CHAPTER 36

MIA POV.
As I settle into my seat beside Sofia, I notice her cradling a small bundle in her arms. My gaze locks onto the baby's tiny face, and my heart skips a beat. A baby! Did I have another little brother or sister that they didn’t tell me about? I wondered as I stared at the little bundle in my stepmother’s arms. I force myself to paste on a polite smile, trying to mask the turmoil brewing inside me. "Hello Sofia." I greet, my voice steady despite the tension.
Sofia's response is short. "Mia." she greets back, her voice devoid of warmth. A shiver runs down my spine as our eyes lock and the air between us seem to freeze with heavy unspoken animosity.
Our attention gets diverted to my father who stood up at the head of the table. Sofia's gaze drops to the baby in her arms whilst my father's eyes meet mine. There were so many emotions dancing in his eyes that it was difficult to decipher what he was feeling. He moved around the table towards me, his movements fluid and leaned slightly over to me. "Mia, I’m… I am so sorry. For everything." he says, his voice low and sincere and I feel my eyes burn at the corners of my eyes with tears. I rapidly blink my eyes to keep them from filling with tears. “I will make up for lost time, I promise. All I ask is that you give me time.” He spoke and his voice cracked with emotion before he stood upright again and looked to the sea of people in the clearing.
He clears his throat before his voice rings out through the clearing, commanding attention. "Family and friends, honoured guests, welcome!" he says, and I feel the tension lift slightly as the focus turns to my father. “Tonight, we gather to celebrate the happy reunion of my daughter, Mia. Once thought lost to us, to me, but she has returned.” He spoke and I could feel a lump in my throat starting to form. It genuinely sounded so sincere.
"Mia, you are a cherished member of my family, and we welcome you back with open arms." He says and turns to me, and I could see the unshed tears shining in his eyes as he looked at me. He took a deep breath before he spoke again, but instead of addressing the guests again, his eyes still remain on me.
“Mia, tonight’s hunt is for you, my sweet daughter.” He says and holds his hand out to me. I was suddenly taken aback by his outstretched hand, and I quickly looked to Dominic, who had his eyes trained on me. I couldn’t read anything about the way he was looking at me, but I fleetingly see Vivienne nod her head from behind Dominic, encouraging me and I turn back to my father and take his outstretched hand. “We officially welcome you back to the pack and to the bright future that you will lead us into.” He said and I felt a tear run over my cheek but before I could wipe it away, applause erupts, warm and genuine. I glance around, stunned, taking in the smiling faces of everyone.
My father's voice rings out again, silencing the guests. "The representative for the Crescent Moon pack will be, my daughter, Amelia. And the representative for the Dark Moon pack, will be Dominic.” My father spoke and I feel a body heat at my side, and I look up to see Dominic standing next to me nodding his head in polite acceptance.
I glance around, expecting everyone to begin undressing and start to shift but instead, the atmosphere is calm but with a buzz of excitement as people start to talk amongst each other on who will be doing the hunting.
I frown, confusion setting in. "Aren't… aren’t we all hunting together?” and my father smiles down at me before he starts to explain. "Not exactly, Mia. As the head of the pack, we'll be observing from a distance and placing bets on the outcome." My father spoke softly before he continued. "It is tradition and a friendly competition between packs. Whomever brings down the most prey have bragging rights and will be defending their claim at the next hunt."
“Oh.” Was all I could answer as disappointment washes over me. I envisioned myself taking part and running wild through the trees as the wind blew through my fur coat under the watchful gaze of the Moon as it hung in the nights sky.
I was shaken out of my thoughts as the hunt started. The chosen few shifts into their majestic wolf forms, their eyes gleaming in the light of the surrounding torches. They vanish into the forest, leaving us to await the outcome and I notice everyone returning to their seats as the air filled with talk and laughter once again.
Dominic still stood beside me, his expression serious and watchful. His eyes scan the surrounding area as we turn to resume our seats at the round table. Was this it? I wondered as I too looked around except in the direction of the woman that sat next to me, Sofia. “Do we just sit and wait here until they come back?” I asked Dominic. “Yes.” Was all answer I got in reply. This was more or less the same brief answers I received for a while until I just kept quiet and sat back in my chair. Dominic’s eyes were still watchful of the area, and I sigh, feeling restless.
