The Burden Of The Truth

Mia's POV

I stared at the woman before me, her glowing eyes piercing through the shadows of the forest. Her silver pawed wolf had disappeared leaving behind a graceful clad figure. Her reverence unnerved me.

"Your Highness," she said again, her voice steady yet tinged with awe. "You've embraced your true self at last."

I shook my head, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "No.....no, I don't know what you're talking about."

The woman stepped closer, her gaze soft but unyielding. "You aren't merely human, your Highness. You are the daughter of the Great Alpha Ezra and Luna Jasmine—a rare hybrid of werewolf and human blood. Your wolf has awakened. Not fully, though."

The ground beneath me felt like it was titling. "No," I whispered, taking a shaky breath backward. "You are lying. This isn't possible."

The woman's expression didn't falter. "Deny it all you want, but the truth is in your blood. You felt it, didn't you? The transformation, the power coursing through your veins. Your are destined for greatness, my lady."

My heart pounded in my chest, each beat heavier than the last. The forest seems to be closing in on me, the air thick with tension. "I don't want this," I said, my voice breaking. "I didn't ask for this."

“You didn’t need to,” she replied. “It is your birthright. The pack has been waiting for you, Your Highness. You are meant to lead us.”

Lead? Her words felt like a weight pressing down on me. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Without another word, I turned and ran, ignoring her calls.

The cold night air bit at my skin as I raced back to the mansion, my legs trembling with each step. When I finally reached my room, I hastily dressed and grabbed my bag. I had to see my mother. She would explain this—she had to.

The hospital was eerily still when I arrived. The florescent light buzzed faintly, casting a sterile glow on the pristine wall. My mother's room was at the far end of the hallway and each step felt heavier than the last.

When I pushed the door open, the sight of her frail form hung on the heavy machines made me heart sank. Her pale face was peaceful, too peaceful. The coma had robbed her of any expression, leaving me to fill the silence with my own words.

I sat by the bed, clutching her hand. "Mum," I began, my voice shaking. "I don't know what's happening to me. Some woman in the woods..... She said I'm ...." I choked on the words, tears streaming down my cheeks. "She said I'm a werewolf. That's I'm a daughter of a werewolf. That can't be true, can it? You would've told me, right?"

The machines beep steadily, their sound a cruel reminder that she can't answer me.

"I am losing my mind," I whispered, burying my face in my hands. "I have done terrible things mom. Things I'm not proud of. Things I did for survival, but....this, how am I supposed to handle this?"

Her hand was warm in mine, but it offered no comfort. The weight of everything—the contract, Jasper, the missions, the transformation—it was too much.

"I need you," I murmured. "Please wake up and tell me this is not true."

The room remained silent, her breath steady and unchanging. I wiped my tears forcing myself to stand. If mother won't give me answers, then I might as well find them myself.

Back at the mansion, the woman's word haunted me: Your wolf has awaken and you are destined for greatness.

I paced my room, my mind a storm of fear and anger. If she was right, then everything I thought I knew about myself was a lie. How could my mother have kept this from me? And why did my wolf awoken now? I need answers.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I hesistated, when I opened it, Jasper stood, his gaze cold and calculating.

"You've been gone for hours," he said, his tone clipped. "Where were you?"

I opened my mouth to reply but no words came out.

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Mia, don’t lie to me. What’s going on?”

My throat tightened as I fought hard to keep my secrets buried. But before I could respond, Jasper's eye narrowed, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.

"Why did you smell like the forest?"

Forcing a shaky laugh, I took a step backward. "Forest? I don't know what you are talking about."

Jasper titled his head forward, his piercing gaze narrowing further. "Don't play games with me, Mia."

"I'm not," I replied quickly, my voice too high-pitched. "I.. uh, I brought a new perfume. Maybe that is what you're smelling," I gestured vaguely towards the dresser, praying he'd drop the topic. "It is called ...um, Woodland Breeze."

Jasper’s lips curved into a skeptical smirk, but he didn’t immediately argue. Instead, he took a deliberate step closer, leaning in to sniff lightly near my neck. My breath hitched as the warmth of his presence made my skin crawl and tingle all at once.

"Woodland Breeze," he murmured, his voice dangerously low. "It suits you."

I swallowed hard, holding his gaze. "Glad you think so."

For a moment, the silence stretched between us, his smirk faltering before his usual cold demeanor returned.

"There's another mission, tomorrow," he said abruptly, his tone all business now. "I'll brief you in the morning."

Relief washed over me as he dropped the topic but it was short-lived. "Another one?" I asked, my tone laced with reluctant acceptance.

He raised a brow. “Did you think the first was a one-time thing? I told you, Mia, you’re mine now. You’ll do as I say.”

I bit my lips, fighting the urge to lash out but instead I nodded stiffly.

Jasper’s eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—approval, perhaps, or satisfaction. Then before I knew it, he took another step towards me, closing the distance until there's barely an inch between our bodies.

"You've been performing well," his tone filled with praise and something darker. His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering. "You deserve an award."

My heart raced as he leaned in for a kiss. Panic surged through me, but I turned my head just in time to avoid his lips

"I'm tired," I blurted out, stepping backward. "It's been a long day."

Jasper’s expression hardened for a split second, but he quickly masked it with a cold smile. “Of course,” he said, his tone clipped. “Get some rest, pet. You’ll need it.”

Without another word, he turned and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

I let out a shaky breath, my legs threatening to give out. The sex we had the previous night was a mistake— a grave mistake that I have swore never to repeat.If he was looking forward to another performance, then he is sorely mistaken.

I collapsed onto bed, staring up at the ceiling as the smell of the forest still lingered on me, a cruel reminder of what I had become. Exhaustion and anxiety battled for dominance. Tonight, sleep won't come easily but I had to be ready. Tomorrow is no different, it promised more lies, more danger and more of myself slipping away.