CHAPTER 11

MIA POV.
As I lay on my bed, feeling drained and vulnerable after a good cry, I heard a knock at the door. I didn't have the energy to get up and answer it, so I just ignored it. Hoping that the person on the other side would go away. To my dismay, the door creaked open, but the thing that surprised me the most, was the fact that it was Tony walking in, flashing a shit eating grin at me. I hadn't seen him since a few nights ago when I caught him cheating on me. His sudden appearance caught me off guard and I felt anger rise in my chest towards him.
Tony's eyes scanned the room, taking in the tear-stained tissues and my puffy face. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Hello Mia. I hope you still aren’t mad at me for the other night, are you?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
I sat up, wiping my nose with a tissue, feeling a mix of emotions: shock, anger, and hurt. "Tony, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from cracking from all the crying.
He chuckled and sauntered into the room, looking around before his eyes landed on mine again. “What? Am I not allowed to see my betrothed before the wedding?” He asked silkily, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
My eyes widened in horror as the pieces clicked into place. Tony, my cheating ex-boyfriend, was Dominic's son.
"You're... you're Dominic's son," I stammered, trying to process this new information. Tony's smirk grew even wider as a photographed flashed before my eyes that I saw at Tony’s place a few nights ago.
I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as the truth sank in. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why didn't you tell me your father was Dominic Romano?" I demanded as I got to my feet.
Tony shrugged; his smirk still plastered on his face. "I never saw the point in telling anyone.” He said and I saw his eyes roam over my body. I wrapped my arms across my chest to hide them, suddenly feeling too naked in front of him. Tony chuckled at my discomfort. “There’s no need to be a prude anymore Mia, we will be married soon and then I will have you all to myself in more ways than one.” He said and my stomach recoiled with disgust. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” He taunted knowingly, but I shook my head in denial.
“I don’t want that anymore.” I said and the smirk on Tony’s face dropped. “I’ll marry anyone but you.” I said confidently. He took a step towards me. His demeaner had suddenly gone cold and the look in his eyes sent a chill down my back.
"We'll see about that, Mia," he said, his voice dripping with warning. "You don't have a choice in this and neither do I.” it would be best if you just let go of any fantasy you might have of escaping and prepare yourself for marrying into the Romano family and stop acting so childish.” Tony said and I swallowed audibly. “I will take over Dark Moon pack from my father some day and I cannot have a week looking Luna dragging me down.” He said as he looked down on me from his nose.
I felt a surge of desperation, knowing that Tony was right. I was trapped, but so was he. I was shocked that he didn’t protest this arranged marriage. "And you are actually okay with this? You, of all people, who has been hopping from one cheer leader to the next?" I asked and his eyes darted to the door for a moment as discomfort made him shuffle from one foot to the other before he composed himself. His cold eyes glinting with anger. "That's all in the past, Mia. And besides, we don't have a choice. The harsh truth is, Mia, we have a duty to the pack to uphold just like my parents did.” He said and I was taken aback at this. “My parents didn't marry for love. They also had an arranged marriage for the good of the pack and just like my father didn’t love my mother, I am not capable of loving you either, so don’t ever think otherwise because you will only break your own heart."
I felt a sting from his words. A loveless marriage for the rest of my life was painful to grasp. “Besides, you should be grateful of this arrangement. Many she-wolves would kill to be in your shoes.” He spoke and there was a momentary look of disgust on his face as his eyes roamed over me again. "So, you're saying I should be grateful to marry you? That I should be thankful for the privilege of being your wife?" I asked as I felt my skin crawl. Tony's smile was cold. "Yes, Mia. You should be grateful. You're a hybrid, not a purebred noble heir like me.” He sneered down at me, and I gasped. Shock radiated through my body at what he had just said. I had almost forgotten that I was half human.
My heart raced with fury. "Get out," I spat, pointing towards the door. "Get out!" I shouted, pointing towards the door. "Get out of my sight!" I chased Tony out of my room as my anger and humiliation reached its peak.
Tony smirked as though he liked riling me up like this, but he backed away anyway, his hands raised in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm going," he said, but his eyes gleamed knowingly.
As we reached the door, Tony turned to face me, his smile still plastered on his face. But I wasn't having it. I pushed him out into the hallway, my hands on his chest. To my surprise, I managed to push him, making his smile falter on his face.
"Leave," I spat, my voice low and serious. It looked like Tony wanted to say something when a movement caught my eye. A figure departed around the corner of the staircase. My heart skipped a beat. Was that Dominic? I wondered.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I stared at the empty space where I could have sworn where the figure had been. Tony followed my gaze, his smile faltering for a moment before he stepped back from me, the teasing suddenly gone.
"Until next time, Mia," he said, looking at me and without another word, he turned and left.
I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against the door. All thought of Tony was temporarily put aside as my mind wondered over the figure. I couldn’t see who it was but for some reason I knew it was Dominic.