I was just about to get up when an omega waitress approached me, offering me a glass of wine. I decline with a smile. "Thank you, but I'll get something myself." Suddenly feeling the need to break from the tension at the table, I slip away to the self-serving area.
As I make my way over, I'm stopped by a group of young people, their faces bright with excitement. "Mimi! Oh, it's so wonderful to finally meet you properly!" one of them exclaims. They introduce themselves as my cousins, but they all talked so fast and excitedly that I couldn’t catch their names, but I did notice them calling me by the nickname that only Vivienne has called me before. Maybe it was a name of endearment amongst the pack? I wondered, feeling a little puzzled by it. We exchange warm smiles, and they envelop me in a group hug.
"It has been ages, but I still remember your baptism." The one girl, I think she said her name was Stella, said. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Yeah, I couldn’t believe how anyone could be so tiny.” The one guy said. Lucas, I think he said his name was. I thought as he continued to ramble off at a laugh and looking at the guy next to him. “Unless Tom counts…” He said and the guy in question grunts sarcastically. “When his girlfriend is mad at him, he can make himself practically disappear in the smallest places.” Lucas said and Stella burst out laughing as the one name Tom scowled at the other young man. Their laughter was so infectious that I couldn’t help but laugh with them and I immediately felt at ease with them. They were strangers to me, but they were family, and their genuine warmth disarms me.
“We were so sad when we heard that your mom died and for years we thought you were dead too.” Stella said and the atmosphere around the four of us seemed to dim. “I remember that your aunt was so distraught at the news that she started to distance herself from the pack.” Lucas said and the others nodded. “Aunt?” I questioned and Stella answered. “Yeah, I don't really remember what she looks like but I think her name was Viviette or something.” She spoke as she looked back in thought. “No, her name was Vivienne.” Tom confirmed and the others nodded as the name sounded right to them as well.
Suddenly, Dominic appears out of nowhere beside me, disrupting the conversation. His expression is stern, his eyes narrowed as he looked my three family members over from head to toes. The laughter also immediately died away and was replaced with eery silence. I felt new anger stir in my chest as I looked at the three pale faces of my cousins but before I could say anything, Dominic took me by the elbow. "Mia, it's time to return to the table," he says, his tone firm but polite. His hold on me didn’t hurt but it was enough for me to understand that he was serious. “But I…” I started to say when Stella spoke up. “That’s ok. The others should be getting back from the hunt soon, so we better get moving too.” She spoke. With a quick wave goodbye, my three young relatives were out of sight, leaving only me and Dominic in close proximity with each other.
I feel a pang of disappointment and anger. "Was that really necessary?” I asked as I tried to pull my elbow out of his grip, but he held fast. “They were so nice, and we just started talking. Dominic's grip on my elbow tightens, leaving me no choice but to be guided back to our table. "Nice doesn't necessarily mean trustworthy, Mia. There is still so much you need to learn about the dangers that lurk around each corner… especially for you and the position that you hold.” Dominic said. His words send a shiver down my spine. I hadn’t really given that much thought into what my position will be one day… or already is.
Back at the table, I settle back into my chair and rubbing my elbow now that Dominic had released his grip on me. looking around the table, I immediately saw that Sofia and the baby was gone. Looking to the head of the table, I saw that my father was gone too. Just then, one of the omega waiters appeared at my side with an apologetic look on his face. "Forgive me, Miss Mia. Alpha Ryker and his luna excused themselves to tend to the baby. She grew fussy." She said and continued. “Alpha Ryker has asked me to tell you that he is sorry for leaving early but that he will call you as soon as he can.” The omega said before bowing and leaving me with my thoughts.
Before I could think too much of it, a deafening explosion rocks the air. The sound slamming into me, knocking me off my chair and leaving my ears ringing.
A body comes down on top of me, shielding me from the unknown disturbance. "Stay down, Mia!" he yells, his body protecting mine. Gray smoke begins to swirl around us, and I start to cough, the smoke burning my throat, and I could feel my eyes sting.
"What's happening?" I cry out, fear clawing at my chest. “Was that gunfire? Is someone shooting at us?” I ask as panic starts to turn into adrenalin, making my heart pump fast. "No, it's a smoke grenade! We're under attack, Mia. We need to get out of here, NOW!" Dominic growls. I feel myself being lifted off the floor and dragged behind him, hopefully we were fleeing in the direction of safety.