Contract Mate: The Rejected Luna and Her Cursed Alpha.

Chapter 12: Nothing good could come from this.

"What's the problem?" Mia asked as soon as she returned to Amelia's apartment.

Her intention was to get there, lead Amelia to the couch, and then share the whole mess she had gotten herself into. However, the moment she walked in and saw Amelia pacing back and forth in the living room, she knew the discussion about her new drama with Tomas would have to wait.

"I worked things out with Daniel!" Amelia stopped in the middle of the room. Despite the worry clouding her expression, a genuine smile lit up her lips.

"That's not a problem." Mia stepped closer, brow furrowed as she tried to understand what exactly was wrong.

"No. But..." Amelia bit her lip, hesitating. "He wants me to go back to the rebel pack with him—as his Luna."

Mia tilted her head. "I thought that's what you wanted."

"It is, but..." Another pause.

With a sigh, Mia sank into the couch. She knew Amelia so well that sometimes words weren’t even necessary to understand what she was feeling.

"You want to go, but you don't want to leave me here alone." Her voice was soft, almost resigned. Amelia lowered her gaze to her feet, as if guilty of some grave crime.

"Amy, it's okay." A faint smile touched Mia’s lips. "You have no idea how happy I am for you two."

And that was the honest truth. Mia knew how much Daniel and Amelia loved each other, and she knew how much they deserved their happily-ever-after. In the end, it was comforting—almost reassuring—to see that at least one of them had luck in love.

"I can't leave you alone, not after..."

"I'll be fine." Mia cut her off gently, not wanting Amelia to start talking about Caio, or how she'd been deceived, or what she assumed Mia felt about it. "And I won't be alone. Tomas will be here with me."

Amelia narrowed her eyes, studying her with exaggerated suspicion. "What did you just say?"

Mia shrugged with as much nonchalance as she could muster. "I decided to help him with this whole 'finding a fake mate' thing."

"Oh, thank goodness!" Amelia’s shoulders relaxed. "I was also worried about leaving him alone to sift through all those candidates. Did you see that redhead the other day? She..."

As Amelia rambled about the redhead and how she practically shoved her neckline in Tomas’ face, Mia weighed the pros and cons of clarifying what she actually meant.

She should tell Amelia. She wanted to tell her. That she wouldn’t just help Tomas select a candidate—she would be the candidate. But then there was the great risk that Amelia would change her mind about leaving and stay by Mia’s side through this mess.

Mia didn’t want that. One thing was getting herself into this problem. Another was letting it interfere with Amelia and Daniel’s well-deserved happiness.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure Tomas only makes good choices," she murmured when Amelia finally paused, probably expecting a comment about the redhead.

Before any more questions could come, Mia stepped closer and took her hand.

"So, need help packing? I bet everyone's been missing you back in the pack."

And with that, the focus of the conversation shifted to the rebels and all the things Amelia wanted to do once she was back with them. Mia listened carefully, even though part of her mind still wandered to her damned deal with Tomas.

Hours later, Mia stared at the suitcases by the door, as if looking at a goodbye she was trying to hide. The last rays of sunlight filtered through the living room windows, casting golden streaks across the marble floor, making its golden veins shimmer even more. She focused on one of those veins now, barely noticing its glow as her mind drifted to what exactly awaited her in the near future.

If she were honest with herself, she’d admit that Amelia’s departure was a heavy blow. Facing everything would be much easier alongside someone she trusted—someone who understood her. But Mia would never say or do anything to make Amelia reconsider what she wanted. In the end, Mia's biggest flaw had always been pride, never selfishness.

Across the room, Amelia went over a list of packed items for what had to be the tenth time, excitement glowing in her expression—just as expected from someone returning home after a long journey. There was a new light in her eyes, the kind Mia knew well, the one that didn’t come from strategic plans or political victories. It was the glow of someone who loved and was loved in return.

"Daniel said the rebels are really excited to see me, but I still worry about what they actually think of me." Amelia adjusted the strap of one of her backpacks, her brows slightly drawn. "I mean, even though I’m no longer considered a traitor in their eyes, I’m still the daughter of the enemy pack’s commander."

