MIA

"I've got a soccer game at school tonight. Will you both come?" I asked, gazing up at my parents pleadingly, furrowing my brows and chewing on my bottom lip in angst.

My mother laughed, shaking her head, tapping away on her laptop, pushing her glasses back up her nose. "Honey, you know we don't have time for things like that."

"Your mother is right, Mia," agreed my father, chuckling away. "Besides, what's the point in soccer? You're a werewolf. It's not like you're ever going to become a professional player. You know it would be too risky. It's pointless."

"It's not pointless to me," I mumbled, dropping my head. "Please. You could even just come for half of it. Everyone else's parents are coming to watch."

My mother rolled her eyes, slamming her laptop shut in annoyance, glaring at me with hard eyes. "Well maybe their parents are going because they are slackers who wouldn't dream of lifting a finger within the pack. We are busy people."

"But-"

"We've said no, Mia!" growled my father, causing tears to well up in my eyes as I sighed, quickly turning away from them. I ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, jumping onto my bed face first, burying myself into the pillows.

After playing soccer for almost four years, my parents had never shown up to a game, continuously pushing me and my interests aside, focusing on other matters that they deemed 'worth their time'.

I often felt like they didn't even want me, and I was just a mistake. An accident. A problem they couldn't get rid of.

Why did everyone else get such great and supportive parents?

Parents that would drop anything for them, no matter what.

Parents that put their children first.

Parents that cared.

-

I woke up the next morning feeling groggy and dehydrated, my hair a mess and my eyes puffy, images of my parents filling my mind. Scenes of their clear disappointment in me had been playing over and over again in my sleep, just like most nights.

I had fallen asleep quickly after showering, wanting to escape the stress of everything just for a little bit. I had lost consciousness almost the second my head hit the velvety soft pillow, it being the comfiest thing I had ever slept on.

Slipping out of the bed, I padded over to the bathroom, splashing my face with cold water in an attempt to wake myself up, noticing how bloodshot my eyes were.

I gazed at myself in the grand looking mirror, taking in my baggy clothing that still smelt of him, sending a shiver down my back.

However, I couldn't feel anything but pathetic. I had just been rescued from near death, and the first thing I felt was a strange unexplained connection with someone I barely knew. I felt desperate.

Was I that attention deprived?

I was brought out of my daydream by someone clearing their throat behind me, causing me to whip around. I gasped to myself to see Lily standing in the bathroom doorway, a small smile plastered on her face.

"Good morning!"

I forced a tiny smile, feeling awkward at her intrusion. The last time I had seen her, I had freaked out, thinking she had arrived to escort me back to the lab.

"Sorry, please don't be scared. As I said yesterday, I'm not here to hurt you. Would you like some breakfast?" she asked.

At the mention of food, my stomach growled, causing Lily to laugh, shaking her head. "Come on. Will you follow me to the kitchen? Do pancakes sound good?"

I nodded hesitantly, not actually remembering what pancakes tasted like, but feeling my mouth salivate at the mention of them.

"How did you sleep?" questioned Lily as I followed her down the stairs, taking them slowly, despite feeling much stronger than I did yesterday.

"Very well, thank you," I replied, causing Lily to raise an eyebrow at me, studying me. It caused me to panic, worried I had said the wrong thing.

"Really?"

"Um, yes, I did," I stuttered, confused as to why Lily was looking at me weirdly.

"Well, that's good," she said, shrugging, leading me around the corner, pushing the door open to a large room. It revealed a beautiful kitchen, the counters decorated with grey granite and the floor tiled with bright white flooring.

A decently sized island sat in the middle of the room, with tall blue stools dotted around it, adding a hint of colour to the mostly neutral interior.

"Take a seat and I'll get to work," said Lily, smiling at me as I made my way over to one of the stools. I fiddled with my fingers awkwardly as I watched her grab out all the ingredients from the cupboards, but I felt guilty that she was cooking all alone.

I was mesmerised by how effortlessly Lily cooked, mixing the batter with a whisk and pouring it into the frying pan, the sizzling sound filling the room.

I turned my head to see the kitchen door open, my eyes widening slightly as a shirtless Lorenzo walked in, his eyes meeting mine instantly, a smile making its way onto his face.

