Mia.

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 dead end and I hated it.

They seemed to know that as their eyes twinkled with mirth.

"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."

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 checked the clock by my bedside and noticed that I had just five minutes before my alarm would ring. There was no need to stay in bed any longer. I moved downstairs to where my mother was, already awake and making breakfast.

It was a big day for me and more for my Mum. I pushed the chills of the horrible nightmare from my mind. I wasn't going to let it ruin my day.

It was my graduation ceremony from college and I must confess that I was excited. 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 had never worked in her life and wasn't the best at pulling the financial baggage.

I hadn't found it easy to get through high school. Everything had suddenly changed and I was on the brink of an edge.

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. She was a liability but it didn't feel like that because my Dad was doing well. He doted on his wife and didn't let not even her fingernails get a scratch.

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.

Thank goodness Dad owned the house and it wasn't rented or we would have been homeless when he died. I looked around, feeling memories rush into my brain and blinked back the tears threatening to fall off my face.

I missed Dad and wished he was here with us. I pretended to be strong for my Mum's sake. She was fragile and could start crying if she noticed the sheen of tears in my eyes. She was the reason I couldn't stay far away for college. I didn't want to study, deal with all my part-time jobs and still worry if she was getting herself in trouble.

"Morning, my darling." She smiled as she set a plate of pancakes before me.

I sat at the table, smiling at her. "Thanks, Mum."

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 and men were naturally drawn to her but she didn't seem interested in her. 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 already had two offers already and the interviews were the following week.

An hour later, I heard a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in." I said to my Mum.

I was relieved to see her. I was just about to go to her.

"What are we having for dinner, Mum?" I asked her.

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.

Mia.

My Mum was excited, more than I had ever seen her. It was a week after we had gone to Albert's house for dinner and things for their marriage moved faster than I could think. It felt like the two were waiting for me to meet him and like him before rushing ahead with their marriage plans.

The two were going to be married soon but Mum didn't want to stay far away from her beau. Now that I knew of him, I believed she felt like she didn't have any reason to hide her relationship.

She was moving into his house and I was going with her. I had done my interviews and waiting for feedback. I wanted to see where my Mum was going to live for the rest of her days.

"Are you ready, Mia?" Mum shouted from the garage outside where she was with the driver.

Albert had sent a truck to help us move and I was impressed at his thoughtfulness. He had also sent a small car where we would sit while the truck was only for our luggage. I wondered how rich he was.

Whatever. I didn't care about that, as long as he took good care of my mother.

"Yes, Mum. Just a minute." I yelled back. I picked my bag and wheeled my travel box outside.

My Mum had packed all her belongings but not me. I wasn't going to keep on staying at our house and only stay with my Mum whenever I wanted to take a break. She was going to be a newly wed soon and I wasn't infringe on her privacy, regardless of how much she wanted me to stay with her.

I only needed a few clothing to be with her till I got feedback from the jobs I had applied for.

I got downstairs and looked at our house with tears in my eyes as I locked the doors. I was going to miss it till I was back. I had grown here and I was quite attached to it. My Mum was already seated in the black car and the truck was already turning to move into the street.

"Get in here, Mia." She called out to me.

I slipped into the car and the driver moved after the truck. Minutes that felt like eternity already to me, I looked out the window, noting how we were moving out of the city. We were leaving houses and civilization behind and going deeper into the unknown.

Where were we going and why was it so far? I had no doubt that we had moved past eighty kilometers from home. I didn't think that I was going to visit my Mum as I had thought earlier though I didn't doubt that Albert was going to send a car for me if I wanted to so I didn't have to worry about transport cost.

I glanced at my Mum and noticed that she didn't seem worried as I was. She was on call and I knew without asking that it was Albert she was talking to with the way she giggled and blushed.

I sighed. It was no wonder she didn't seem worried that we were being driven into the woods. I prided myself on being brave and wasn't going to whimper like a frightened cat.

My Mum was happy and I wasn't going to ruin that for her by calling her attention to the fear churning in my mind, one that might not even be real. For her sake, I was going to be strong and stamp down on my fears.

Albert could be one of those who liked to keep their privacy. With the way he was with my Mum and even me, I didn't think I had anything to fear.

"Are we not there yet?" I asked the driver.

He didn't even turn to look at me. "We are almost there."

"I need specifics."

"Just about twenty kilometers more."

I sighed as I leaned back on the chair and put my headphones back on my ears. Thank goodness for music. I would have been bored out of my wits and screaming bloody malady.

I heaved a sigh of relief when the driver finally parked in front of a huge house and turned to me. "We are here, Miss."

His eyes twinkled at me as he spoke and I narrowed my eyes at his unwelcome show of humor. So, he knew that the trip was long and boring.

I looked up at the mansion and my eyes rounded with wonder. I couldn't believe we would be living here. It was huge, more than I had ever seen. I had thought that my father was wealthy but this was grand.

The butler was already waiting by the door when we got to it. I could see servants already going to the truck to move our boxes inside.

The butler bowed when we got to him. "Welcome, Mrs. Garth and Miss Garth." He motioned inside with his hand. "Shall we?"

We nodded at him and let him lead us inside, taking us on a tour round the house. He showed us our rooms and I breathed as I saw mine. It was beautiful.

The butler's eyes sparked with delight when I told him that. "Thanks for your kind words, Miss."

He turned to my Mum. "Mr. Wolfe would be here soon. Would you like to rest before dinner?"

"Yes, please." Mum replied.

He nodded and led her to her bedroom. Mum turned to look at before leaving. "See you soon, honey."

Dinner was more than I thought. I walked into the room, shocked at the array of food on the table. I didn't think the three of us would be able to finish them all and I had no idea that we were expecting guests.

Mum was already at the table with Albert and the two were talking.

Albert smiled as he saw me. "Good of you to join us, Mia."

"Good evening." I greeted as I pulled back a chair and sat.

"Let's eat." Albert said. "Your brothers would join us shortly."

My brothers? I had no idea siblings came with the deal but it would be silly of me to think that Albert didn't have kids of his own.

I nodded and didn't say anything else. Five minutes later, three tall, sturdy, muscular men joined us at the table and I had no doubt that they were my step-brothers. They looked just like their father.

I wasn't comfortable with them as I never was with males and hated how they all sat beside me. I felt caged in, wondering why they left the seats beside their father.

Were they already trying to act as overprotective brothers? I hoped not. I could take care of myself and didn't need them to.

I finally summoned courage and looked at them, surprised to see them looking at me too. They seemed strangely familiar and I couldn't remember where I had seen them.

Albert's voice was filled with warmth and pride. "Meet my sons, Mia. Sons, meet Mia, your soon to be step-sister."

"They should know one another." I heard Mum say, looking at Albert. "Didn't you say that they all went to the same high school as Mia?"

I gasped, shrinking in fear as I remembered where I had met them. Quinn, Jack and John, the triplets of misery in my high school life.

I looked at them again and saw them smiling at me. Those bastards. They had recognized me. I wanted to stand up from the table and run away. This was a mistake. How could Mum get married to their father? How could Albert, as nice as he was, be the father to those devils with handsome faces?

I had no doubt that the only thing they had inherited from their father was his looks.

Mum seemed to notice the change in my expression. If only she knew that it was terror building in my heart.

"Are you okay, darling?"

My Mum was happy and I wasn't going to ruin this for her. I swallowed and shook my head. I couldn't even talk past the lump in my throat.

Jack reached forward with his hand and patted me playfully on the head. "Our new little sister is so cute. We will cherish her."

It took everything I had to sit still and not cringe at his touch.