Chapter 1 The Surprise Announcement

• Mia
• "Stop fighting this, Mia." One of them chuckled, his voice grating on my nerves. "You are ours. You can't escape unless we let you."
• "And we don't intend to." Another laughed.
• I snorted. I belonged to no one and certainly not to bullies like them. I told them exactly that.
• I spat at them, my eyes scanning around for a weakness in their formation that I could use to escape.
• "I'm not yours."
• First, they were boys with their eyes full of mischief and taunting me. I knew that naughty look. I had seen it before. The look in their eyes made my skin crawl.
• I inched backwards, moving away from them till my back hit the locker. I gasped as the three of them stepped forward, forming an arc around me. I felt my back against the hard wood of my locker and groaned as I stared at them, knowing that I was trapped.
• There was no way for me to escape. I had learned from previous episodes that they were stronger than I was and I couldn't run past them. I was at a deadend and I hated it.
• They seemed to know that as their eyes twinkled with mirth.
• The three of them started laughing, a deep belly one that sent shivers through me. I swallowed the fear pooling in my mouth and kept my face blank. I wasn't going to let them see that I was afraid. I knew enough of bullies to know that they fed on fear. I wasn't going to let them thrive on mine.
• The first one who had spoken moved closer to me, his eyes peering deep into mine. "It seems like we are going to make you believe how serious we are."
• They transformed into wolves and approached me. They looked wild and suddenly opened their mouths, revealing sharp fangs. Wild beast-like growls echoed, leaving me shivering against the locker.
• I woke up, breathing a sigh of relief as I realized that I was in my room.
• I hissed as I got up from bed. I was tired of having the same dream over and over. This nightmare had been haunting me for the past four years.
• I moved downstairs to where my mother was, she was making breakfast.
• Today was my graduation ceremony from college. I pushed the chills of the horrible nightmare from my mind. I wasn't going to let it ruin my day.
• It hadn't been easy but here I was. My father had died five years ago while I was in high school and I had thought that the end of the world for me.
• My mother was from a noble family though they had lost their status and wealth now. She had been pampered as a child and never had to do, work or worry about anything.
• Things were hard when dad died. My mum and I were thrown into a harsh reality. She didn't know what to do with herself and it took her a while to accept that life was no longer as she used to know it. She spent all the inheritance left by my dad and I didn't have to be told to know that I had to grow up quickly.
• I had to support both of us and also work to get myself through high school and college. I was glad I had finally achieved my dream and not even a repeating nightmare could ruin my day.
• "Good morning, mum." I said as I made my way to the kitchen where my mum was.
• "Morning, my darling." She smiled as she set a plate of pancakes before me.
• She had grown over the years. She didn't work much but she had learned to cook when we couldn't afford a maid like before.
• "Let's get ready. You don't want to be late for your own graduation."
• I scanned the hall for my mum as I stepped up the podium when my name was called. I saw my mum chatting with a man beside her and didn't seem bothered by it. She was a beautiful woman with a lively personality. I couldn't count the number of men who were trying to get closer to her that she had rejected over the years. I didn't blame her. I doubted that there was another man who could be like my dad to her.
• I marched straight towards my bedroom as we got back home at five in the evening. I was tired and needed a break. I was a graduate and I had to start thinking of where I would like to work. I had two offers already and the interviews were the following week.
• "What are we having for dinner, mum?" I asked my mom.
• I had some change on me and I could make a quick run to the market if we didn't have it at home.
• "We are not cooking dinner tonight."
• I smiled. "Are you giving me a graduation treat?" I blushed. "You didn't have to, mum."
• She shook her head and smiled at me. "I am getting married."
• I sat there for a while in stunned silence. "What!" I gasped after some minutes. Was she kidding me?
• "Mum?" I stared at her in disbelief.
• "Yes, my dear. I want you to meet him. He wants to meet you too. I have been with him for months now but I wanted you to be done with your program before I tell you."
• I couldn't believe what she was telling me. I thought I knew everything about my mum. I didn't know she would keep a secret like that from me.
• She continued. "We are having dinner at his house. Be ready be in an hour." She said and walked away.
• Just like that? I stared at her retreating figure in disbelief. After she was out, I became nervous, fretting over what I had to wear. Was there a tip on what to wear when one had to meet their mother's lover?
• I was nervous all the way to the meeting place. I wondered what he was like. I never saw this coming and didn't prepare myself for it emotionally. The one hour notice mum gave me was too short, maybe I needed a year.
• A man waved and walked up to us as we walked into the restaurant and I gasped as I saw him. He was the same man my mum was laughing with earlier at my graduation. She had invited him. I couldn't believe it was right there in front of me and I didn't know.
• He seemed sturdy with a rough-looking face and I wasn't surprised. Mum had eventually told me on the way here that he was a retired soldier. He was tall, with muscles ripping off his body and had an aura around him that commanded authority.
• I swallowed. That was not helping my nerves. I was intimidated by his presence and I glanced at my mum, wondering how she wasn't. She looked delicate compared to his rugged appearance.
• "Hey, sweetness." He smiled as he saw my mum, giving her a brief kiss on the lips.
• I couldn't deny that he was handsome and he seemed to like her. His eyes shone the way my dad's used to when he looked at mum.
• He turned to me. "You must be Mia. It's nice to see you."
• I nodded. "Good evening, sir."
• He laughed. "Sir? Oh, don't make me feel old. You can call me Albert if calling me dad is too much for you." He said with a wink.
• I relaxed. He seemed warm despite his strong appearance. I could see why my mum liked him. As the night progressed and I observed him and mother, I couldn't deny that they were deeply in love.
• I was happy for her. He seemed like someone I could like as well. I was glad she wasn't going to get lonely when I start working and got busier with life.