Maxwell POV“Do you have a session with Gemma today?” I ask.Laura remains silent, completely on-responsive to my voice. I frown.My throat clears. “Laura?”“Huh?”She snaps her attention to me, her eyes wide like she’s been caught red handed doing something bad.“Do you have a session with Gemma today?”“Uhh.” She pauses and runs a hand down her face. “Yeah. In thirty minutes. I moved it forward.”“Everything okay?” I ask without trying to sound too weary.Laura nods once and flashes me a smile that is the epitome of force. “Yeah. I just spaced out. Sorry.”“Thinking about anything in particular?”She runs a finger over her lip as I plate up our lunch. “Just about that night with Julia. What can I piece together anyway?”I hum softly. “Do you think of anything new?”“No,” she exhales.Her body language is odd, and her face is struck with emptiness. I know she’s beating herself up about what happened, and I don’t know why. “Do you remember me telling you that when we arrived, there w
Maxwell POV Her eyes are staring straight through her soul, her expression void of any emotion, and for a moment, it terrifies me. I’ve never seen her like this.My wolf runs circles inside me and drags his claws through my insides. I slide a hand through my hair at the invasive feelings. He howls as if he’s desperate to tell me something, but I know we’re both concerned. Laura’s mind has been elsewhere.Eventually, she dips her head and raises her arms, scanning them as if she’s looking for something embedded on her skin. I watch silently as she swipes her fingers over her wrists and across her forearms before reaching her elbows. She does it again and again.She stops, freezes.I shift on my feet but stay back.Then, she starts pinching and pulling her skin before releasing them. At first, it’s slow and gentle, then it’s harder and aggressive, as if she’s trying to tear off her skin.“Hey, hey,” I raise my voice and move closer. “Stop. What are you doing? Stop.”Laura doesn’t ack
Laura POVIt’s like the bond between you all has intensified. I think you’re finally finding your purpose as an Alpha. You’re all connecting.”Maxwell’s head tilts. “I like that.” He nods. “You’re right. I used to be uptight and focused on only one thing. But now, I’ve learnt that listening to their needs goes a long way. Before I ignored that, and it wasn’t a good trait to have.”“What made you change?”“You.”“Huh?”“You did. Being with you. It puts into perspective that I can help them blossom into the best versions of themselves if I give them the attention and care they need. I think about you and how I always paid attention to what you needed the most, and eventually, I earnt your trust. Now, I’m doing it with the pack but with their doubts, fears, and weaknesses. It’s a conversation that never ends, and they feel comfortable enough to discuss it with me so we can all improve.They see me as a helping hand, not someone to fear.”My expression lights up. “That sounds incredibl
Laura POVHe chews on the inside of his lip for a moment. “I didn’t want to. I tried so hard not to so I could give you the privacy you deserved. But other times, I couldn’t control it. That’s why I taught you your mental defenses as soon as I could. I wanted to earn your trust authentically.”“Yeah, I think I have the hang of it now.”Maxwell eyes me for a moment, and his expression softens.“This past year has been very bitter-sweet,” I exhale and lower my sandwich. “It’s been high and low continuously. I still don’t feel one hundred percent right from when I woke up from my coma. But things are finally going in the right direction. I’m trusting the universe to guide me to what is meant for me.”His hand slides over the blanket, and he takes my fingers once more, kissing over my wrist and knuckles until it tickles. “You are destined for great things.”“Let’s hope.” I laugh hesitantly. “Your pack is lucky to have an Alpha so caring for each and every one of them and their wellbeing
Maxwell POVLaura slips into the shower when we get home. The sound of pattering water from the en-suite echoes into the room. When I shut the door, it turns off. I perch on the edge of the bed as Laura steps out with a white fluffy towel wrapped around her body. Steam wafts from behind her, and when our eyes meet, she offers me a smile. I strain at the sight of her like this.“Come here,” I beckon, breathing through my nose heavily.If I don’t have her in my arms in the next five seconds, I might die.Laura’s cheeks heat and not from the temperature of the shower.My eyes remain on her face as she takes three steps towards me before she stops. Her fingers clutch onto her towel at her chest. I keep still as she climbs onto my lap, her legs straddling my thighs like earlier.I press my palms to her back, where the towel has dipped and I can touch bare skin. She slides her hands over my shoulders and gives me a gentle smile with her eyes. “I loved today,” she whispers. “I love spend
Maxwell POVMy fingers take hers delicately. She shifts her hips slightly and nods. “You’re big,” she exhales as I press my mouth to her palm. “Please, just go slow.”“Of course, baby.”I stay still for a moment and allow her to get used to the feeling before I start to move. I rest down on my elbows and drag my lips across her neck, and when she melts into me, I thrust slowly. She gasps into my ear and clings onto my biceps. I pause and wait until her legs start parting further, and I smile into her neck.My hips move again and again until she brings our lips together in a fiery kiss. She moans against my tongue and sends vibrations straight down my spine until I’m clutching her face and angling it towards me so I can taste every inch of her.“Better?” I rasp as I pull out and sink back in.She nods desperately. “Better.”Then I rest my forehead down on hers. My hips move a tiny bit quicker and deeper, and I watch her face for any slight twitch of discomfort, but instead, her lips a
Laura POVMaxwell had an early meeting this morning. He asked if I wanted to join, and I said I’d leave the business side of his pack to him. He wants me to be more involved and grow into my position as their Luna, but I’m still learning the ropes and need more time.Instead, I’m in the kitchen with Evan, teaching him how to cook. Sam supervises us, and it’s obvious he doesn’t want to be here from his glowering. I ignore him, but Evan’s shoulders are slightly tense.“How are you settling in?” I ask.Evan hums softly. “A lot better now. I’m finding my feet, but I’m ready to learn.”My face stretches into a grin. “Good. I’m pleased, Evan.”His hand takes hold of a large knife and slices through a bell pepper. I nod at his positioning until he slices a little too hard, and the tip of the knife swipes down his fingers.Blood trickles onto the cutting board, and he drops the knife onto the counter with a clang. He jumps back, eyes slightly horrified. “It’s alright, it’s alright,” I say ca
Laura POVI want to enjoy as much alone time as I can with you before we decide to start the next steps. If we agree to have any.” He smooths his thumb across the fabric on my shin.I chew on the inside of my lip. “Yeah,” I agree. “That’s true.”He takes my waist in his hands and tugs me up onto his lap. “Good because I want as much time before we have any little devils running around.”“Did you just call our unborn children ‘little devils’?” I release a soft laugh.“Sure did.” He grins.My forehead presses to his and he leaves a kiss on my lips. “Hey, so I’ve been thinking.”“About what?”I clamp my teeth down on my lip as I admire his dark blue eyes. “The next time we have sex,” I pull my head back slowly, “I want you to mark me. I want us to be mated.”Maxwell doesn’t blink, but he holds me close to him. “Laura.”“I know what you’re going to say. I’m a human, and you don’t know what will happen if you do it. But I want you to. I want to experience it. Let’s see what happens and pra