Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron) novel Chapter 8

Chapter Eighty-Four

MIA

I leave Eric and Ashley to sort their shit out.

I hate walking away from him.

But I can’t fight what happened.

They’re mated. Married.

Regardless of how I feel about it, they’ll have to find their own way now. They spoke to each other a bit, and that was a start. At least, I think it is. Ashley’s looking for a way to save her daughter. Eric… he’d make a good dad.

I want to hope that they’ll find a way. That maybe there can be peace.

I follow directions that Valaria left me and enter the house on the hillside. It’s number 23 and aside from that small number above the door, there are no other markings. No mailboxes or garage. But then, there aren’t any cars on this section of the island.

The door has no lock, and the house opens into a wide space that is a combination kitchen/living area. The home is gorgeous. A modern masterpiece that is more glass than stone and it blends right into the landscape with stone gardens and old trees.

I’m spent–emotionally, mentally, physically.

I enter the single bedroom, drop on the bed and sleep.

The next morning, I find myself feeling restless.

I cross into the kitchen–it’s white everywhere, cabinets, countertops, white marble floors. And I pour a glass of water from the sink.

There’s a note on the countertop. Someone delivered it at some point during the night I guess. I’m not a fan of that kind of open door policy or such a complete lack of privacy.

I open the letter.

It contains instructions for me to change clothes and take the door behind me, following the stairwell down. My ceremony will begin at noon.

The clock on the stove reveals it’s a little after nine-thirty.

You okay, honey?

It’s Cameron.

I think he senses that I’m distressed.

He’s in my head and I welcome the connection.

As I do the normal things of eating, showering, brushing my teeth, he fills me in on the kids, my dad. The pack. It’s all so surreal. Our respective lives carry on, which makes me realize that that’s just life.

Whether I am present or not, the world will keep turning.

There’s equal parts comfort and desolation in that.

I listen and file away that Morgan is gone and Jace is off-lands, searching for her.

I’m not sure how to feel about what’s happened to them. Jace is the closest thing I had to a brother and Morgan. I counted her as my one true friend before… everything.

We’re setting the trap with the wraiths, Cam tells me.

That’s good. It’s strength that preserves the balance. Species that are weak… become prey.

When Cam asks about how things are going here, I laugh. He’s missed… a lot. Then I bring Cam up to speed.

He whistles in my head.

And I thought we had it bad, he jokes.

I appreciate his humor. Because, yeah, Eric and Ashley’s story… it just might be even more fucked up than ours.

What was it like? I ask him. Being mated to her.

He sighs in my mind. Most days were… normal. We’d bicker over who got to pick what we watched on tv. Or she’d be in the office late, going over the books.

The better to rob you blind, I guess.

Yes and no, he says.

My mouth waters and I feel a little unsteady. If this is one of those, ‘I needed to fuck someone else so I could miss you’ conversations, I am going to tap out. Right now.

I took you for granted, Mia. I loved you–my god, how I love you. But you were always right there beside me. I don’t know that I valued you enough.

I feel sick.

Because what he’s saying is… true.

I was Cameron’s shadow. I lived for him.

I don’t think I had a goal that he wasn’t a part of. I’m not sure I even had a sense of identity that wasn’t wrapped around him in some way.

When I left… I had to live for me.

My experiences changed me. What’s more, I don’t want to go back to the way things were. I like who I am.

And Ashley gave me Merilee, Cam continues. Do I hate her for what she’s done, yes. But I can’t regret it all, either. Because I love my daughter, Mia.

I wouldn’t expect him to do anything less.

I have to go now, Cam.

I’ve upset you.

No… It’s not that. Coming here has forced me to face a lot of things.

I push open the door and see a staircase that leads down, down, down.

Where everything in the house was bright white. Everything below is dark. Stones carved straight into the earth. It’ll be a miracle if I don’t fall and break my neck.

I shift so my wolf eyes see the path ahead of me.

Wish me luck, I tell him.

I’m going to need it.