MAXINE"Just for a little while.” He added when I didn't say anything.I raised an eyebrow. “A normal conversation between two people on a date?” I repeated.He nodded. “Yes. We'll not talk about what’s happened. Just talk.” He said.I hesitated. “Okay. But it's not a fdate. What do you want to talk about?” I agreed.Ronan relaxed just a bit. “I don’t know. What do people usually talk about at breakfast?” he stressed breakfast because this wasn't a date.I found myself smiling. “The weather?” I offered.Ronan grinned. “Alright. Then we talk about the weather it is. How are you finding it?” I asked.“It’s really warm,” I replied. We chuckled.We continued like that for a while, talking about mundane things. It was small talk and it was meaningless. It was also the most relaxed I had felt in a long time.Ronan even managed to make a joke. It was something about how the birds seemed to be better off than us. I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a brief moment but it was good.For the first
RONANI smirked, daring him on. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied. I watched as he made his way to the door. “Return safely to your pack, Harold.”He paused for a moment as if he was about to say something else. But then, he shook his head and continued walking. I let out a breath as he left, closing the door behind me.I turned away. I had just lied to Maxine's father and for what? Why would I be scared enough to lie? For Maxine? For a woman who, until recently, had been nothing more than a pawn in my game?I knew the answer, of course. I could feel it in the way my chest hurt at the thought of Harold taking her away. I couldn’t lose her. Not when I was finally beginning to understand what it meant to care for someone.Without thinking, I found myself walking back. I needed to see her. I ignored the looks of the guards as I made my way toward her room.When I reached the door, I hesitated for a moment. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. I didn't know what excuse I could give fo
RONANJust as my lips were about to meet hers, she turned her head just so slightly. I closed my eyes, feeling the sting of disappointment and annoyance. I pulled back with a small sigh and looked ahead.She should just let me kiss her for moon's sake!The look on her face changed into something much more serious. "Why?” she asked, again. “Why do you care?”I hesitated. Why did I care? Why was I standing here, asking her about her past and her father when I could have kept my distance? I could have maintained the coldness I’d perfected over the years.“I don’t know,” I admitted finally, choosing the truth. “Maybe it's because I’ve seen a lot of things in my life. A lot of people. But I’ve never met anyone quite like you, Maxine. You’re different.”Her eyes softened, “Different how?” she asked.I shrugged. “Good different. You're different in a way that makes me want to know more. In a way that makes me want to protect you.” I replied.The moment I said it, I knew there was truth in wh
MAXINEThe next day after having breakfast, I found myself bored and unable to read a book. I ended up staring at the ceiling. I was trying to sort through the thoughts in my head when I heard a knock on the door. I sat up. I hadn't heard the footsteps.Was it Ronan?As the door unlocked, it was a guard. I felt a pinch of disappointment but I tried not to let it show. A guard stood on the other side. He was holding something white in his hands."Alpha Ronan wanted you to have this," he said. He stepped forward and held out his hands. It was a folded dress. It was as white as snow. "He asks that you wear it for this afternoon."I took the dress from the guard, letting the full length drop. A sundress? I blinked. "Thank you," I mumbled. I still didn't understand why I had to wear this. The guard gave a polite nod before stepping back and locking the door behind him.I accessed the dress. It was simple yet elegant. It was the kind of dress I'd see other women wear on a sunny day. I didn’
MAXINERonan was worried, of course, and he quickly patted my back and offered me a bottle of water. "Are you okay?" He asked.I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." I replied, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.Ronan didn't notice my shift in mood. Or, he tried to get me out of it. He told me about the responsibilities and challenges he faced. He was a good storyteller. I could imagine everything he said. Soon, I found myself hanging on every word. The guilt was long forgotten.I realized, that I was enjoying myself. It was nice. At one point, he reached for the small box of paints and brushes. "I thought we could paint," he said, a little sheepishly. "I’m not very good, but I thought it could be fun."I laughed. I was genuinely amused. "You paint?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.He chuckled, shaking his head. "Not really. But I thought you might. And I wanted to try." He said.We spent the next hour painting on small canvases. We laughed at each other trying to capture the
