Chapter 04: Get out. Now.
1260 Words
Just two days had passed since the hellish interviews with Tomas's potential mates, and there Mia was, once again getting tangled up in something she had no desire to be part of. Another party—or rather, yet another party where Tomas was the center of everything. But at least this time, her attendance wasn’t the result of giving in to Amelia’s emotional blackmail or anything like that. She had been summoned, albeit indirectly, to be there. A carefully worded invitation had arrived the day before, and hidden beneath all its flourishes and formalities were two sentences that made it crystal clear: if Mia didn’t attend, the Akello family would have an excuse to make her stay even more difficult—something she knew they would relish. So, Mia decided to go to the damn party. She wouldn’t give the Akellos the satisfaction of having something to hold against her. And besides, leaving the pack wasn’t an option she could afford.
So, for reasons beyond her control, Mia went ahead with it, even with the unsettling feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. Even when the first sign that the night would be a disaster came in the form of the dress that arrived with the invitation. It was beautiful, fit her like a glove, and had a bodice adorned with shimmering stones. The only problem was the color: purple.
Mia imagined that Tomas’s parents—who had sent the dress—probably thought she didn’t know what that color meant in the traditions of the pack. But Mia did know. Just like she knew plenty of other things about them—things Tomas had confided in her back when they were inseparable friends.
To the Akello, purple symbolized disgrace. If Mia showed up wearing that dress, it would invite whispers and ridicule. But, unfortunately for Tomas’s tyrannical family, she knew exactly what they were trying to do. And that’s why, that night, she was dressed in white. Pristine. Stunning. The color of honor and purity. The very same dress that had been tailored weeks earlier to honor Amelia.
Mia didn’t want to be at that party, that much was certain. But she couldn’t deny how satisfying it would be to watch Tomas’s family choke on their own venom when they saw her.
She assessed her reflection one last time in the mirror that covered the entire back wall of the closet. Her hair was perfectly styled in an elegant updo, her makeup accentuated the intensity of her eyes, and her lips—painted in a deep red that most certainly went against every Akello etiquette rule—drew attention. The dress hugged her figure beautifully, highlighting her curves in a way that was alluring yet far from vulgar.
Mia ran her hands over the fabric one last time, nodding to herself before turning away from the mirror. She paused only briefly to grab her purse before stepping out of the room. She had no expectations—nor any real desire—for that ridiculous party. And not just because it revolved around Tomas.
All Mia wanted was to go there, make sure Amelia was alright, stay just long enough to prove she had acknowledged the damn summons, and, of course, watch Tomas’s family swallow their frustration when they saw her in that dress. After that, she would return to Amelia’s apartment and spend a few hours dwelling on every mistake she had made and every wound she still carried—until sleep finally took her.
It was a simple plan.
Mia just had no idea how far from simple that night would actually be.
***
The second sign that things wouldn’t end well that night came when Mia noticed the unusual behavior of the pack members at the party. They were too loose. Too giddy. Almost none of the usual restraint and polished manners they typically displayed remained.
She scanned the surroundings. The estate was fully decorated—trees adorned with hanging lights, tables elegantly draped in silk, a spacious dance floor that, at any other Akello event, would be nearly empty. After all, dancing at events like this was rarely considered appropriate according to their etiquette. But tonight, the dance floor was packed.
Mia was beginning to question what exactly was going on. She even wondered if everyone was drunk or under the influence of some hallucinogen when she collided with one of the waiters—too distracted by the scene to see him right in front of her. The impact made her steady herself against his tray to keep from stumbling.
"I'm sorry." She blinked, trying to regain her balance in the golden heels she wore.
"My apologies, miss." The waiter pulled back the tray and took a step away. Unlike everyone else, he seemed perfectly sober and completely normal—rigid, just as any other staff member of the pack should be.
Mia watched him balance the glasses with almost mechanical precision. She was about to ask for a drink—because truly, there was no situation too unpleasant that alcohol couldn’t smooth over—when she caught the intensely sweet scent wafting from the glasses. Something that wasn’t the usual white wine. Something that made her nose itch.
She pulled back, rubbing her nose, while unease began to rise inside her as she observed the guests. Every minute, more laughter. More touching. The usual formal distance between them was dissolving right before her eyes. Even the most reserved among them had succumbed to a bewildering euphoria.
Something was seriously wrong. And while she didn’t yet know exactly what it was, the growing sense of unease gnawed at her, tightening its grip. She needed to find Amelia, make sure she was safe amidst all this Akello-fueled revelry, and then…
"The potion should be kicking in by now…" The voice drifted from the other side of a large almond tree.
Mia froze just before rounding it. The voice belonged to a woman from the pack—her ornamental, affected tone made that unmistakable.
"Of course it’s working. Did you see how José nearly kissed Ana?" The second woman giggled, clearly amused. "This stuff is aphrodisiac. When fated mates get close after drinking it, it’s impossible to ignore. I bet every guest has already had some of the drinks served here." A soft chuckle followed. "Well, I just hope they don’t try to fight it, because that’s when things get messy. The potion tends to—"
Mia barely heard the rest.
Potion.
The drinks were laced with potions. Was that the same sickly sweet scent she had caught when she bumped into the waiter?
Her stomach twisted as her mind processed what she had just heard. She turned, blood running cold under her skin.
The Akellos had enchanted the drinks with an aphrodisiac potion, and even though she hadn’t caught every detail of the women’s conversation, she could bet it was the very same potion—whispered about in old tales among rebellious females—that ignite the bond between fated mates with the force of a thunderclap.
Mia looked around, panic clawing at her chest in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. She was surrounded by people who had ingested the potion—including, most likely… Tomas.
The fear inside her flared hotter, wild and uncontrollable, burning beneath her skin.
If Tomas came near her. If his eyes found her. If the bond inside him reacted—amplified by that damn potion…
God, Mia needed to get out. Now.
- Writer
