Mia's Path
The best

MIA

My eyes snapped to the warrior woman sitting in front of the big dude by my left. She had a warm smile on her lips and seemed happy to be making my acquaintance. Her hand was extended over the table and waiting for mine to shake it. After a few seconds my brain started working again and I shook her hand. I didn’t want to be rude while she was being so warm. I was just surprised that everybody so far seemed so nice and calm, like they were happy. Weird.

“I’m Mia.” It was all I could say before she started speaking again.

“Oh, I know! Everybody in the pack knows who you are. Well, at least your name, you haven’t told us much more than that, huh? Oh, I was there too, you know. You are freaking awesome at fighting, gave Kyle a real scare. Don’t worry about it too much, he needed it, was too cocky.” She could talk fast for sure. I didn’t have enough time to process one of her statements before she got to the next and I guess it showed on my face, because the big guy said something about it.

“Sis, slow down. You are scaring her with all that talk.” he said and smiled apologetic at me. “I’m Tom, by the way.” He winked at me and directed his attention back to his TWO full plates of food. Yeah, two.

“And it’s not cocky when I know I’m the best one.” Kyle replied with a snort. That made Sam narrow her eyes at him.

“You are not the best, and you know it, arrogant turd!” She responded slowly.

She just insulted the beta of the pack and acted like that was the most common thing that could happen. Kyle was nice to me, that was true, but that didn’t mean he didn’t impose his power over the pack by force and fear. He sure had the muscles to do it, well, less muscles than Tom, but still. I was a stranger, so he could be just acting carefully around me, testing the waters, you know. To my utter surprise Kyle laughed at that. Really, fully belly laughed at her words. This pack dynamics was very confusing.

“Oh, then who is it? You, miniature warrior?” He breathed, still laughing hard. That nickname made her blush furiously, she had a tanned skin, but now she looked like a firetruck.

“No!” She replied and stuck her tongue out to him. “Drake is.” She smugly finished.

It took two words to make Kyle stop laughing. He looked at me and then at the girl and narrow his eyes at her. I could not understand the feeling crossing over his eyes, something like jealousy, maybe? But that was gone in a second. I might have just imagined it. “Drake doesn’t count. You know that!” he said in a childish like manner.

I couldn’t help the giggled that left my lips. It was fun to watch the fraternal interaction they were having. And by the reaction of everybody else on the table, it was pretty normal too. My giggle reaction made all eyes turn to me and I tried to school my expression once more, I didn’t mean to interrupt or anything. The pair of eyes that trapped me were the silver-grey ones. Drake was studying me like a hawk and something he saw must have satisfied him, since he was smirking now.

“Oh, and why not, little brother?” He asked in a mischievous tone.

“You know why! You are an Alpha, that makes you naturally stronger than everybody else in the pack.” Kyle countered.

“Stronger? Maybe. But I’m the best because I’m smarter and my fighting skills are better refined than yours, little brother.” Drake said smirking again and puffed his chest out a bit.

Although his reply was directed to Kyle, his eyes never left mine. It felt kind of odd, like he was trying to say something to me without really saying it. So, I did what anyone in this situation could do: I shrugged my shoulders and got back to my food. The banter continued on, with them comparing things. I could only imagine that their dicks would be next.

My new friends – I hoped – had told me the truth, the stew was so flavorful. The lamb melted in my mouth and that made me release a little moan. It had been a while since I had such good food in my mouth. The conversation that had continued on with the brothers and Sam seemed to cease the second I moaned in delight with the meal. This time I was the one red as a tomato. Damn it, werewolf hearing! I knew I sometimes made some “noises” while eating, but if they had normal hearing then it wouldn’t be so noticeable. I gulped down the food and cleared my throat.

“So now that you are free from the hospital, how about you give me some pointers on my fighting skills, huh?” Sam asked me with a big smile. Thank the Gods for this girl. She just saved my bacon from being even more embarrassed. Before I could say anything in return Melinda spoke for me.

“About that, big brother, shouldn’t you move Mia here to a room at the pack house? Staying in the hospital sucks and that’s me talking.” the good doctor said.

Wait, what?

Big brother?

“Now that’s a great idea, sis! I could show yo–” Kyle started but was cut off by Raina.

“How wonderful! I know just the place! She’ll stay with me!” she chirped.

“I know that she needs a room, Raina, but I’d like to keep an eye on her.” Drake said and quickly added “You know, for safety reasons.” He cleared his throat and continued “So she’ll stay at my apartmen–”

“I don’t think that’s fair... I mean, practical, Alpha.” Kyle said with a sharp tone directed to his brother.

“Come on, boys! Why would she want to stay with you two when she can stay with me instead?” Raina teased.

“Or me! I wouldn’t mind some company.” Melinda shrugged her shoulders and smiled at me.

“I have my own house as well, you are welcome to stay with me too, Mia.” Sam cut in as well.

What the hell was happening here?

“It’s our house, shorty.” Tom corrected his sister. Again, her cheeks got deep red. “But yeah, Mia, you are welcome to stay with us.” He finished with a dazzling smile and seductively winked at me.

The only sane person at that table seemed to be Lilly, since she was the only one that hadn’t offered me her house or room or apartment or whatever. I just met some of them and they were ready to host me for how long no one knows. We exchanged a look and she smiled sheepishly at me and mouthed ‘sorry’. I nodded my head discretely at her, I understood her, no doubt. I was a stranger, and they were all inviting me to their personal spaces.

I should feel bothered by this people discussing where they wanted me to stay without even considering my input on all that. But all I could feel was warmth spreading in my heart. They were so welcoming to me and even though this all started in the wrong foot they seemed to like me for some reason. I wasn’t really used to that. They all made me feel like I belonged, and they were my family.

The only other person that made me feel like that was Max and it took us a while to really trust each other. Okay, took me a while to trust him. I had trust issues, sue me.

They continued to point out why should I stay with each of them and not the other. And even though Drake could cut the discussion short and simply say that I would stay with whoever or even in the dungeons - oh, I bet they had those - he was trying his hardest to argue with them and best them without using his Alpha authority. Maybe he was different.

I had not longed for a place to belong so much as I was longing for it right now. They all accepted me without a second glance and were even trying to get in my good graces. I was only a mere human - sort of - in the middle of a bunch of werewolves and a witch and they valued me like I was one of their own.

That brought tears to my eyes, I had to blinked fast to try and get rid of them. Now was not the time to be crying, especially in front of everybody. The lump in my throat got even bigger when I realized that I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t put them in danger. I really appreciated all that they had done to me up until now, but it was time for me to go and disappear once again.

“If I’m free from the hospital, does that mean I’m free to leave?” All eyes were on me again and a heavy silence spread over our table.