✧

After my father almost fell to his knees at the sight of me, the guilt inside me intensifies. They're not going to like what I have to say about Haze, and they're certainly not going to be happy when I tell them that I'm going back.

I perch on the edge of the sofa with my father in front of me and Nate and Milo either side of me. My hands lay in my lap as I chew on my lip, they stare at me to say something but I don't exactly know where to start.

They're going to despise every part of my story.

"How did you escape?" Nate finally asks, breaking the silence.

I swallow slowly. "I didn't escape," I admit. "I left by my own freewill."

Nate scowls and my father bellows. "What the hell do you mean, Viola?"

I bury my head in my hand and sigh. "It's complicated."

"Complicated how? He kidnapped you, Viola, and held you hostage."

"They need help," I raise my eyes to my father.

"We were looking for you for months," he seethes. "Months!"

"I know," I drop my tone and my shoulders droop. "I'm sorry, but it's not as black and white as it seems."

The room turns silent once more and my father breathes through his nose, face turning red with fury. I glance at Nate—big mistake. He's glaring back at me with an expression that makes me want to hide.

"So he kidnapped you and you want to stay with him?" Nate exhales a moment later.

I purse my lips. "I know what he did was wrong. I gave him hell for it. But after a while I was welcomed into their pack. They've all treated me with respect, and accepted me as one of their own. None of them hurt me. Haze never hurt me. He'd never hurt me."

Nate scoffs and my father stands up, facing the wall. "Never hurt you? I don't understand how you can trust him after what he did, Viola. This is insane. He's already hurt you by taking you away from us without your consent."

"He's my mate," I whisper, trying to get him to understand. "Imagine if Milo—"

He raises a hand at me to stop talking. "Don't you dare bring Milo's name into this. It's different."

"You won't even listen to me," I shake my head and stand up, needing some space from them. "I'm sorry for what happened. I'm sorry that I couldn't leave, but it's for their safety. There is a lot going on and they're in danger and I need to help them, they are my friends. I care about all of them."

My father throws his hands up and walks to the door. "I physically cannot listen to this, Viola. You've gone mad. Your mother would have been so disappointed in knowing what you've done."

I stare him directly in the eye as my chest cracks like a porcelain doll. "How can you say that?" I say in disbelief, tears brimming my lids. "She would want me to find my mate and to be happy."

"Not like this," he scoffs. "Not under these circumstances. It's like we don't matter."

"I never said that," I rasp, a tear rolling down my cheek. "I feel so guilty for not contacting you sooner, but for the first few weeks I was locked in a room."

Nate's standing now, strolling towards me with determined strides. "He fucking locked you in a room for weeks?"

"Oh my Goddess," I bury my head in my hands—that's the last thing I should have said. "I-I know it sounds bad."

"Dad's right, Viola. You've gone mad."

I shake my head, biting down on my trembling lip. "You won't understand. But I know he cares for me, in ways I never knew."

"You have Stockholm Syndrome, Vi," Nate folds his arms over his chest and that's how he knows business. "He's brainwashed you."

The thought of Stockholm Syndrome has crossed my mind and yes—it's a strong possibility. But I'd never normalise his shitty behaviour, I've called him out on all of it until he's treated me with respect and an equal to one of them.

"I know it seems that way, but–"

"No doubt he's probably using you for whatever sick things he needs for the 'danger' he's in."

My face flinches from the punch in his words. "Because no one could possibly like me for me?"

Nate frowns. "I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth."

"That's what you're implying."

"No–"

The door slams and our father leaves. I sniffle and my heart cracks. I don't know what I was expecting when I came home to explain as much as I could—but it wasn't this. My entire body trembles and now I wish I didn't even try.

I wish I was in Haze's arms instead.

He'll probably never forgive me for leaving.

Nate presses his hands to my shoulders and I stare up at him. "I need you to be honest with me, Viola. Do you love him?"

"I'm falling in love with him," I whisper.

"It's the matebond. It's not real love."

"No," I grit my teeth. "The matebond didn't work for weeks. Not when I was locked in my room and refused to eat. Then I started to see the softer side to Haze, he's not perfect, but he's trying. I feel safe with him. He'd do anything to protect me. That's when I felt the matebond, not when I knew I deserved better"

Nate scoffs and removes his hands from my shoulders. "This is some sick joke."

I bite down on my jaw and narrow my eyes at him. "So because the matebond between me and Haze must be the reason for my feelings, is that what you feel about Milo?"

"I said not to bring Milo into this," his nostrils flare. "It is not the fucking same."

"Stop it," Milo huffs and stands between us. "This is going on too far. Nate, I don't need you to defend me every time my name is mentioned, and I hate to break it to you, but she makes a point. How can anyone know for sure that love is genuine in our world when we have a matebond?"

Nate stares at him blankly. "What the hell are you saying?"

Milo sighs and presses a hand to his forehead. "You know I love you Nate, I know you love me. But a matebond can warp anyones concept of love, even in the most conventional of meetings. Give her some slack, this isn't easy for her."

"Easy for her?" He shouts. "What about us?"

