Mia:

“Well, good morning.” Brenda said, seeing how I was still fumbling about in the kitchen as I proceeded with doing things that I should have gotten used to doing by now.

“Good morning, Brenda. And if you are here to remind me that I am late, I am already aware.” I muttered.

The morning light filtered through the cracked blinds, catching dust motes in the air as I scrambled to button my blouse with one hand and juggle a half-eaten piece of toast with the other.

Rosalyn was already whining about the juice box I forgot to pack. “Mommy!”

“Just give mommy five more seconds, baby,” I pleaded, spinning around in the cramped apartment as if I could magically make time stretch. I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror, tired eyes, loose ponytail, stress clinging to every line of my face, and grimaced. “I’ll get everything that you need. But mommy needs you to give her a moment.”

So much for “glowing young mother.” I couldn’t even explain a small situation to my child.

“Juice, Mommy! I want juice please!” Rose demanded again, louder this time, tapping her foot like a tiny tyrant in pink overalls. My wolf growled low in my chest, frustrated, not at her, just at everything else that’s been trying to break me.

Brenda leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. She was already dressed for her own shift, but her gaze screamed one thing: judgment.

“I’m just saying,” she began, again, “you could’ve gotten something out of him. It would have helped you out, Mia. You don’t have to handle all of this on your own. And right now, it is very clear that you are not in the best shape to argue, Mia.”

I snapped the lunchbox shut. “We’re not having this conversation again, Brenda. We have been through this a hundred times, and I have no intention in having to deal with it again. And I have no intention in handling another headache this early in the morning. I already have enough on my mind.”

Brenda pushed off the wall, not backing down. “Mia, you’ve been scraping together three jobs, living like a ghost, and for what? Because of some werewolf pride? You let that man walk out on you after paying for…”

“Don’t.” I cut her off, sharply. “This isn’t about pride. This is about survival. He got what he wanted, and he believed that it was going to be a way out. He claimed that he wanted an easy exit.”

“Well, it takes two to create life, and he does not get an easy exit after contributing in making that life.” She said, making me frown.

“I made my choice, Brenda. And I am not going back from it.” I snapped, glaring at her before she could say another word.

“Mia…”

“I told you before…” I said, turning to face her so she could see my anger. “I’m not dragging my daughter into that world. Into his world. He chose his way, and I am not going to push her into a world like that one. She does not deserve that.”

Her jaw clenched, but she backed off, eyeing Rosalyn, who was now twirling with her backpack straps.

“She deserves a mother who can actually look at her without growing frustrated because she forgot the juice box, again.” She said, making me frown. “I know that this is hard for you to accept, but she doesn’t even know who he is,” Brenda said, softer now. “And he doesn’t know she exists. He could actually want to know that he has a daughter. Mind you, it would actually help you.”

“And that’s how it’s going to stay.” I snapped without truly intending to. “He paid to get an easy cut. And you know that he wouldn’t have wanted to hear about anything. He might have even asked for me to get it done with before it even happened. I wasn’t going to allow him to make that decision for me.”

If the Lockwoods ever found out about her... about me... and if he found out about her…

Brenda sighed, walking over to grab Rose’s hand. “I’ll pick her up from daycare today, don’t worry about fussing yourself about leaving early. You’ve got your interview, right?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, snatching my bag and smoothing my top, even though the fabric was already wrinkled. “I need this job. And I am going to get it.”

“You say that about every job.”

“No,” I said, meeting her gaze. “This one’s different. I feel it.”

Brenda gave me a once-over, then her lips curved before her eyes hardened as she looked at Rosalyn. “You’d better, because you’re running on fumes and caffeine. And if this proceeds, you are going to end up losing a lot more than you are going to be able to afford.”

Before I could reply, my phone vibrated with a notification. Another news headline. Another photo of him holding one of his children in his arms, his woman at his side…

Nathan Lockwood and wife spotted at charity gala… and with them attended their little twins… Arina and Jacob, seen for the first time since birth at two years old.

My stomach turned.

There he was. In a tailored suit. Smiling for the cameras like he didn’t have blood on his hands or a past that meant anything. Like I didn’t exist. A mate that he chose to simply ignore and rather than reject, he couldn’t care less.

Like she didn’t exist.

I turned the screen off.

