MIA

"Are you sure about this? We can turn back now if you've changed your mind," assured Lorenzo, gulping at me, causing me to sigh, shaking my head.

I wasn't sure about this frankly, but it needed to be done. I couldn't continue on with life wondering if the woman found in the cavern murdered was actually my mother or not. I needed to confirm it for myself for my own peace of mind.

I felt guilty about the past couple of days. I had spent the majority of my time in bed, surrounding myself with my own self pity, wallowing in it. However, I felt like I needed to.

It was my way of dealing with the situation and as much as I wanted to just pretend my mother hadn't been killed and that everything was normal, I couldn't.

She was my flesh and blood, and that meant something to me.

I needed to get in contact with Lily, Natasha, Caspian and Ellie to express how sorry I was for pushing them away, concerned that they now no longer liked me after my episode. I was regretful of how distant I had been with them.

They had made such effort to come and see me, and not being in the right state of mind, I couldn't begin to even think about socialising with them.

Flowers or a good homecooked meal would be a nice way to apologise.

Hopefully they wouldn't slam their doors in my face, although, I wouldn't blame them if they did.

Lorenzo and I had travelled to the boundary of the cavern, the location looking exactly the same as it did in my visions, maybe just a little less vivid.

He had continuously expressed how I was not to go over the boundary no matter what, his arm around me as we approached, clearly anxious I was going to disobey him.

However, I had heard about what had happened to the people who did cross the boundary, and I did not want to end up like them.

"I need to do this," I whispered to myself, but just loud enough that Lorenzo could hear, signalling to him that I didn't want to turn back, and was ready.

I knew it would be extremely hard to see the woman who had birthed me laying lifeless on the floor, but I needed the confirmation. We hadn't always got on, but she was all I had ever known.

"Martina!" Lorenzo yelled, scanning the forest, grabbing my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, pulling me impossibly closer to him.

"I'm here," said Martina as she stepped out from the darkness of the trees. Despite it being daylight, the tight-knit shrubbery secluded us, blocking the majority of the sunlight from reaching the muddy and uneven ground.

"Can you bring Mia's mother out so she can see her?"

Martina raised a brow at me, looking between my mate and I, folding her arms over her chest. "I mean, yes, but are you sure about that? It's not a pretty sight."

I gulped, nodding once at Martina, noticing how tired and gloomy she looked. Her once tanned skin was now ghostly and lucent, her hazel eyes dry and deadened. She looked defeated.

Giving her brother one last look, Martina made her way through the trees, pushing past the shrubs and entering the boundary of the cavern, my gaze drifting over to the small lake.

The crystal clear water looked warm and inviting, the grass, although some dead, was mostly a pretty colour of emerald, a thin layer of dew covering each strand.

However, I knew the appealing and attractive looking environment was just a trick. The witches wanted people to be fooled into thinking there was no danger here, and then, their curse would strike.

I turned away from Martina, not wanting to see her carrying the corpse of my mother. I wanted to see her peaceful and still, not being lugged over on someone's back like a powerless and defenceless individual, despite the fact that her soul had left her body.

Lorenzo massaged my shoulders, the sensation calming, and I stretched, allowing my back to crack and pop. The feeling of anxiety seemed to be released along with the sounds, and I let out a deep breath.

"Are you alright?" asked Lorenzo, and I turned to him, ensuring his large form was blocking my vision of the path Martina would be using to return with my mother.

"I just need to see her. Just once," I responded, raising myself up onto my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips, pulling away slowly, offering him a smile, which I was aware didn't reach my eyes.

However, Lorenzo had given me a new found confidence, a feeling I was sure that I would never experience again when back in the lab.

I swallowed as I heard Martina approaching, the rustling in the shrubs giving her away.

She grunted quietly as she placed my mother down, and I took a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut before spinning around, opening them. I gazed at my deceased mother, tears springing to my eyes.

I kneeled down beside her, holding her hand, my bottom lip trembling.

"It's her," I whimpered, swallowing my tears. As much as I wanted to sob and hug her, telling her how sorry I was that this had happened to her, she looked so peaceful, almost as if she was just sleeping.

She didn't have a trace of blood on her, and my guess was that Martina or someone had wiped her down before my arrival, something I was rather thankful for.

I wasn't sure I would have been able to handle seeing her covered in her own blood, knowing all of the painful injuries she had endured before her death.

Martina took a few steps back, giving me some space, turning her attention to a nearby tree. She fiddled with its dying leaves, clearly feeling uncomfortable with the emotion in the air. Nonetheless, I was thankful for her space. It was what I needed right now.

Lorenzo didn't say anything, but instead, let me be, not wanting to intrude, and I took his free hand in mine as he kneeled down on the other side of my mother, brushing her blonde hair out of her face.

I longed to see her deep blue eyes again, but I didn't want to see them without life. It was better that they remained closed.

"I'll find them, I promise," I spoke, gazing down at her, shaking my head, feeling my anger rise. "I'll find them and I'll make sure they pay."

Lorenzo cleared his throat at me, furrowing his brows, looking uncomfortable over what I had just said. However, after seeing what the these murderers had done to my mother, something inside of me had clicked.

