Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞. Ever since their heated argument, she had ignored his calls and left his messages unanswered. His apologies had flooded in, desperate and sincere, but the sting of his words still lingered too painfully for her to consider forgiving him. She felt justified in giving him the cold shoulder, as if it were some form of punishment.
Days had passed since their confrontation, and Mia found herself distancing from the pack, particularly Jacob, who seemed to be a permanent fixture at the Uley house. Art class felt particularly hollow without his boisterous energy beside her. Thankfully, Embry had stepped in, offering her some much-needed company, though the distraction didn't completely lift the weight on her shoulders.
Although painting wasn't her favorite, the frown on Mia's face had little to do with her brushstrokes. Embry, noticing the shift in her mood, had pleaded with the teacher to switch seats so he could sit next to her. From his spot beside her, he could easily see that the tension from the last few days still hung heavily in the air. Despite his best attempts to lighten her mood with jokes and silly words, the sadness in her eyes remained stubbornly intact, a weight she couldn't shake off.
"Mia, what's wrong?" Embry asked softly, placing his hand over hers. "When someone hurts you, it hurts me too."
His concern was genuine, and Mia could see it in his eyes. He wanted to help, but she wasn't sure how to let him in. She hesitated, not wanting to drag him into the mess with Jacob, especially knowing how close they all were.
Before she could answer, Paul appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide. "Mia, Embry, come on. We're leaving."
Mia and Embry followed Paul down the hallway, making a quick stop at their lockers to grab their things, the tension from earlier left unsaid.
Paul, never one to mince words, broke the silence with a question that left both teens speechless. "Are you in love with Mia?"
The question hit like a thunderclap, and both Mia and Embry nearly choked. Mia smacked Paul's arm in disbelief, while Embry stumbled over his words.
"What? No!" Embry stammered, shoving his books into his locker and slamming it shut.
Paul, unfazed, shot back, "Then why did you draw 'E+M' in hearts all over your notes?"
Mia let out a snort, quickly muffling it with a cough, finding the situation unexpectedly amusing. Embry, however, flushed crimson, fumbling for a response as Paul rolled his eyes.
"Let's just go," Paul said, ushering them out the door.
They piled into the car, with Mia squeezed into the back seat. The ride was quiet until they neared the Uley house, when Paul broke the news in his usual blunt manner: Harry Clearwater was dead.
The weight of the announcement hit everyone hard, especially Leah, who visibly shifted as the news settled in. Seth followed suit. The Clearwater family had been on edge for months, aware that any of Harry's children could transform at any moment, but no one had expected it to happen so suddenly.
The trio rushed to the Uley house, where they found Sue on the couch, surrounded by comfort from Emily as tears streamed down her face. Embry and Paul headed out back to find Sam, who was busy managing the newly emerged wolves. Before leaving, Embry gave Mia's arm a reassuring squeeze, silently promising he'd be back soon.
Mia felt out of place as she stood by, her relationship with the Clearwater family strained ever since the fallout between Leah and Emily. Though she had once been close to them, the rift between the two women made things uncomfortable.
From the window, she spotted the Clearwater kids. Seth had grown, his youthful charm still intact but with a maturity that hadn't been there before. Leah, on the other hand, was harder to read. Her hair was cut short, though Mia couldn't tell if it was a recent change. The familiar scowl on Leah's face hadn't softened. Mia couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her. She knew all too well the weight of family struggles, and her heart ached for Leah and Emily. Both of them deserved peace, especially now.
As she observed the scene, she noticed Sam demonstrating techniques to the new wolves. Mia stayed busy, running back and forth with hot drinks for the grieving family. She offered Sue her condolences, though she wasn't sure what to say. The words always seemed inadequate in the face of grief.
Mia had always struggled with death. After Wes's tragic accident, she had buried her grief deep inside, too afraid to let it show. So, she kept herself busy, hoping that her actions would speak louder than words. But today was different. Sam finally ushered them all inside, ready to help the new wolves understand what was expected of them.
"Jay should be here soon to check you guys over. This is Mia, his niece. I don't think you'll remember her. It's been a while," Sam explained, giving Mia a quick side hug.
Seth flashed a tired but bright smile, though Leah only gave a slight nod, her frown still fixed. They moved toward their mother, who pulled them into a tight, comforting hug. Embry watched from a distance, wishing he could offer Mia that same comfort. He could see she was troubled by the tension in the room, though she did her best to hide it.
Mia hadn't seen Jacob yet. She wasn't sure what to make of his absence, especially since Jared and Paul had already gone out on patrol. Her mind raced, and she tried to push aside the unease creeping in. The tension in the air was thick, and Jacob's unexplained absence only seemed to add to it.
Just when the silence felt unbearable, a car pulled into the driveway, breaking the stillness. Embry didn't hesitate. He pulled Mia into a tight embrace, catching her completely off guard. She hadn't expected it, especially with the pack so close, but the warmth of his arms and the familiar scent of his aftershave calmed her nerves. She wrapped her arms around him, her surprise melting into comfort as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
In that brief moment, surrounded by the chaos of the world and the grief in the house, she felt a fleeting sense of peace.