“I’m fine,” I said before Brenda could ask. “I am going to go and get ready…”

Brenda kissed Rosalyn’s forehead, then gave me a look I’d come to know too well. You’re lying, but I won’t push. “Come on, little pup… let’s get you to your daycare before you’re late.”

“Bye, mama!” Rosalyn said excitedly.

“Bye, baby.” I said, smiling at my daughter. “Have a beautiful day, okay? And don’t give your teachers or Auntie Brenda a hard time today.”

“Break a leg, Mia.” Brenda said, nodding at me, her eyes meeting mine as she studied my expression, knowing well that I was trying to hide my pain. “And be sure to give me an update when you’re done.”

“Thanks.” I whispered, watching as they walked out.

I watched from the window as she walked Rosalyn out to the car, Rose bouncing along beside her with all the joy and trust of a child who didn’t know the world had already tried to break her mother.

And I wasn’t going to let it win.

Not now. Not after everything…

Mia:

“And you are?” The security asked by the door as he noticed me walking in.

“I have an appointment, a job interview.” I said, showing him the email that confirmed my date. He looked down at me for a second, like I was some sort of outsider, before taking a step back, allowing me to walk past him.

“Third elevator, nineteenth floor.” He said, and I nodded, following his direction.

But the moment I stepped into the building, something felt… off.

I couldn’t explain it, but I could tell that my instincts were telling me to run.

My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, pacing, restless, like it sensed something before I did, and I frowned in confusion as I tightened my grip on my bag and forced myself to keep walking.

“You’re overthinking,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s just an interview. You are going to get through it just like the others. Whatever the results are, you are going to be able to get through it.”

I walked deeper into the building, feeling smaller than I had as I looked around the room where I knew that I was being watched.

“But it is a very important interview.” I muttered to myself as I forced myself to keep my eyes down, avoiding everyone’s eyes as I knew that they were looking at me. “It is going to change your world, and you are going to be able to give Rosalyn the life that she deserves.”

The lobby was polished, pristine, glass, marble, and power. The kind of place where people like me didn’t belong. But I walked anyway. Head high. Shoulders back. I wasn’t going to backout.

“Hi,” I said, looking at the receptionist who raised an eyebrow when she saw mw approaching. “I have a job interview with Mr. Mathew.”

“Your name?” The receptionist asked, eyeing me up and down as if I was some kind of pest.

“Mia… Mia Romanov.” I said, looking down at my feet for a second before I met her gaze. “This is the email to confirm.”

“Take a seat. I will give you a call when it is your turn.” She said, and I nodded before walking to sit in the waiting area.

I folded my arms over my lap as I waited, my heart racing with each passing moment as it went.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

The unease didn’t go away. If anything, it got worse, and for a moment, I truly debated on whether or not I should be leaving.

“Maybe this was a bad idea anyway…” I said, wanting to get up before the receptionist approached me.

“I apologize, Ms. Romanov, there has been a problem with your schedule. We are going to need to reschedule.” She said, looking me in the eye as she stood in front of me. “Something has come up,”

“Reschedule?” I repeated, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. And though I wanted to debate leaving, the fact that it was turning into something that I didn’t expect didn’t fail to break my moral. “I confirmed this yesterday. And I was told that my interview was going to be set today. I don’t understand? Did something happen? Or did someone else get the job?”

“I cannot disclose such details,” she said, not sounding like she did at all. “But something urgent came up. I truly do apologize. But we are going to call you to reschedule your interview in the next available slot.”

I nodded stiffly, swallowing the frustration clawing its way up my throat. “Very well.”

I turned before she could see how much that answer crushed me. Another job. Another chance slipping through my fingers.

“Different this time,” I had said. “You are going to be able to manage it this time. Things are going to be easier for you this time.”

Well, all that was bullshit…

I pushed through the glass doors, already reaching for my phone to call Brenda, to tell her I’d be home earlier than expected and then I stopped.

Because I walked straight into him.

The impact was solid, firm. My breath caught as I stumbled back a step, my hand instinctively shooting out to steady myself, only to meet something warm. Strong.

Familiar.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…” I started automatically.

Then I looked up.

And the world… stopped.

Nathan Lockwood.

It has been four years, but I would know him anywhere.

The same sharp jaw. The same cold, calculating eyes. The same presence that swallowed the space around him like he owned it, like he owned everything.

