Chasing Freedom

XII

Mira's recollection of leaving the council meeting was hazy. She stumbled out the door, hearing and ignoring her name being called. Her instincts were screaming at her and she was helpless to deny them.

Rounding the first corner she saw, Mira collapsed against the wall, letting it brace her weight. The uneven grooves of wood dug into her back as she looked to see where she'd ended up. The space in front of her was open, the floors covered in two grey runners which were dissected by a staircase. Light shone through the French doors at the rear. She wanted to go out there, despite how cold she knew it would be, traipsing through the snow. Fresh air would clear her head—

"The First Family residence is private."

Mira froze at the low growled out words that came from next to her. Heart hammering, she turned her head in the direction of it. The shifter who stepped out of the shadows of the stairwell was large, dressed in black from head to toe. He sneered down at her, violence written in the lines of his body. A sentry.

"I'm not..."

"I'll give you a head start, trespasser, since I'm feeling generous," said the shifter, his tone foreboding. "Ten seconds. Starting now."

Mira's breath sawed roughly. When she thought nothing could get worse, she was being proven wrong.

"Nine."

She stumbled a step back, her vision beginning to cloud over.

The shifter moved closer. "Eight."

Another step.

Why had she been stupid? In a foreign pack, surrounded by those who wanted her gone, she'd left the only safeguard she had. Myles. She could have spoken to him about what happened. Instead, she'd run.

"Seven." A low chuckle. "You're not even trying. How boring—"

"She's here as my guest. Touch her and I'll punish you myself. Even give you a head start, since I'm feeling so generous."

Mira had to be imagining the voice. There was no way, sounding so cruel, that Myles' mother spoke those words. It wasn't reconcilable with the shifter who had made her breakfast and done all she could to make Mira feel welcome, despite the awkwardness of it all.

"Well?"

The shifter backed away like Mira would burn him. He bared his neck, his palms laying open at his sides. Even his tone was contrite. "Ma'am, I didn't know."

A palm settled on her shoulder and Mira jumped, but the touch wasn't threatening. An attempt at comfort that felt hollow.

"Now you do," said Mrs Ashford.

"I meant no offence. I apologise."

"I'm not the one you owe an apology to."

A long pause, in which Mira held her breath. The shifter lifted his head, piercing Mira with a feral gaze. Much like Harris had done, over and over. The sentry said nothing, even after Mrs Ashford cleared her throat in obvious warning.

"Go upstairs," came the soft whisper behind her. "I'll be there in a second."

Mira pivoted on her heels. As realisation dawned, her eyes went wide. Something so obvious, yet she'd missed it entirely. "First Family," she said, thinking aloud. "You. The Alpha. Myles."

"Far too pretentious a title, if you ask me. I promise you there's nothing lavish up there. Go on up and wait for me."

Mira didn't hesitate this time. She stumbled towards the stairs, giving the sentry a wide birth as she did. Holding the railing in an iron grip, she used it to maintain her balance. The short amount of steps felt like they took a lifetime to mount. At the top of the landing, she stopped, glancing back down. She couldn't see what was happening beneath her, but she could hear the murmur of voices although she couldn't catch what was being said.