Mia POV
Leo carefully released the bindings that held me captive, his hands gentle yet urgent. He handed me a plain medical gown, its fabric cool against my skin. "It's all I have," he admitted.
"We must act fast. My mother trusts me, but she won't be occupied for long. She is camping nearby where your mate is, but the witch's barrier magic is too strong for her to break. When we escape from here, I need you to run, Mia. I will follow behind. I know you can't shift, but you may have to fight." Leo explained.

"I can fight." I responded. Leo nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of guilt and loyalty. He took the lead, guiding me through the dimly lit corridors. Though he had betrayed me in various ways, deep down, I still saw the friend I had grown up with.
Finally, we arrived at a heavy door. Leo opened it cautiously, his gaze darting around. "Run," he whispered urgently. I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. Stepping outside, I sprinted as fast as my legs would carry me. Even with Inara's slumbering presence within me, my speed remained unmatched.
Suddenly, an alarm blared, slicing through the air. A voice behind me chanted unfamiliar words, followed by a deafening explosion. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder as several wolves gave chase. One of them lunged at me, knocking me off my feet momentarily. With a burst of adrenaline, I swiftly regained my footing and fought back, determined not to be captured again.
Leaning on his own formidable powers, Leo cast spells, demonstrating his strength that rivaled his mother's. Together, we pushed forward, relentless in our pursuit of freedom. Finally, we broke free from the pack lands, our pounding footsteps marking our escape. Leo stayed by my side, his presence a reassuring anchor. Desperately, I tried to establish a connection with Atlas, but he remained silent, leaving me with a sense of unease.
As I sprinted, Leo's words cut through the air, his voice filled with urgency. "My mother may have cast a spell to block communication," he warned.
"He has a phone, I just need to go somewhere to call him," I replied.

Continuing our mad dash, Leo revealed his plan. "I have a car hidden, I had already planned on escaping with you. We knew you were coming to attack Mia. Come with me so I can get you in hiding and you can call your mate," he explained, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. Though some might question my trust in him, I followed him up the road.
Soon, we arrived at a small abandoned shed, a car parked outside. "Get in, the phone is in the glovebox. Just turn it on," Leo instructed, his words mingling with the revving of the engine as he settled into the driver's seat. With a jolt, the car roared to life, and we sped away, Leo chanting a spell under his breath.
As I powered up the phone, I glanced at Leo, my eyes filled with curiosity. "You have a lot of explaining to do," I demanded, my voice tinged with a mix of caution. Leo met my gaze, acknowledging the weight of his actions. "I'm well aware," he replied, his voice holding a hint of remorse.
"Why the hell did you inject me with wolfsbane?" I exclaimed, my voice filled with frustration. The sharp sting of the needle still lingered in my body, making it feel heavy like lead. "And did you really have to bite my breast? Even though it was just an act, your teeth hurt. And how is it possible that you have a wolf?"