Like he owned me.

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt.

His eyes met mine.

And for a second, just one, there was nothing there. No recognition. No memory. Just a stranger looking at another stranger.

Relief hit me first. And I took a deep breath as I allowed myself to ease my way and mind in a world that I didn’t like. A world that I knew that I shouldn’t be in.

He let me leave, taking a step back. “I am sorry…” I said, more firmly this time, forcing my composure.

He didn’t remember.

Then again, why would he? It was just another night to him… one that he paid for.

I walked past him, forcing myself not to look back at the man who was frowning as if he was trying to remember who I was before he said the one word that I didn’t want to hear coming from his lips…

My name…

“Mia.”

Nathan:

“Mia.”

The name left my mouth before I even registered it.

She froze.

Not completely, but enough. Just enough for me to notice the tension that ran through her shoulders, the way her fingers tightened around the file she was holding.

I stepped closer.

“Do I know you?” She asked, looking up at me as if she was some kind of stranger. The woman who had her arms wrapped around me, her pussy tight around my dick… I had to fight back the chuckle.

“Nice try, little wolf.” I said, and she fought back rolling her eyes. I could tell that she was hating my very existence.

“You wanted an easy exit,” she said coldly. She didn’t even bother trying to hide her bitterness from her tone, and I could tell that my very existence was bothering her.

My gaze dropped to the folder in her hand. Company logo. Applicant file. I raised an amused eyebrow at that.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.

She shifted, already stepping back. “I had an interview. Now if you will excuse me, I need to leave.”

I frowned. “With who?”

“That’s not your concern.” She snapped.

The attitude should’ve annoyed me. Instead, it intrigued me.

She went to walk past me like I was nothing, and I raised an eyebrow at her attitude. My hand shot out before I could stop myself, wrapping around her arm, firm enough to stop her in place.

She stiffened instantly, her heart racing against her chest as she looked up at me.

“What do you want?” She asked, glaring at me.

“Answer the question,” I said, my voice dropping slightly. “Because I doubt that you had the interview judging by the way that you are choosing to walk out.”

“I don’t owe you an answer, and if you want to ask questions… by all means, go ahead and interrogate others. I am not going to handle your damn attitude.” She snapped, making my eyes darken.

“Do you really think that you are brave speaking to me in such a manner?”

Her breath caught. I felt it.

And for a second, I didn’t let go.

She turned her head slightly, like she was about to say something…

“What is going on here?” Tania’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.

I released Mia immediately, watching as she looked down at her feet. She didn’t even hesitate. The second my hand left her, she pulled away and walked past me without another word. No glance. She just walked out like she was waiting for nothing more than me releasing her arm.

My jaw tightened as I watched her leave.

“Really, Nathan?” Tania’s voice sharpened behind me. “In the middle of your office building? If you’re going to entertain your mistresses, at least have the decency to keep them behind closed doors. You do know and realize that the media can catch you with her, and even worse, they can end up spreading rumors which I have no intention in tolerating anymore.”

I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to turn fully toward her.

“You’re assuming too much,” I said flatly. “And I believe that you know very well that I do not answer to you, Tania.”

“Oh, am I?” she snapped. “I am your wife, and whether or not you answer to me does not make a difference. At least respect that your kids might grow to see this, and you do not want them to have the thought of their father being with mistresses out in the open while their mother is in the same building too.”

“Is there anything that you need, Tania?” I asked coldly, my eyes meeting hers in a way that told her to drop the subject unless she aimed to cause a scene.

“I need you to stop treating me like I am burden and at least enforce the respect of me being your wife.” She said, looking me in the eye. “What more can I offer you for you to look at me like I am your wife instead of the burden that I see you hating? I didn’t do anything, and not once did I feel you looking at me like I matter to you.”

I didn’t answer.

Because I wasn’t thinking about her.

I was thinking about Mia.

About the way she looked at me.

About the way my body reacted to her before my mind caught up.

And the fact that she was still loathing my presence despite how long it has been.

“Go do whatever it is you came here to do,” I said dismissively, walking past Tania without another glance. “I have work to do,”

Her silence followed me down the hall.

But it didn’t matter.

Because for the first time in a long time…

Something had caught my attention.

And I wasn’t letting it go.