Mia stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her. "They know that who you are isn’t defined by where you come from or who your parents are, Amy." Her voice was calm, reassuring. She understood Amelia's insecurities—if she had lived even half of what Amelia had, she would feel a thousand times more uncertain. "Don’t worry. They remember everything you’ve done for them. Actions always speak louder than titles, no matter what they are."

“You’re right.” Amelia pulled back slightly, eyes misty with tears and a timid smile curving her lips.

Mia nodded, returning the smile, and in that moment, she wanted to say everything. She wanted to confess that she was neck-deep in a dangerous lie, that every move she made now had to be carefully calculated, that Tomas...

But she swallowed it all down. Amelia had the right to leave in peace. She deserved that.

"You guys will be fine," Mia murmured, voice steady. "Daniel will take care of you. You’ll take care of him. That’s how the rebels are—always looking out for each other."

Amelia studied her for a beat too long, as if sensing there was something left unsaid. But instead of pressing the issue, she simply stepped forward and hugged Mia again, tightly. Mia closed her eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of her friend, committing it to memory like an anchor.

***

Later that evening, after helping load the last of the bags into the vehicle, Mia approached Daniel. He was leaning against one of the entrance columns, observing the movement around him—always alert. She caught his attention with a discreet gesture and led him to a more secluded spot, away from the curious ears that constantly hovered around the pack’s streets. Away from Amelia’s watchful gaze, which still seemed to sense that Mia was hiding something.

“I need you to start thinking about alternative ways to protect the pack beyond the alliance with the Akello.” Her tone was blunt, cutting through the tension before he could slip into his usual worry.

Daniel raised an eyebrow, gaze narrowing. “Alternatives? Is there something I should know?”

“I just... don’t trust Tomas’s family.” Her arms crossed instinctively. “I’ve seen firsthand how they operate. If something happens to him—if he loses his position—the Akello will back off. We can’t put all our security in the hands of a single link. It’s just prudence, that’s all.”

“You never bring up warnings like this unless you have a real reason.” His arms folded across his chest, gaze fixed on her. Clearly unconvinced. He knew her too well.

But she didn’t flinch. “Call it intuition, then. But be ready.”

For a moment, he simply studied her, silent. Then, with a slow nod, he relented.

“I’ll take care of it. But right now, the priority is recovering what we lost in the last attack. We have wounded, displaced families, and we’re vulnerable. We need to secure the basics first, and I can’t divide the pack’s attention right now.”

Mia stepped back, nodding. It wasn’t enough, but it was something—a seed of doubt planted.

“Alright.” She tried to sound lighter than she felt. “We should head back before Amy notices we’re gone—I don’t want to alarm her with any of this.”

But when they returned to the front of the building, Amelia had already noticed. Mia quickly distracted her with reminders about her departure, and then came the moment of farewell. Despite all their conversations, Amelia hesitated, hugging Mia tightly and holding her hand longer than usual.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay here alone?” Her eyes searched Mia’s face, desperate for signs.

Mia kept her expression steady, smile soft. “I’m sure. Go without worrying.”

She watched Daniel drape an arm around Amelia’s shoulders, kiss her forehead, and murmur, “Take care, sis.”

As soon as the car pulled away, Mia walked back into the apartment... and just stood there, staring at the empty living room. The silence pressed against her like a heavy wave...

But it didn’t last long.

The doorbell rang.

Turning toward the door, she wondered if Amelia had forgotten something or had simply come back for one last hug and a final reassurance that everything would be fine.

But when she opened the door, Amelia wasn’t there. And neither was the peaceful air that always followed her.

Instead, Mia found herself face to face with the last person she wanted to see.

Tomas’s mother. Impeccable in a fine fabric dress, her hair perfectly styled, and a smile that never quite reached her eyes.

“Mia. I was just thinking about you. I thought we could have afternoon tea.”

Every instinct screamed to say no. Nothing good could come from this. But instead, Mia forced a smile, inhaled deeply, and stepped outside.

“Sure. Why not?” Her voice was steady, even as her stomach tightened.

“This way, dear.” Tomas’s mother gestured toward the hallway, as if Mia didn’t already know the way out.

And Mia followed. Because saying no would be a mistake.

And she already had enough of those.