RONANI gritted my teeth together and silenced my thoughts. I needed to act fast and I needed to act now. "Hold him down," I ordered.Varis and Kris moved quickly. They pinned Liam’s shoulders to the ground as he began to shake weakly. His body was trying to fight against the poison that was rushing through his veins.I gripped the collar with both hands. I ignored the sharp pricks of Wolfsbane that bit into my skin. With a growl, I pulled using all my strength. I would not let him die like this, not at my hand.I tightened my grip until my knuckles turned white. I growled, feeling the strength of my wolf. I pulled again, harder this time and something began to crack. And then with another pull, the collar snapped. The metal broke apart in my hands.I flung the pieces away. I looked down at Liam. He was lying still."Is he?" I asked.Varis was already moving to check Liam’s pulse. "He’s still breathing, barely. But he's very weak," he replied.Kris moved closer. "He needs help. We can
RONANMy head spun with the information. I hadn’t known about the artifact. The thought of Maxine holding that kind of energy inside her, without me knowing, sent a shiver down my spine. Anything could have gone wrong."If she still has it then, it should be enough to sustain Liam. If we can channel that energy, we might be able to save him.” Varis completed.I shook off the feeling. It didn’t matter. None of that mattered right now. Liam was dying and I needed to act.“How do we do it?” I asked. My mind ran through everything.I didn't trust them. This could be all part of a plan. Liam, Varis, and Kris were in one room. If I brought Maxine here, they could all try to escape. But, it was futile, they didn't know about Zel as far as I knew.Maxine wasn't going anywhere. I was going to set more guards outside the door.Varis exhaled, relieved that I was agreeing. “We need to bring her here. But it won’t be easy, it could be dangerous. I don't know if she can do it.” He said."I can help
MAXINEI wasn't prepared for the knock on my door. I was getting dressed for the day when I heard the footsteps thundering towards my door. The guards had barely given me time to slip a sweater over my thin shirt before they rushed me out.Their faces were serious and their hands gripping my arms a little too tightly. I tried asking them what was going on and where they were taking me but all they said was that I was needed urgently. They said that Ronan needed me.My heart raced in my chest. The last time Ronan needed me, he was hurt. Was he hurt again? I followed them feeling worry sink into my stomach. Something terrible had happened. It was still happening.When we reached the room, there were two smells battling each other. I smelt antiseptics and the bitter scent that made my eyes water. It was Wolfsbane. Was Ronan poisoned?My eyes immediately found him in the business of the infirmary. He was standing and he looked perfectly normal.“What's wrong?” I asked, still fearing the w
MAXINEI got a job working at the pack hospital again. This time, I signed up to be a real medical practitioner. I was going to become a midwife. There were a few familiar faces at the hospital and lots of new ones.Still, I was grateful to Ronan for giving them this opportunity again.That evening, I walked back into my apartment. The dead herbs were still in a box on the floor in the kitchen. I wondered if I would go back. I used to pick herbs and sell them to women who wanted to get pregnant.It felt like eons ago. Times were simpler. Back then, I saved lives not help take them. That was a time when I didn’t have blood on my hands.I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. I wanted my simple life again. It was simple but everything made sense. I didn't have to try to untangle myself from this mess that was my reality.A knock on the door brought me back. Zel was back from work. She worked as a bartender a little while from our apartment. Zel had gotten the job. After the manag
MAXINEI nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying. Ella was right. I needed to let myself grieve. The love I once had for Ronan still occupied my heart.Lindsey reached out and held my hand. "We’re here for you, Maxine."I squeezed her hand, grateful for their support. They were right. I didn’t have to go through this alone. I had them.Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.***Going back to my old life felt like stepping into a strange place. There was the feeling of losing something. My apartment felt like a place from a faraway memory. Zel was gone and I was feeling so sad.I was back from saying goodbye. I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The space was just as I’d left it. There was still dust over everything. At least, I had something to do with my time.I took a deep breath. I hadn't lost everything. I was still okay.I began to clean up slowly. Lindsey stopped by to help me out and together, we covered a lot. As I was cleaning, I heard a knock on the door.“Are you
MAXINEI wanted to believe her that everything would be okay but deep down, I felt guilt and grief. This was my fault. I pulled back from her and wiped my eyes. I gave her a shaky smile. “It doesn’t feel like it.”She cupped my cheek. “Everything isn't always as it seems, my dear. But, I can tell you one thing I know for sure.” She said.“What's that?”“It's not your fault. I'm sure you don't know where to go from here, what to do, or where you belong. You want to come with me, you want to continue your life back at the place where you and Zel liked and you want to go back to how things were in this pack.” Cinder explained.“But, I see you staying here. This is where your strength lies, where hope lives, where you have friends and support.” She lowered her eyes and winked. “It's where you have a future.”“And, we'll always be here for you to fall back on, regardless of what happens. We're your home away from home.” The Luna Queen said, putting her hand on my shoulder. “I'm very proud.
