Atlas POV
The moment I heard the loud crash sound over the phone, it felt like a thunderbolt striking my chest. My heart seemed to leap out, leaving me breathless. Separated from Mia, I struggled to trust her judgment with Leo. But even if he was just acting, I couldn't shake off my discomfort with him.
As I had watched the video, it became painfully clear that Leo desired Mia. I could almost feel his touch through the screen. His voice over the phone dripped with longing. We huddled in a small, desolate shed near the pack lands, Bryn's protective barrier surrounding us. We didn't dare venture too far until Mia rejoined us.

Bryn spoke up, breaking the tense silence, "I can mask us in our car under a barrier, but it will only last for about thirty minutes. That should be enough time to reach Mia. The only problem is, in order to do so, I have to drop this barrier. We need a distraction, something to draw attention away from us so we can slip away undetected."
"I'll be the distraction," Bram volunteered, surprising us all. We turned to look at him, unsure of his capabilities. "I may not be as strong as a fighter, but I'm fast. I can outrun wolves and witches. I'll keep them occupied and then return to the lycan palace to wait for your contact."
"Thank you," Bryn acknowledged his offer, gratitude evident in her voice. Time was of the essence, and we couldn't afford to waste a single second. Mia's life hung in the balance. Bram left a few minutes before us while Bryn cast a spell, scanning our surroundings for any prying eyes. "Clear," she finally declared.
We hurriedly piled into the car, Bryn erecting a new barrier around us, rendering us practically invisible. Flint took the wheel, wasting no time. My breath caught in my throat as we zoomed past the wreckage of the crashed car. The scent of Mia's blood still lingered in the air, a haunting reminder of the danger she faced.
"Stay calm, Atlas," Bryn urged, sensing my rising panic. "Mia might be in bad shape when we reach her, but remember, she's a fighter. My potion is working, but it's not a cure. You have to push past your fear, which turns into anger, and focus on the bond you share with Mia. Concentrate on the love you two have, because she'll be relying on you to heal her while her wolf is silenced."
"I understand," I replied, my voice steady but my heart pounding. I took deep breaths, willing myself to remain composed. Mia needed me now more than ever, and I couldn't let fear or anger consume me.

I could feel the familiar surge of uncontrollable anger rising within me, but I fought to keep it at bay. The screeching sound of the car tires echoed in my ears as we finally arrived in the small town. Flint parked the car in front of the motel, and Bryn and I wasted no time. "We must act fast," she said, as she stood outside with Flint while I searched for the room number.
I sprinted to the room, the scent of Mia and the metallic smell of her blood growing stronger with each step. As I approached the door, it swung open to reveal a man with dark hair. "She's on the bed," he said, and without hesitation, I rushed towards Mia. Flint and Bryn followed closely behind, joining me by the bed. Mia lay unconscious, her body battered and broken.
"I did what I could to keep her awake," Leo explained. "But her injuries are severe. I managed to stop the bleeding with a spell, but she has multiple broken bones and internal bleeding that I cannot heal. The only thing that can help her now is the mate bond. I have another room that connects, so we can give Atlas and Mia some space."
Leo's words resonated with me as I looked at Bryn and Flint, who nodded in agreement. "Leo is right," Bryn affirmed. "You are the only one who can heal her, Atlas. Listen to your lycan he will guide you."

As they left the room, I found myself alone with Mia. I gently brushed loose strands of hair away from her face, revealing several small cuts on her forehead. I bent down and pressed my lips against them, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. With careful hands, I undid the ties of her medical dress, allowing it to fall open.
A growl escaped me as I noticed the bruise on her breast from Leo's bite. Instinctively, I pressed my lips against it, my body trembling with a mix of protectiveness and desire. Mia's body was battered, but I moved my lips and tongue gently over her injuries, hoping to provide her some comfort and healing.
"Atlas," Mia whispered, her voice barely audible. Her tear-filled eyes, cracked open, met mine, urging me to look up.