My eyes trailed down to his chest, focusing on his perfectly carved abs, my stomach fluttering at the sight.

"Good morning," he greeted me, causing me to shift in my seat, my palms suddenly becoming sweaty.

"Morning," I replied, attempting to focus on Lily as she flipped the pancake onto a plate, sliding it across the island towards me, along with cutlery.

"Dig in!" she laughed.

"Thank you," I responded, using my knife and fork to cut it up delicately, placing the first bite into my mouth, the flavours of zingy lemon and sweet sugar exploding on my tongue.

"Coffee, Mia?" asked Lorenzo, raising an eyebrow at me, chuckling to himself as I gazed up at him with a mouth full of food, my cheeks clearly overfilled. "Are you enjoying that, amore mio?"

I nodded, attempting to quickly swallow the contents of mouth, almost choking in the process. "I've never had coffee before."

"Would you like to try some?" asked Lorenzo, smiling as I nodded, passing me a full steaming cup.

I wrapped my tiny hands around the hot mug, blowing on it before taking a small sip. My mouth turned downwards in dislike as I swallowed, doing my best to conceal it so as not to seem ungrateful.

"It's an acquired taste," said Lorenzo, watching me as I took another sip, forcing the dark liquid down, my brows furrowing. "Mia, if you don't like, you don't have to drink it, sweetheart."

"Thank you," I spluttered, setting the mug back down, gazing into Lorenzo's hazel eyes, my insides feeling as if they were about to melt as he took my cup, bringing it to his lips and taking a sip.

"So, um, about last night. You were-"

"She slept fine," barked Lily, interrupting Lorenzo, flipping another pancake, shooting her Alpha a quick wide eyed look, causing me to cock my head. "I already asked her."

"Right, okay."

Clearing my throat quietly, feeling uncomfortable with the silence that was now settling upon us, I decided to speak up, sitting up straight as I gazed at Lorenzo.

"Where are the other wolves from the lab?"

Lorenzo became stiff at my question, scratching at his five o'clock shadow as he hummed. "They all have their own rooms in the hospital."

"Oh," I mumbled, dropping my gaze. "Why aren't they here like me?"

Lily slid yet another pancake onto my plate, smiling at me. "We thought you would be more comfortable here."

I nodded, chewing on the inside of my cheek, watching as Lorenzo sighed heavily, gazing down at my stitches.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, making his way over to me, taking a seat.

"Still tired, but better thank you," I replied, glaring at my wrists in frustration, knowing full well my body would be graced with yet more scars from the injuries.

"You just need more rest. You'll heal soon enough," spoke Lorenzo, his eyes softening as he took in my sleepy ones, the bags underneath them more than prominent.

"Are you going to eat that pancake, Mia? You don't have to if you're full," asked Lily, causing me to push the plate away. She smiled softly as she took it, beginning to shovel the pancake into her mouth.

"Do you need some more sleep?"

Pushing my hair out of my face, I nodded, deciding that my body was already beginning to feel weak just from being up and functioning like a normal person.

"I'll take you," said Lorenzo, coming around to the side of my stool, placing his hand on the small of my back, helping me.

My breath hitched in my throat at the contact, then becoming slightly laboured as tingles danced across my skin, causing a blush to creep up onto my face.

I needed to pull myself together. Lorenzo was an Alpha, and he was helping me because he pitied me. The way I was reacting to him was extremely inappropriate, and I was sure that he had noticed it. It was more than embarrassing.

He was incredibly good looking- practically God-like- and I was certain that he had the pick of the bunch. There was no way he would ever even think about someone like me in that kind of way.

Reaching the door to my bedroom, I made my way into the room, burying myself into the duvet of the bed. I pulled the silky soft covers over my body, the warmth making me hum in bliss.

Lorenzo, who was stood in the door way, his arms braced against it right above him, chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll come and check on you in a little while."

I nodded, closing my eyes, allowing myself to completely let go, focusing on how comfortable and warm I was.

"Dormi bene, amore mio."

•••

Translation:

Dormi bene, amore mio- Sleep well, my love