stronger than I've ever seen. She knew the risks of staying with you, yet she also knew that your suffering was far worse than any risk for her. Take good care of her, Atlas. We'll all help you, but Mia, she's too good, too pure to be broken. The both of you are," Bryn spoke softly, her voice filled with sincerity. I nodded in gratitude, fully aware of the precious gift Mia was to me.
"I would give everything to keep Mia safe and happy," I whispered, my words carrying a promise that echoed in the air.
"Bryn," I said, "once we reach our destination, I ask you to thoroughly inspect me for any lingering enchantments. Mia's safety depends on it."
"I understand, and I share your urgency," Bryn replied.
I couldn't afford to be ensnared in another treacherous plot. As we ventured deeper into the unknown, I vowed to remain vigilant. The consequences of falling into another trap would inevitably put Mia in danger.