"Please," Milo steps towards him and presses a hand to his chest. "Just think about how you're speaking to her. She's upset. You're upset. Shouting isn't going to make this any better. Just take a breather."

Nate's eyes flick between Milo's and he takes a breath before turning around and facing the wall. Milo glances at me and I wipe my face from the pathetic tears rolling down my cheeks. He walks towards me and wraps an arm around me, his face pressed into his chest.

I inhale him and relax, desperate for some affection of any kind.

"We all just want you to be happy," Milo whispers.

I nod once. "He makes me happy. He does a lot for me."

Milo pulls back and takes my hand, I follow him to the sofa where we sit. He entwines our fingers together and scoots close to me. "Talk to me about him."

"Really?"

"Really, I want to hear everything."

I suck in a breath. It's better than arguing.

"He showed me to their art room and said that I can do as I wish, and use their resources and materials. I stayed there a fair bit at the start. I painted a portrait of myself, I don't know why but I felt compelled to," I start and Milo nods for me to continue. Nate turns around to face us from across the room. "He included me in training and the pack. I asked if I could be involved, for him he didn't hesitate. He wanted me to be involved, I'm not below him. I'm an equal."

Milo smiles. "Well, as he should."

"One day I found my portrait hanging in his office after I thought it had been stolen from the art room," my heart glows at the memory. "But Haze put it there because he said he wanted to see it everyday."

"That's cute."

"Yeah. The other day he bought me violets. It was strange because it was something my mother did for me," I squeeze his fingers. "And it gave me hope, almost made me think she was looking down on me."

Milo's eyes widen in surprise. "Violets for Viola?"

"That's exactly what he said," I grin. "He's also very protective. He will have my back any day, even though these are his pack members. He will be there to defend my corner, no matter what and that makes me feel seen."

Milo squeezes my hand back and offers me a sincere smile.

"I killed someone for him. They were on his territory and he was in danger. I couldn't imagine my life without him, Milo," I say, my eyes stinging again. "I can't."

"I know what that feeling is like."

Nate approaches us and I pluck up the courage to glance at him. My eyes feel heavy but I tell myself not to cry anymore. "You killed someone for him?"

I nod. "Without hesitation."

"Wow," he nods once. "That's...a surprise."

The thought of killing anyone used to riddle me with anxiety, but for Haze? I'd do it in a heartbeat.

"I'm sorry for shouting," he says quietly. "I've just been worried sick and you're right, I don't understand. I don't think I ever will, but I fear that he's taking advantage of your kindness."

"He's not," I state. "I promise you he's not."

"Are you going back?" Milo asks.

I stare back into his blue eyes full of sadness and my heart breaks all over again. "Yes. I have to. I care about him. I care about all of them. They need me and I cannot abandon them now."

"When?" Nate's voice is low.

My shoulders raise before they drop. "It's been a long journey. I'll stay tonight. I want to spend more time with you guys first."

"You can't go back, Viola," Nate grinds his teeth together.

"That's not your decision to make," I say as calmly as possible. "I'm an adult. I'm capable of making my own choices. I could make a mistake, sure. But I don't want to live the rest of my life mateless because I was too scared to take the leap. I trust him. I know you don't, but that doesn't matter because it's not your life."

Nate swipes a hand down his face. "But you're my sister."

"And I still need to live my own life."

"I don't want you to go."

"I'll be back," I nod once. "I will. This isn't goodbye forever. It'll just be goodbye for now."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"We're family and family will always matter to me."

"I left my family to be here with Nate," Milo chips in. "And that wasn't easy, but I did it because I wanted to be with him."

I smile gratefully at him. "And I want to be with Haze. We're soulmates. We need each other."

Nate's eyes look haunted and he sighs.

"I don't want to leave on bad terms, Nate," I admit.

"We could never be on bad terms," he whispers. "I might not agree with your choices, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you. I care about you so much."

I nod eagerly. "I know."

"What danger are you in?"

"Nothing we can't handle," I state. "They're strong."

He sits down beside me and I exhale a silent breath of relief. "If you need anything, if you need help, or you're in danger, you know we're here and ready to fight. Right?"

"It won't be Haze you'll be saving me from."

"Right."

"I don't want things to be bad with dad," I murmur.

Nate shakes his head. "Just give him time. He's upset, but you know how stubborn and hot headed he can be."

"Yeah." I slump back into the sofa and rub my eyes. "I don't know if I can talk about this anymore. I'm exhausted."

"Shall we put a movie on and just relax? Like old times," Milo suggests and I nod in agreement.

"Please, I'd love that."

"Nate?" Milo says.

My brother is silent for a long moment before nodding too. "Yeah, that sounds good. Give me time to digest this. Okay?"

"Okay," I say, flashing him a small smile.

"I love you," he says.

"I love you too."

✧

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Author's Note

Viola definitely has a case of Stockholm Syndrome but Haze cares for her so fucking much that I forgive him😭😭😭

He's trying and ugh, this hurts

I love Milo for being the middle man and calming them both down🥹❤️

I missed Milo and Nate together

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