Page 49 of Fated Alpha Protector

“Papa!” she squeals, throwing her arms around his neck. “I play outside!”

Mia's mother giggles under her breath as she goes to greet her husband. “Good morning, Mateo,” she greets before pressing a kiss on his cheek. “Your daughter is adamant to go outside this morning.”

“Oh, she is?” Mateo looks at his daughter who gives him the widest grin as she nods her little head. “Does Mama not want to take you out?”

“Nope!” Mia pouts to earn the sympathy of her father.

Mateo chuckles as he follows his wife into the kitchen. “Why not, Maria? It's a beautiful day…”

“I'm busy…” Maria throws apologetically over her shoulder. “I promised Cynthia I would make porridge for the pack this morning.”

“You did?” Mateo frowns as he peers over his wife's shoulder into the large pot of porridge. “Why couldn't Cynthia do it?”

Maria gives her husband a smile. “She called in sick last night,” she explains why the cook isn't taking care of breakfast this morning.

Mateo frowns. “Daniel also called in sick last night. I think I should pay them a visit later.”

“You should,” Maria agrees. “But after you've played with Mia outside.”

“Of course, mi amor!” Mateo whisks his daughter toward the front door when suddenly, he stops.

“Did you hear that?” he throws over his shoulder. He holds his daughter tightly to his chest, enlisting the power of his heightened hearing to focus on the sounds outside.

Maria joins him near the door, placing a hand on his shoulder. The gasp that escapes her lips becomes a shiver that travels down her spine.

Instinctively, Maria folds her arms around her husband and daughter.

“Do you think it's them?” she asks tersely.

Mateo holds out Mia for his wife. When his daughter is safely in Maria's embrace, he takes a step forward.

“I hope not…” he whispers as he proceeds to the door.

Maria reaches out to stop him. “No, Mateo!” she cries out, but it's too late. Mateo leaves their cabin, shutting the door behind him.

Little Mia stares up at her mother with horror in her eyes. She doesn't understand what's going on. But she senses the fear rolling off her mother's aura in waves.

For a four-year-old, she can hardly make sense of it. She follows her instinct as she nestles her face into her mother's dark locks. That's where she feels the safest.

Especially when chaos ensues outside their door.

Maria panics, rushing to the bedroom where she pulls the corner of the rug. She lifts a few floorboards, unearthing a tunnel of some kind.

“Come here, mi hija…” she calls Mia over, pulling her into the tightest hug she's ever been in. Peppering kisses all over her face, Mia is able to ignore the howls and cries outside.

Maria sets her daughter in the cavity on the floor. “Whatever happens, don't come out,” she warns.

Little Mia is afraid, tears welled up in her eyes. She doesn't understand what's going on, but she has to put on a brave face.

She knows that much.

“Don't be afraid,” Maria encourages her, giving her one last smile as she's about to cover the floor with the boards. All Mia can do is nod. The last thing she sees is her mother's face with tears glossed over her eyes.

When her surroundings are covered in darkness, Mia listens to the torrent of chaos outside. The distant cries, the gut-wrenching howls. The whimpers before the splitting and cracking of wood.

It sounds torturous, filling little Mia with dread as she curls into herself between the floorboards.

Mia sniffs when a strange smell surrounds her. Through the cracks in the floorboards, gray smoke begins to fill the space she hides in. Instinctively, she covers her mouth with her arm as she stifles the urge to cough.

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