MAXINEI didn't feel anything. No pain from a stab whatsoever. I looked between us and that's when Ronan smiled. His lips were close to my ear and he whispered, “I would never hurt you on purpose, love.”I didn't know when I screamed.Ronan collapsed into my arms, taking the both of us down to the ground with him. I tried my best to hold his head up on my lap. My eyes traveled down to the blood pouring down the stab wound in his belly.“Ronan,” I called, tears filling my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. He had stabbed himself.My hand shook as it hovered over the wound. I didn't know what to do. The dagger was in his chest.Ronan had chosen death. Death over a life without me.“Maxine…” he called, his voice unnaturally calm for someone who was dying. He reached up to touch me and I guided his hand to my cheek.“I'm here, I'm here,” I cried. “I'm sorry,” I whispered the last part. My hands shook as I held him. I never wanted this. I didn’t want him to die.Ronan gasped. He looked up
MAXINEI held my breath as Ronan kept his eyes on mine. When he was close enough, he stopped. Neither of us said a word. The battle continued around us but I couldn't get myself to make the first move.He didn't either. I wondered if it was hard for him to see me. I wondered if he thought he could fight me. I also wondered if he thought that he could kill me.I spoke up first. “Ronan,” I called. My voice was sounding more longing than I wanted.I missed him, to be honest. I missed sitting down in the quiet and reading books. Strangely, I missed making his cinnamon coffee.Ronan didn't say anything. Instead, he took a step closer. “You don’t have to do this,” he said.There was no hurt, no anger in his voice, just nothing but kindness. I wished he would yell. I wished he would curse me and call me evil for everything I've done.“Come with me.” He said, softly. I heard it regardless of the noise. “We can fix this, Maxine. We'll leave everything behind together.”It sounded so good. But,
MAXINEHe caught me off guard. It meant that he still cared about me. I didn't focus on that though. “I won’t, I promise,” I replied.We stood there in silence for a while, neither of us knowing what to say. I could feel it though. I could feel it. The unspoken feelings and questions we didn't have the time to ask.Or we didn't dare to ask, I guess.After everything that had happened, I still wasn’t sure where we stood. I said I was okay with him hating me but, I didn't know anymore. The lines between us were confusing now. I didn't know how to fix that.But now wasn’t the time to focus on that. We had a mission and that was a priority. Every other thing could come after. We would cross that bridge later.For some reason, Liam stepped closer and I held my breath. “Regardless of what has happened between us, out there?” He said, “No matter what happens, we’ll get through this together. Do you understand?”I nodded. “Together,” I repeated.Before I could say anything else, Zel appeared
MAXINECinder gave me and Zel a brief of the plans that night when she showed us a bedroom. She and the Luna Queen were sharing the one right next to us. They told us to come to them if we faced any issues.Sleep didn't come easy because my mind was entirely on Ronan. I didn't know how I was going to face him again after betraying his trust. But, I knew I couldn't sit out of this fight.The sun had not even risen when I was woken up by the sound of Liam's voice. He was given instructions and I heard more footsteps around the house than the number of people I had seen the previous day.It meant that Liam was already up and gathering the troops. I could hear him giving commands like it hadn't been two months since he was last in power. He was a natural-born leader. He carried this air of authority around him.He was giving orders, explaining ranks and positions for this fight. Every single detail was important to winning.Zel was still asleep, of course. She wasn't a wolf so she wouldn'
MAXINEI chuckled bitterly. “What about now?” I asked. “Will you take me back now that I have a wolf? Isn't that what you've always wanted?”His eyes widened slightly but he kept himself composed. “That would be unfair to you. It would be wrong. If you want to come back to me, I will take you but the choice is yours now. You have a choice and I see now that I was wrong. I’m so sorry, Maxine. I hope you can forgive me.”Tears welled up in my eyes. I hadn't thought about this but I let the anger roll away from me. He was still family. He was my father. “I forgive you. You're my father, whether you abandon me or not.” I said.“Thank you, Maxine.” He said. He reached for me hesitantly. I would have settled for a handshake but he wrapped his hands around me. For the first time in what I knew was forever, my father hugged me.I didn't know what to feel about that.LIAMAfter Maxine spoke to her father, they returned to the living room. However, she moved toward the far end of the room, away
LIAMDespite everything that was unfolding in front of me, my thoughts were stuck on one thing.Maxine had a wolf.I couldn't wrap my head around it. After everything that had happened to her, it didn’t make sense. I glanced at her. The strange white-haired girl was sitting between us.Maxine was staring out of the window. The white-haired girl squeezed her hand. Maxine turned to look at her and offered her a small smile. That was when she caught me staring. She looked away, taking her eyes back to the window.It left me confused. Was she pissed at me? I was the one who had the right to be mad at her. She had chosen him over me. Well, the distance between us was necessary.I didn't know what I would say or do if I were sitting next to her. Kris took a sharp turn, causing Maxine to grab the handle of the car door. I opened my mouth to say something but I stopped myself. There would be time for questions later.“You alright back there?” Varis asked.“We’re fine,” I said. I didn't know i