MAXINEBefore I could question what Liam meant, he turned off the lights, leaving only the lamp on the bedside table. I heard the door opening."Get some rest, Maxine. I'll be in another room." He said. He closed the door, leaving me alone in his room with my thoughts.I wondered what he meant. Did the artifact do something to me that I didn't know? I had to admit, I was feeling energetic and better but that couldn't possibly be it.Soon, I dozed off, falling into a dreamless night. The days following the incident with the artifact were a blur of recovery. I was made to stay at home but I could only last a day.Even though I came back to work the next day because I was feeling okay, Liam and the others seemed to be monitoring me. They made sure I didn't overwork myself and nothing "strange" was happening to me. They told me that the spell caster said I had the artifact's energy in me and it would take a few days for it to wear off.It was a bit awkward getting monitored. They ensured
MAXINELiam's jaw tightened slightly, his mind probably racing with the implications of what this meant. "We need to understand what's happening," he stated firmly."I know," I replied, feeling dejected. "I just… I feel like something is happening to me."Liam thought about my words carefully. He met my eyes. "If that's the case," he began slowly, "we'll find out together. Whatever you're experiencing, whatever changes may come... you're not alone, Maxine. I want you to know that."His words brought comfort to me. I nodded. "Thank you," I murmured gratefully.Surprisingly, he opened his arms. "Come here," he said to me.I walked into his arms, hugging him for the first time. It felt weird, but it also felt good. I rested my head on his chest and wrapped my hand around his back."We'll figure this out," he assured me, patting my back. "Everything is going to be fine."That wasn't certain. Only one thing was certain—my life would never be the same again.Liam stayed all afternoon. Surpr
MAXINEHe tried the handle again, trying to open the door. "Maxine!" He called, the alarm audible in his voice.I jumped at the sound of Liam’s voice, my heart jumping into my throat. "I'm fine!" I cried, unable to hide the trembling of my voice.My hands were trembling and the claws still didn't go back. I couldn't take it anymore. I began to sob, crumpling to my knees on the floor."Maxine!" Liam called, hearing my cries. I heard the door knob turning and then the sound of wood breaking. Liam pulled it out completely, ripping the door open. He growled.I turned to see him standing in the doorway, the look on his face showing anger and concern. I hid my hands between my legs, biting my lips when a claw scratched my thigh.He walked in, seeing me on the floor. Liam crouched next to me, scanning my face for any injuries. “Maxine, what's happening? Is everything alright?” he asked.I forced a smile, nodding. “Just tired, I guess. A lot on my mind.” I lied.He didn’t look convinced. I fe
MAXINESeeing the spell caster meant that Liam considered this a serious issue. I snatched my hands back gently."There's no need," I said, remembering how Alaric had sounded when he was casting a spell. How the whites of his eyes had covered his irises and made him look like a creature of pure evil with all that makeup on his eyes.I didn't want that same man to tinker with me to find out what was wrong with me when surely, he hadn't dealt with anything like that."If I wait a few more days, I'm sure I'll be back to normal," I said giving Liam what I assumed was a reassuring smile. I wasn't scared of Alaric per se, but I was uncomfortable."Maxine…" Liam started."I'll be fine, I promise. I could take herbs and see if they'll help me. There would be no need for him to look at me and try to cast a spell on me or something." I whined."Is that why you're scared? You think he'll do something to you?" He asked. "Maxine, I'll be right next to you. I wouldn't let him do anything to harm th
MAXINEMy heart was racing in my chest and I wondered how long it would take him to fix whatever was wrong with me. I didn't need him to tell me what to do next.I closed my eyes. I tried to focus on anything but his voice as he chanted strange words. But he was the only one I could hear.Suddenly, I felt the water around me. It began to rise, halfway up my arm until it covered my ankle. I tried to open my eyes but it was impossible.The water dragged me under, filling my nose and filling my lungs. I tried to swim but the more I tried, the more I drowned. My body was like a rock, sinking deeper and deeper into this vast ocean of blue surrounding me.Soon, I ran out of air. I stopped struggling. I looked up towards the light breaking through at the top, a sign that it was the surface. I stretched my hands, trying to reach it.I exhaled, my eyes shutting as I let the water claim me.I gasped awake, coughing, and suddenly found myself on the forest floor. Dry leaves stuck to my wet skin
MAXINEI gasped awake to arms shaking me. My eyes frantically look around and I see Liam. He helps me sit up as I pant, covered in sweat."Shit, you scared me." He said with an exhale. He and Alaric are crouched next to me."How did it go?" Alaric asked peering at me with those golden eyes of his.I heard the artifact's voice re-echo in my head, answering the question I had asked. "I only stay where I'm welcome.""We tried to get the artifact's energy out of you. I think it almost killed you." He said.I shook my head, clearing the fogginess of the past few minutes. "No, no, don't get rid of it. It's fine. Let it stay." I said, confusing them.Liam glanced at Alaric. "She's the one, right? She's not under any control, right?" He asked. I wondered what had happened when I was talking about the artifact.Even my thoughts sounded crazy. "I… I had a connection with the artifact. It's not dangerous. It's…" I was lost for words to say.Liam helped me stand to my feet either way. "It's helpi
MAXINEI turned around to see the Luna Queen. She was dressed in less formal regalia and she walked towards me. I was shocked that she knew my father's name. I never told her."How do you know my father's name?" I asked, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. "I never told you."She took a seat next to me on the bench. I was outside, receiving fresh air in the gardens."He's the one holding you back," she replied instead. "When I was reading your energy, he was on your mind a lot. I couldn't help it when I got a vision."I wondered what else she might have seen. Especially regarding Liam."He gave you away," she said, confirming my suspicions.I wanted to tell her that I didn't want to talk about it but she was helping me with my controlling journey and maybe she could help me move past this."You wonder what this would mean for you and your father if you eventually awaken your wolf through the artifact's energy." She said, saying exactly what was on my mind.I tried not to sigh
MAXINEI stood to my feet and wrung out my hands in front of me. "Liam…" I didn't know how to begin."What's going on?" He looked at me and then the Luna Queen."The next part of her journey requires her to do it on her own," The Luna Queen spoke up. "She will be going to the lore keeper on her own in one hour.""Your Majesty, with all due respect, no," Liam said. "Maxine is my responsibility. I can't just send her off to some stranger and not follow her.""I swear with my life that Maxine is in safe hands. Your support has been good for her but now, she must do this alone." She replied."There must be another way," Liam replied. I didn't know he was that attached to me."There is none, Alpha. This is the best and fastest way for her.""When can she come back to our pack?" Liam asked. "Because she's a part of us."I felt my heart warm. I had been saying that Liam's pack was my home but hearing him confirm that I was a part of his pack was literal icing on the cake."No less than two w