CHAPTER FOUR

LOVE AND BETRAYAL

Mia knew that she had to tell someone about her decision to be with Luke. Only Mena Elijah's friend and Lily her best friend came to mind but she was nervous about how Mena and Lily would react, but she knew that she couldn't keep it a secret any longer.

Mena on the other hand was in support of what ever made her happy. He encouraged her to go on with whatever she and Luke had but also asked that she made sure the other members of the pack were not aware especially Elijah. Lily felt relieved that at least some one accepted her decision whole heartedly.

One sunny afternoon, as Mia sat with Lily in her room, Mia took a deep breath and began to explain. "Lily, I've met someone," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "His name is Luke, and he's from a different pack. We're in love, and I'm going to leave our pack to be with him."

Lily's eyes widened in shock. "Mia, are you crazy?" she exclaimed. "You can't just leave everything behind for some guy you just met! What about your family? Your friends? Your entire life?"

Mia felt a pang of doubt creeping in as she listened to Lily's words. Was she really making the right decision? But then she thought about Luke, and the way he made her feel - alive, happy, and free. She knew that she couldn't turn back now.

"Lily, I know it's a big decision," she said, her voice firm. "But I love Luke, and I know that he loves me. I can't ignore my heart any longer."

Lily shook her head in disbelief. "Mia, you're making a mistake," she said. "You're going to regret this. You're going to leave everything you've ever known, just for some guy."

But Mia knew that she couldn't let Lily's words sway her. She loved Luke, and she was willing to take a chance on their future together. With a deep breath, she stood up and hugged Lily tightly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I hope you can understand."

Lily hugged her back, but Mia could feel the tension between them. She knew that their friendship would never be the same again. But she was determined to follow her heart, no matter what the cost.

Mia's decision to leave her pack and be with Luke had caused a rift between her and Lily. They still talked, but things were never the same between them. Mia felt like she was losing her best friend, and it hurt her deeply.

Things took a turn for the worse when Mia discovered that Lily had betrayed her. It happened one night, when Mia was walking alone in the woods. She heard voices in the distance and recognized Lily's voice. She followed the sound and found Lily, along with several members of their pack, including Elijah.

Mia listened in horror as they discussed their plan to capture Luke and bring him back to their pack as a prisoner. Lily's voice was among the loudest, and Mia felt a sense of betrayal wash over her. Her best friend had been planning this all along, behind her back.

Mia felt sick to her stomach as she realized what was happening. She knew that she had to warn Luke, but she didn't know how to find him. She ran back to her pack's campsite, hoping that someone would know where Luke was.

But when she arrived, she found chaos. The campsite was in flames, and she could hear the sounds of fighting in the distance. She ran towards the sound, fear gripping her heart.

As she reached the edge of the clearing, she saw Luke, surrounded by members of Elijah's pack. They had him bound and were dragging him away.

Mia's heart sank as she realized that she was too late. She had failed to protect the man she loved, and now he was being taken away from her. She sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face, as she watched Luke disappear into the darkness.

Suddenly a hand patted her shoulders, she almost jumped out of her skin.

'Who could that be?' She questioned, within herself.

"Mia!", a male voice called out.

She recognized the voice. It was Marcus, Luke's pack mate.

"Marcus, they have taken him." She managed to say, amidst hot choking tears.

"I know where they are taking him. Just follow me." Marcus assured her.

Mia knew she couldn't give up. She had to find a way to save Luke and bring him back to safety. She gathered her strength and decided to follow Elijah's pack trails with Marcus leading. She knew it was risky, but she had to try.

Mia's heart raced as she crept through the woods, following the sounds of her enemies. She stayed hidden, careful not to be seen, as she followed them deep into their territory.

As they got closer, they could hear Luke's muffled cries for help. Mia felt a pang of pain in her chest, knowing that he was in danger. She had to act fast.

Mia waited for the right moment to strike. She knew that she had to be quick and decisive. She took a deep breath and charged towards the group, catching them off guard.

In the chaos, Mia alongside Marcus managed to free Luke and take down several of Elijah's pack members but they were outnumbered, and the fight was far from over. Marcus ended up being swallowed in the heat of the fight.

As Mia and Luke made their escape, Lily appeared, blocking their path. Mia couldn't believe it. Her best friend had turned against her. Mia and Lily had their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills. Lily's expression was cold and hard, her eyes filled with anger and hatred.

Lily's eyes were cold and hard as she spoke. "You betrayed our pack, Mia. You deserve to die."

Mia's heart sank as she realized how deep Lily's betrayal went. She had no choice but to fight for her life and for Luke's. She also knew that she couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment. This time she was determined to end it once and for all.

"You betrayed me, Lily," Mia said, her voice calm but firm. "You betrayed our pack, and you betrayed me as your friend."

Lily's lips curled into a sneer. "You were always weak, Mia. You were never meant to be a part of our pack."

Mia's eyes flashed with anger. "I may have been rejected by our pack, but I am stronger than you will ever be. I have found love, and I will fight for it with everything I have."

Lily laughed bitterly. "Love? You think love will protect you? You are a fool, Mia. Love is weakness."

Mia shook her head. "Love is strength, Lily. It has given me the courage to face whatever lies ahead, and it will help me defeat you."