MAXINEAfter the chaos yesterday, I was exhausted and I went home to rest. The next day, I knocked lightly on Lindsey's door, a tray of freshly baked cookies balanced carefully in my hands. It was my off day and I decided to spend it playing with Marie.The door opened, revealing Lindsey's bright smile as she greeted me warmly. "Hey Maxine, come on in!" Lindsey said, stepping aside to let me enter."Hi, Lindsey. I thought I'd drop by with some treats. It's my day off, and I thought I could keep you and Marie company," I explained, holding up the tray of cookies.Lindsey's expression lit up with gratitude. "That's so kind of you. Marie will be thrilled. She's been talking about you since the last time she saw you."I followed Lindsey into the cozy living room where Marie was playing with her toys. Marie's eyes widened with excitement as she spotted me."Maxine!" Marie exclaimed, running over and wrapping her arms around my legs."Hey there, Marie. How are you today?" I asked, smiling d
MAXINEElla was startled, immediately clutching her stomach. She dropped the bags of groceries in the process."Oh, my!" She exclaimed.We looked in the direction of the crash and saw a car, slammed into the side of a building. People were screaming. Without hesitation, I dropped my bags near Ella and told her to wait.I ran towards the accident and checked who was in the car. "Nadia!" I screamed, seeing her in the passenger seat.She was passed out. I tried to unlock the door but it wouldn't give way. "Help me!" I screamed."Out of the way." A man said. He turned his elbow to the car and smashed the window.He wrapped a shirt around his hand and swiped his arm on the glass to break off pointy ones at the bottom of the window. He reached into the car and unlocked it, removing Nadia's seat belt and taking her out.He carried her to the sidewalk, away from the car. I immediately began to check her vitals. She was good but she was only unconscious.I tapped her cheek lightly. "Nadia, Nad
MAXINEI woke up right as the day dawned. I got ready for work and it was when I got to the pack house that I felt the unsettling tension in every corner.The news of the recent fights between werewolves and humans had spread like wildfire. Rumours were spreading around casting a quiet shadow over the usually vibrant pack house.I walked through the occupied lobby, navigating my way to my office floor. The usual bustle was replaced by hushed conversations and glances exchanged between pack members.I felt the weight of anxiety settles in my chest. Pack members had heard of reports of human deaths as well as werewolf fatalities.I could sense the fear in the air. As I walked towards my office, I caught some of them huddled together, talking in whispers.I got to work, ordering Liam's schedule and finishing up paperwork from the day before. As I was finishing up, there was a knock on my door."Come in," I said. Liam entered, holding a few documents."Maxine, good morning. Could you che
MAXINEI swallowed. War was not an easy thing. There was always loss on both ends. Liam must have sensed my worry because he placed his hand on my shoulder."You should head back home," he suggested. "We'll take care of everything for you."I nodded. "You're right." I agreed. "Goodbye. Take care."As I left the pack house, I realized how much I needed a moment of normalcy. Nadia, my former colleague and friend, had been through so much recently, especially after the accident that had left her hospitalized for two days.She had gotten a concussion and she had decided to relax at the hospital while she healed. I had witnessed the crash, rushing to her aid and helping to pull her from the wreckage.I walked over to Nadia's small apartment, nestled somewhere in a quiet corner of town. I knocked on her door and when she unlocked it slightly to check who it was, she smiled."Maxine!" She greeted me with a warm smile. Although it didn't quite reach her eyes, I smiled back."Hey, Nadia. How a
MAXINEI paused, walking back to the cell I had just passed. I frowned when I saw the person in the cell. "Ariel," I said. It was Nick's cousin.She grabbed the bars of the cells aggressively causing me to startle and jump back. "When I get out of this place, you're the first person I'm going to come for." She threatened.I lifted my chin slightly. "Then I'll make sure you never leave this place then," I replied. "Goodbye."I walked away, heading for my office to begin another day of work. Wolves greeted me as I passed, some of them recognizing me for all the days I've been working.LIAMI stood in my office, the letter I had received from the Alpha of the Crimson River Pack. The contents of the letter had sent my mind reeling.He had told me who was responsible for the attack in the safe house when we had gone to the festival. It was who I had thought it was.After Alpha Gerald's removal and return to our safe house with Gemma, Varis, and Kris, things happened after that. Gerald coul
MAXINEWhen my father left, I smiled. I was happy that at least now, he recognized what I was doing. He recognized that even without a wolf, I still had value.I went back to my office feeling some kind of way. The rest of my work came easy to me. When I finished, I stopped by Liam's office, ready to say goodbye. I knocked on the door."Hi, good evening," I said as I walked in. Liam looked up from his screen and his eyes softened when he saw me."Evening, Maxine," he replied."I'm about to leave and I wanted to be sure if you needed my help with anything," I told him, still standing by the door.He shook his head. "I'm good. You can go home." He replied.I nodded slowly. "Okay then. Bye." I said, about to turn to leave."Maxine," he called me. I turned. "Come here."I obeyed. I walked towards his desk. He pushed his chair away from it and patted his thighs. My eyes widened slightly. He wanted me to sit on his legs!I swallowed and did as he wanted. He wound his hand around my waist an
MAXINEThe moment I stepped in, I realized that I was alone. I looked around in a panic, not finding anyone. I made to turn back but, I couldn't find the door.My heart raced as I tried to understand what was happening. "I knew you were going to come." A voice spoke up, "You couldn't resist."I grabbed my daggers quickly and turned in the direction where the voice came from."Gerald!" I called out, my voice echoing faintly in the quiet.There was no response, only the feeling of being watched from the shadows. I strained my senses, searching for any sign of movement.Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind me, low and chillingly calm. "Impressive, isn't it?"I spun around, heart racing, to find Gerald standing behind me, his expression unreadable in the dim light. There was a patch of moonlight coming from a window and I could see him with it."What is this place?" I demanded. "Where is everyone else?"Gerald chuckled darkly. "This, my dear Maxine, is where it all begins and ends."I glan
MAXINEI ducked between its legs, slicing its shin. It didn't react to pain and it confirmed my thinking. They couldn't die. They had to be stopped somehow.I looked around for any hints. A statue with a long sword approached me, lifting it above his head. I ducked, hiding behind one of the raised platforms they had been standing on. That was when I caught the writing."To stop the gatekeepers, you have to…" it stopped there. "I have to what?!"Another shorter statue with a club swung at me. I dodged running to the next platform. "...find the points…" this one said.The answer was scattered around their platforms. I was running from one to the other, "...that controls… …how they move… these points are… vital… strike where… it's true…and victory… will be… yours.""How helpful," I said, sarcastically. I was running out of energy and sweat was dripping from my head.I scanned the status for a sign of these points. I spotted one who had a black patch right above the heel of his feet."Her