I blurted out the words, my impatience growing as I waited for the phone to finish powering on. Finally, it illuminated with the familiar home screen, casting a soft glow.
"I didn't want to inject you, Mia," he replied, his voice filled with remorse. "But that camera was set to turn on any minute. I had to keep up the act. And I bit you for the act because, no offense, you weren't the best actress. You weren't acting upset. But finally, it got enough of a reaction for my mother. She wants to break your mate. She told me not to stop, even if it meant forcing myself on you."
His words hung heavy in the air, his voice momentarily muffled as he covered his mouth.
"Does the thought of sleeping with me make you sick?" I questioned.
"No, Mia. I told you I love you," he confessed, his voice filled with sincerity. "I have loved you for a long time. I often wished I could have just run away with you. But I always knew Atlas was your mate, even when you were a child. I knew you had to be with him for this plan of my mother's to work. But I also knew you needed to be with him because he is your destiny."
His words echoed in my mind, a mixture of love and sacrifice. The weight of his confession settled upon me, leaving me relieved.
"I don't have a wolf," he continued, his voice steady. "It is a simple shape-shifting spell. I've always been an immortal witch, or better said, a warlock."
The truth of his words washed over me, unraveling the secrets.
Dialing the burner phone, I felt a flicker of hope as it began to ring. But instead of Atlas, it was Flint who answered, his voice bursting through the line. "Hello," he exclaimed. Taking a deep breath, I spoke, my voice steady. "Flint, it's Mia," I began, the sound of urgency seeping into my words. In an instant, he yelled for Atlas, Bryn, and Bram, the commotion audible even through the phone.
Finally, Atlas's voice came through, relief washing over me. "I'm okay, Atlas," I reassured him, my voice filled with gratitude. Concern laced his words as he asked, "Are you with him?"
"Yes, I'm with Leo." I admitted. There was a pause before Atlas spoke again, his voice commanding. "Put the phone on speaker," he demanded, his voice tinged with controlled anger.
Obeying his request, I placed the phone on speaker, allowing Atlas's voice to fill the car. "I'm trusting you to keep Mia safe," he declared, his voice a mixture of determination and protectiveness. "I want to tear you apart for touching her, but I trust in Mia's judgment and believe her when she says what you did was all part of an act. But mark my words, I will hunt you down and make sure you suffer a painful death if you lay one more finger on her or betray her trust. She was devastated over losing you when I met her. Don't hurt her again like that," Atlas threatened, his voice seething with intensity.
Leo, undeterred, responded with conviction. "You have my word, Mia is safe with me, and I'll find a safe way for us to all join back up. You have my support in taking my mother down," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. Suddenly, Flint's voice boomed through the phone, his surprise evident. "Wait, did you just say mother?" he exclaimed. Leo, unflinching, confirmed his revelation. "Yes, I am Thora's son and an immortal witch," he admitted. A moment of disbelief hung in the air as Flint muttered over the phone, "I did not see that one coming.”
"I was under the impression her son was killed," Bryn said, her voice filled with shock over the phone.
"I'm very much alive, but I went into hiding when she first started working on her plan in regards to the white wolves," Leo admitted.
"And you are willing to turn on your mother?" Bryn questioned, her disbelief evident. Leo's response was resolute. "Yes, I do not agree with what she is doing or what my bloodline has done over the years. I simply captured Mia because those were my orders, and I had to act as if I was on my mother's side. I was well prepared to help Mia esc..." Leo's words were abruptly interrupted by a deafening bang that shattered the silence.
Glass exploded around us as the car somersaulted through the air. The screeching sound of metal against pavement pierced my ears as I found myself hanging upside down. The acrid smell of smoke and burning rubber filled the air.
My heart raced as I saw red crimson dripping onto the ground. "MIA, MIA! What's going on, MIA?" Atlas's voice came through the phone, muffled and distant. I drifted in and out of consciousness and lost track of time, the world spinning in a blur.
"Mia, stay awake for me," I heard Leo's voice, strained with urgency. The air was thick with the scent of burning rubber and smoke, as I felt my body being released and then pulled from the wreckage of the car. The sound of sirens in the distance pierced through the chaos, mixing with the distant wailing of alarms. Leo's arms scooped me up, his grip firm yet gentle.
"I took care of them, but we have to get out of here fast, before the humans discover us" Leo's words were hurried, his voice laced with concern. "You need to stay awake, Mia," he pleaded. But my mind was consumed with thoughts of Atlas, his face etched in my memory. I whispered his name again, barely audible amidst the chaos.
Leo knelt down with me. In my trembling hands, he placed something cold and solid. "Can you grip it?" he asked, his voice steady. I clung onto it tightly, realizing it was a phone. "We were in a crash. Mia was injured, but she will be okay.” Leo said loudly, the phone was still connected to everyone.
"I'm getting her to safety," Leo shouted through the phone as I heard Atlas on the other end question my condition.
"She's bad, Atlas. The car crashed into her side, and her wounds won't heal," Leo confessed, urgency dripping from his words. As my consciousness wavered, Leo pleaded, "Stay awake, Mia. Keep fighting."
"Mia needs you, Atlas. I had to inject her with wolfsbane to maintain the illusion, but it's hindering her healing. She needs her mate," Leo explained, his voice filled with desperation. "I can only do so much. My mother is watching the hideout, but I can get Mia to the human town and hide her. Bryn can you use your barrier to get Atlas to her undetected?"
"The town isn't far. I can manage short distances," Bryn assured.
"Red Road Motel, room 326. I've already reserved it as a backup plan. Hurry," Leo directed, his words rushed as he ran fast, the world blurring around us.
"Mia, hold on. You have to fight through the pain, stay awake for me," Atlas's voice pleaded through the phone, his words tinged with worry. But my eyelids grew heavier, the weight of darkness threatening to overtake me.
"Mia, no! Come on, you can't give in," Leo's voice grew louder, a desperate plea as darkness loomed, ready to swallow me whole.