"I'm going to help you heal, Mia. I'll do whatever it takes," I assured her, my voice filled with determination. The soft sound of her shallow breathing was the only other sound in the room.
"Inara is sleeping. Wake her," Mia whispered urgently, her voice barely a whisper. Confusion and worry creased my brow as I wondered how to awaken Inara.
"Mark Mate again," Brutus spoke in my mind, his voice a low growl. "Bite her. Inara will sense me." Brutus insisted, his presence commanding.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned in closer to Mia, my lips brushing against her mark. "I'm going to bite your mark," I whispered against her,. Mia didn't say a word, but her eyes gave me permission.
Gently, I kissed her mark before sinking my elongated canines into her marking spot. A low moan escaped Mia's lips before her body went limp, the effect almost instant. Brutus claimed he sensed Inara's awakening.
"Mate needs rest now. It will be a few days before she recovers," Brutus directed firmly. "We need to talk with everyone. Carry mate with us. Don't put her down. It is important she stays with us as much as possible. Even with Inara, she is in bad condition. She is not strong enough for her to mate. But when she is, we should to help heal her."
Following Brutus's instructions, I carefully lifted Mia into my arms and made my way to the door. Opening it, I entered the adjoining room.
"Atlas," Bryn exclaimed, surprise evident in her voice as she saw me carrying Mia.
"I've done all I can for now. I just need to keep her close to me. But Inara is awake within her," I explained, my gaze meeting Leo's. There was genuine concern in his eyes.
Leo moved a blanket, gesturing towards one of the beds in the room. "Sit on the bed with her then. That way you can keep her covered," he suggested. I nodded, my attention still focused on Leo.
"Mia is correct. I sense no evil intention from him," Brutus reassured me in my mind.
As I settled on the bed, I positioned Mia so she could sleep comfortably against me. Holding her fragile form, I couldn't help but be reminded of her vulnerability.
"Mia will pull through, Atlas," Flint said, his voice filled with conviction as he looked at me. I turned my attention back to Leo.
"Although you did a lot I am not okay with, in the end, you saved Mia. Thank you," I expressed my gratitude to him. I glanced at Flint, knowing he shared my reservations about Leo.
"So the entire time you were in our pack," Flint growled, his voice low and menacing, "you were playing us all. The attack that killed everyone but Mia, you were a part of that."
I could see the anger burning in Flint's eyes as he confronted the truth. The air was thick with tension, the room filled with the sound of his growls. I could almost smell the scent of betrayal hanging in the air.
"I was aware of it," Leo admitted, his voice heavy with remorse. "And I even tried to warn the wolf king without giving myself up. I set up anonymous tips." He paused, his gaze meeting mine. "I will admit when I first entered the pack, it was all an act. But when I learned how compassionate Mia was, she changed me. And then, as I witnessed how even when her father treated her with cruelty, she did not change, I realized she was someone I could never really hurt. I fell in love with her."
I could feel the weight of his words, the raw emotion in his voice. It was a love that would forever remain unspoken, a love he would never act upon. I knew he understood Mia's bond with me, He didn't want anyone to break her, to take away the happiness she had found.
"I know none of you can trust me," Leo continued, his voice filled with resignation. "And I understand that. I am not as powerful as my mother, but I can help you take her down. If she raises my father, I understand the damage that will be done." He choked on the word 'father,' a mix of pain and bitterness in his voice.
"Father," Flint choked out, his voice strained. The sound of his words echoed in the room. "Wait, the warlock that was strong enough to cast the spell is your father," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
"Yes, he is," Leo responded, his voice tinged with a sense of resignation.
Flint's eyes widened, his gaze fixed on Leo. "That means you're like ancient," he whispered to himself
Leo sighed deeply. "I have lived a very long time," he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "My bloodline is the oldest out of all the immortal witches. I was around when the original Royal white wolves fought, although I did not have the opportunity to get to know Mia back then and fought against them."
