LIAMAfter thanking Benson for the information, we continued the drive back to the pack. Although the heater blasted warmth in the car, it did nothing to heat the cold storm in my chestMy mind was split between finding Maxine and the marriage alliance to a woman whose face I hadn't ever seen. They’d sprung this up on me like a trap and I had fallen from it. If I had known, I would have found a way not to meet them.But, who was I kidding? If I had not gone to them, they would have come to me. Kris sat quietly in the passenger seat. His eyes were fixed on the road in front of us.He hadn’t said much since our conversation with Benson. He was probably thinking about the same thing I was: Maxine.Or, should I say: Annalise. That was the new name she was using now. It was a name she was most likely using to hide from me and the rest of the world. She was out there somewhere, starting a new life because I had hurt her.I hadn't even gotten to find out how everything had gone with the arti
LIAMI tried to hide my shock and shame. Maxine must have told her everything. It wasn't anything I was proud of. If I could take back time, I would erase the moments where I had taken advantage of her and not cared how she felt.Her words cut me deep. It was the truth and I couldn’t deny it. I wanted to keep Maxine close, not entirely out of love. I just realized I couldn't bear someone else. I couldn't bear the thought of how I would have to go through everything to fall in love. I didn't have patience. And in doing so, I had messed up and driven her away."I made a mistake," I began, barely able to keep the regret out of my voice. "I hurt her in ways I can’t even begin to fix. But the truth is, I love her, and I need to make it right. I can't bear being away from her for so long."The Luna Queen’s gaze softened slightly but she was still very warg of me. "Love," she murmured as if she couldn't believe the word was real. “Do you even know what that means, Liam? Because if you did, y
LIAM"How wouldn't she know where she went? And who is Zel?" I asked, my temper getting the best of me.The Luna Queen lifted a brow at me in question. "Zel is my niece and Maxine is old enough to choose her path in life." She replied, her voice picking on a different tone."I'm sorry," I apologized. "I didn't mean to speak like that.""Good. Because Cinder sent them an email while they were in a town. She's going to try sending another to see if they'll get it. I can give you the town's address."I nodded, relief flooding through me. It wasn’t much. But, that was a lead. It was a way forward in finding Maxine and I was going to take it.“Thank you,” I said. "Also, I heard she's using the name, Annalise.""Yes, Maxine has started a new life. She and Zel went off on their own, far away from all of this. Cinder doesn't know exactly where but she made it clear, Liam. Maxine doesn’t want to be found.”"Annalise,” I repeated. The name left a bitter taste on my tongue. Maxine had been so de
LIAMHe smirked and with two fingers, he commanded them to attack me. The figures moved immediately approaching me. I slashed and fought back as much as I could.I watched Kris struggle to keep fighting and one of them clawed at his back, getting him. He screamed in pain, falling to his knees."Kris!" I yelled, going towards him. I got a blow to the face and I tasted the blood in my mouth before I even hit the ground."Where do you think you're going?" The giant attacker asked.I was dazed. His punch felt like a house had fallen on me. He put his foot on me, stepping on my back. I grunted, being crushed by his weight and being unable to.Who the hell was this? Even trying to use my wolf strength was failing me.Their leader walked towards me and crouched beside me. He smiled. "Master would be pleased that we found you." He said."Who sent you? Who's your master?" I demanded."You'll find out very soon." He replied.I tried to summon all the energy I had left. But that blow to my head
LIAMThe cold in the darkness of the van seeped into my body. I tried to move and to shift into a more comfortable position. But, every muscle screamed in protest.The giant's beating had left me battered and with a couple of broken bones. Each breath I tried to take sent sharp stabs of pain through my body. My vision was still blurry as my left eye was starting to heal.I was fighting to stay conscious, trying to listen to the sounds around me to know where they were taking me. But, the ringing in my ears made it difficult to focus on anything other than the pain.The van moved forward as it sped down the rough road. Despite the ringing, I heard the tires crunching over gravel and dirt. It meant we were off the main roads.The only other sounds were the engine and the occasional movement of feet. I tried to hear what someone was saying in front but I couldn't make it out.I tried to take stock of my injuries. I wanted to mentally check each part of my body. It would help me decide wh
MAXINEThere was something about spending our last day off in Conrad's house. Maybe it was because it was him, or it was because our lives were finally looking up.But it was so lighthearted. I had been searching for so long—for something I didn't quite know what it was and it held me down. But here, with Conrad and the others, I was starting to feel like maybe I didn’t have to search anymore. I had everything."Oh?" I teased, letting go of him to look at his face. He flipped the pancakes in the pan."I have so much more to show you but, you're going to have to stay long enough to find out." He said."Don’t worry,” I replied. “I’m not going anywhere. I'm right here."But even as I said the words with all my heart, a part of me said that it was a lie. It surprised me. Conrad smiled.After a while, he stacked pancakes on a plate while I removed sausages from a pan. We took them to the kitchen island where there were three stools.I called Peter and Zel and they came to take their seats.
LIAMI couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. I stared at the man standing before me. Brother echoes in my mind. I hadn’t heard that voice in years. Never seen that face in almost a decade.Truth be told, I had hoped I would never hear it again. But, here he was, like a ghost from my past. I’d never expected to see him again, let alone under these circumstances.“Ronan,” I let out in the shock of seeing him."In flesh and blood," He smirked. I had seen that same smirk a thousand times when we were younger. It has always made my stomach turn."Surprised to see me, Liam? Did you think you could escape from me?” He asked, his voice lifting in mockery."Ronan," I said again, repeating the name. I was in disbelief.My older brother, the one who had disappeared years ago without a trace, was right in front of me. The same one who had always lived in my shadow. The one who was jealous of the position I held as the heir to our pack. The one who had tried to kill me.“What the hell are you doing
MAXINEThat strange feeling settled in again. It was stronger this time. So strong that I couldn’t ignore it. Something wasn’t right.“Wait,” I said, pulling back slightly. My breath was coming out in gasps, and my heart still racing from what was about to happen.Conrad froze, his hands still on my waist. His blue eyes searched mine. “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?"How was I going to explain this? I was going to hurt his feelings and I was going to be the bad person. What did this make me? I still loved Liam and I wanted to be with Conrad. Did that make me a cheater like Liam?I didn't realize I was crying until I saw the worry in Conrad's eyes. "Hey, hey, hey," he said, coming up to cup my cheeks. "It's okay. It's okay. You don't have to do anything you don't want to."I nodded sniffling. "I want to," I let out, "I just…""Tell me, Anna." He whispered."I don’t know," I admitted, my voice shaky. "I just… I have a weird feeling."He frowned, concern furrowing his eyebrows s