Page 15 of Once You Go Pack
“It’s six PM,” she said, her voice sharper than intended. “I shouldn’t be here this late anyway.”
“Since when do you care about normal hours?” Riley laughed, but there was an edge to it. “You practically live here. Half the time I wonder if you’ve set up a cot in the file room.”
Something inside Mila snapped. The years of being overlooked, of having her dedication treated as a given ratherthan appreciated, of being expected to sacrifice her personal life for their convenience—it all finally boiled over.
“You know what? Actually, I’m taking a trip.” The words rushed out, fueled by eight years of suppressed resentment and the intoxicating promise of escape that Cade’s proposition represented.
Her father’s eyebrows shot up. “A trip? When? We have the Hendrickson trial next week, and the charity event?—“
“I haven’t had a vacation in eight years,” Mila interrupted, her voice gaining strength. “Eight years, Dad. So, I’m finally taking one.”
Riley frowned, crossing her arms. “This seems awfully sudden. Where exactly are you planning to go?”
To an alien planet to potentially become a queen of wolf shifters.
The truth hovered on her tongue, but she swallowed it. They’d have her committed if she said that out loud.
“Does it matter?” she asked instead. “I’m long overdue for some rest and relaxation. You’ll be fine without me.”
“Fine without you?” Her father’s tone carried that familiar note of incredulous disappointment. “Mila, you handle the coordination for seven attorneys. The office runs on your organizational systems. This is hardly the time for something impractical.”
Impractical.The word stung more than it should have.How many times had she heard that from him over the years?Her dreams of writing were impractical. Her desire for recognition was impractical. Apparently, even taking a vacation was impractical.
“There are other paralegals in this firm,” she interjected, her voice steady despite the fire building in her chest. “Junior ones who would love the opportunity to prove themselves. Maybe it’s time you trusted them to step up.”
Riley looked genuinely puzzled. “Mila, what’s gotten into you? You never talk like this.”
Because I never had a reason to before. Because I never had a six-foot-two wolf prince with green eyes looking at me like I was extraordinary.
The memory of Cade’s intense gaze sent warmth flooding through her. He’d listened to her stories about Earth culture with genuine interest. He’d asked thoughtful questions about her work, treating her contributions as valuable rather than expected. For the first time in years, someone had seen her as more than just competent—they’d seen her as remarkable.
“Maybe I’m finally tired of being invisible,” she said quietly. “Maybe I want to see what it feels like to be somewhere that I’m wanted rather than just needed.”
The words hung in the evening air between them. Her father’s expression softened slightly, confusion replacing irritation.
“Sweetheart, you’re not invisible. You’re essential to this firm’s success.”
“Essential to function, not essential to you,” she corrected. “There’s a difference.”
Riley’s defensive posture wavered. “That’s not... we don’t mean to make you feel that way.”
But you do. Every time you assume I’ll stay late. Every time you take credit for work I’ve done. Every time you’re too busy with networking and not spending time with me. Every time you act surprised that I might want something for myself.
“Look,” Mila said, pulling her car keys from her purse. “Right now, I need to do something for me. Something that makes me feel alive instead of just useful.”
Her father opened his mouth to argue, but she held up a hand.
“The junior paralegals can handle things. Sarah’s been wanting more responsibility, and Tracy knows the filing systems almost as well as I do. Plus, this firm existed before I got here, and it’ll survive while I’m gone.”
“How long are you talking about?” Riley asked, genuine concern creeping into her voice.
Mila honestly had no idea. She mentioned to Gerri about “testing it out,” but how long did one test out being a potential alien queen? A week? A month? Forever?
“I’m not sure yet,” she admitted. “But I promise I’ll be in touch.”
She turned toward the parking garage, but her father’s voice stopped her.
“Mila, this isn’t like you. You’re always so responsible and so practical. What’s really going on?”