If I cowered away, this was going to continue to happen, until more and more people I cared about were murdered.

I was going to find these witches and I was going to make sure they suffered, even if it was the last thing on this Earth that I did. I knew they would soon target me too, but I wasn't afraid. I had already been through hell and back.

There wasn't anything they could do to me that would come as a surprise.

If it meant sacrificing myself, then so be it. I wouldn't allow the pack or my loved ones to suffer.

"I'm ready to go home," I said, standing up, giving my mother one last longing look before turning away, feeling Lorenzo stand up from behind me, wrapping one of his arms around my waist.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," I said, nodding. The longer I spent looking at her, the more negative emotions would arise, and I needed a clear head. I didn't want to break down.

I turned to see Lorenzo nod at the trees while looking at Martina, signalling to her to take my mother's corpse back to the cavern where it was cold.

"We'll begin arranging her funeral when we get back," he spoke, taking my hand in his and allowing me to lead the way back to towards the pack grounds. My feet moved quickly, just wanting to get away from this hostile environment.

"We have to find them," I said, gritting my teeth. "They will only continue to hurt people you care about to get to you. We can't allow the death of anyone else."

"I know, sweetheart, and we will find them and give your mother justice. I promise you that."

I nodded in agreement, spending the rest of the walk in silence, my mind whirling around a mile a minute, attempting to conjure up plans to find Ophelia and her witches and put them to rest.

Were we match for dark magic though?

I wasn't sure, but I knew that the pack would be willing to fight to ensure their safety. They despised the witches, and now, so did I. They were going to pay.

The thought of losing Lorenzo was filling my mind though, imagining it was him instead of my mother, a shiver running down my spine and making my hands shake, causing Lorenzo to look at me.

However, I kept my gaze forwards. I didn't want to talk about it.

I couldn't lose him. He was my everything and there was no way these witches were going to take him away from me.

I loved him.

I wanted him.

All of him.

Lorenzo and I rounded the corner and the pack grounds came into view, my legs aching from the walk, my strength still not one hundred percent.

But, it was much better than it was this morning, the IV and food giving me a boost of energy, making me feel less like a zombie.

"Woah, woah, why are we moving so fast, Mia?" questioned Lorenzo, allowing me to drag him along the grass, our house coming into view, my heart beating erratically.

He laughed from behind me, shaking his head as I pushed the door open, pulling him in with me and slamming it shut. The house was warm and tepid, a much nicer temperature than the bitter outside.

Without giving Lorenzo any warning, I pressed myself to his chest and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him to me, my lips locking with his, and I could tell he was surprised.

But he quickly recovered, snaking his arms around my waist.

I kissed him passionately, again, the thought of losing him taking over, making me realise how ready I was for him. I wanted this.

"Hold on, hold on Mia," said Lorenzo, pushing my shoulders down. "What is going on?"

I was blushing and my arousal was thick in the air. Even I could smell it, so I knew that Lorenzo could too.

"Do you...?" questioned Lorenzo, cocking his head at me, looking surprised, licking at his lips.

I nodded, noticing how Lorenzo looked at me, his eyes glazing over, a small smile making its way up onto his face before he scowled, sighing. "You're still recovering though."

"I need you," I whispered, reaching up and caressing his stubble, planting small delicate kisses down his neck. "All of you. Please."

I needed this. I didn't want to think anymore. I wanted to be in bliss, even if it wasn't for long.

I squealed as I felt Lorenzo's strong arms lift me up, carrying me over to the kitchen counter, placing me on top of it. He pressed his lips to mine, his tongue teasing mine, making me moan. "Wait, what if someone hears us?"

"No one is home," murmured Lorenzo huskily, smiling at me once I pulled away, folding my arms against my chest. I was not going to be caught making out and being intimate in the kitchen by our pack members.

"Hello? Hello?" called Lorenzo loudly, waiting for a reply before turning to me and shrugging. "See? No one's home."

I laughed, allowing our lips to reconnect, wrapping my arms around Lorenzo's neck and massaging the back of it using my fingernails, hearing him moan huskily.

I loved the effect I had on him.

It reminded me that he was mine and mine only.

"Take off your sweatshirt," ordered Lorenzo, taking a step back to watch me wiggle it off, throwing it to the floor, revealing my naked chest to him.

His eyes turned coal black as he stared, taking a step forwards and taking one of my nipples into his mouth, sucking on it tentatively.

I leaned back, bracing my hands on his shoulders , moaning, the feeling indescribable. Tingles were sparking throughout my body and I could feel my arousal growing by the second. I wanted skin-on-skin contact.

No. I needed it.

Tugging at Lorenzo's top, he smirked, pulling it over his head, his abs immediately catching my attention. I just wanted to run my hands down them for the rest of eternity.

"Hold onto me," ordered Lorenzo, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me up, pulling his jogging bottoms off of me. It left me in just my pink lace underwear, the countertop freezing cold against my bare skin.

Lorenzo looked over me, his eyes black as he ran his thumb over my bottom lip. "My mate looks beautiful waiting for me to fuck her."

•••

Me just sitting here after torturing you all :)

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