Finally, I spoke up. "Mia trusts you, so if you will fight with us, we will have you. But I stand by what I said over the phone. I don't care if you are an immortal witch I will end you if you hurt her and I will always be keeping an eye on you" The words hung in the air, a solemn promise fueled by protectiveness and love.
"I am well aware of that," Leo responded. "I am sure you are now aware, but my mother is one of the very few that possess teleportation magic. I do as well, although unlike my mother, I can only do so over short distances. Using it exhausts my power, leaving me drained and unable to do much more for some time."
"It also exhausts my mother if she uses it too much, making it one of her weaknesses. The spell she is casting requires breaking the bond between Mia and Atlas. By doing so, it will weaken Mia enough for my mother to steal her power and use it to raise my father."
"Mia is the only one who possesses the power to kill my father," Leo revealed, his words hanging in the air. "She may be the only one who can take out my mother as well."
Leo's voice shifted, now filled with urgency. "My mother will be desperate now that Mia has escaped. She will undoubtedly try to attack. Bryn, your barrier magic is unlike anything I have seen. I doubt my mother can break through it. Have you ever used it to trap someone?"
"No, but I know how to," Bryn admitted.
"The best way to attack my mother may be to trap her within a barrier. Otherwise, she can teleport in and out."
"So, in other words, lure her into a trap like she has tried with us," Flint interjected. "Correct," Leo affirmed, his tone resolute. "And I know the perfect place that will benefit Mia. We lure her to the original battleground where the Royal white wolves fell. Although Mia has the power, the earth always absorbs what has been released, as if it keeps history."
"That may be a very wise move. Mia could possibly draw from that power. But Thora could also use that land to her advantage as well." Bryn explained.
"We may have destroyed the biggest pack supporting her," Bryn started, "but I am sure Thora still has a small army behind her. We need to prepare all the warriors standing behind us."
"It is clear Alpha Artemis was used to lure Mia out for capture," Bryn explained, "He was used for resources with the promise he could have Mia in the end for her power." Leo explained.
"Do you know approximately how many supporters she has?" Bryn asked Leo, her voice tinged with concern. "A few hundred left," he explained.
"We need to get back to the Lycan Kingdom to gather and formulate a new plan," Bryn continued, her words carrying a sense of determination. "But Mia is not in the condition to travel, nor will the journey be safe. We will have to do the journey in small sections back, so that I can keep us covered. Once Mia regains her strength, I am confident we can make it back, if you can aid as well, Leo."
"Yes, I can," Leo admitted, his voice filled with resolve.
"I want you to swear a blood oath to Atlas and Mia, if you are to stay with us," Bryn said, her voice firm. "Very well, I will," Leo replied.
"What is that?" I asked, curiosity lacing my voice. "He can't betray you two. He has to honor his oath," Bryn explained, her voice carrying a sense of trust. "It is a strong spell that will cost him his power and possibly his life if broken. He has to cast it, and I can confirm it is valid."
I nodded my head in agreement, relieved that Leo's loyalty would be ensured. Bryn handed him a knife from her pocket, Leo cut his hand and then handed it to me. "I need you to cut your hand as well as Mia's," he instructed. I complied. Mia remained asleep, her breathing now steady as I cut her hand.
Leo then bent down on the ground and chanted a spell, the melodic sound of his voice filling the room. Bryn nodded, confirming there was no funny business. Leo walked towards me, and asked me to extend my hand. As he shook it, our blood mixed, sending a weird tingling sensation flowing through me. He repeated the same with Mia's hand.
"Done," he said, his voice filled with conviction. Bryn nodded. “The oath was cast correctly. Leo cannot stand against you or Mia without severe cost to himself. He will be loyal to your cause," she stated, her voice carrying a sense of reassurance. I looked at Mia, her peaceful face bringing a sense of hope.
"Our small army just grew. When you wake and recover, we will move forward, and we will win. I will make Thora pay for the pain you are in," I whispered against her.