Maxine's POVI steeled myself and knocked on the door. Clara opened it, a look of surprise flashing across her face before she replaced it with a smug, or perhaps a victorious smile. “What do you want, Maxine?” she asked, her tone trickling with condescension.With tears threatening to spill, I said, “I need to speak with Alpha. It’s important.”Clara’s eyes narrowed as she tried to form an excuse. “He’s busy right now, and—”Before she could finish, Liam appeared behind her, opening the door wider. “Leave us, Clara,” he commanded.Clara's expression changed and was replaced with anger. “But—”“I said leave!” Liam barked, his tone brooking no argument.Clara glared at me as if I had stolen something precious from her before stomping off. Liam grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me inside, slamming the door shut behind us.“What do you want, Maxine?” he demanded, his grip bruising my arm and causing me to cry out of pain.“I just wanted to know why,” I began, my voice trembling. “Why do
Maxine PovThe next day, I returned to the training ground feeling more energized. Clara's words still stung, but I used them as motivation. I couldn't let her win. I couldn't let Liam's cruelty define me. I had to be vigorous, for myself.As I practiced my moves, I felt a strange sense of peace. Each punch, each kick, was a step towards the life I wanted. I wasn't just fighting the dummy; I was fighting my fears and doubts.By the end of the day, I was exhausted but satisfied. I had pushed myself harder than ever before, and it felt good. I knew I still had a long way to go, but for the first time in a long while, I felt hopeful.The training ground had become my sanctuary, a place where I could find solace and strength. I vowed to keep coming back, to keep fighting and pushing myself until I could stand tall and proud once more.As I walked back to my room that evening, I felt at peace. Clara and Liam might have tried to break me, but they hadn't succeeded. I was still here, still f
Liam's POVMaxine's boldness had caught me off guard, but I couldn’t deny that seeing her dressed so provocatively had stirred something in me. I had to take her, and I did, more roughly than usual. The memory of her resistance, her spirit, stayed in my mind. She was becoming stronger in a way I hadn't anticipated.Later, as I watched her unleash her anger on the punching bag, I found myself enjoying the sight. She was pouring all her frustration into each punch, and though her technique was lacking, her determination didn't go unnoticed. She didn't yet know how to attack or handle weapons properly, but her spirit was undeniable.An idea began to form in my mind, a perfect punishment for her audacity. I smiled at the thought. She needed to learn her place, and this would be the perfect opportunity.I called my trainer, a burly man, who had trained many of our warriors. He arrived promptly, his expression was one of respect and curiosity."Alpha, what can I do for you?" Derrick asked, b
Maxine PovI lay on my bed, my body aching and my spirit shattered. I was in serious pain and nobody was sent to attend to my injuries. Tears streamed down my face as I relived the humiliating training and the brutal punishment from Liam, using that embittered Linda. I knew it was all his plan and I hoped he was satisfied.But then, the magnitude of the pain felt unbearable, and I didn't know how much more I could take.Suddenly, the door to my room burst open, and Tobias walked in without knocking. I quickly wiped my tears and tried to compose myself, but the pain and exhaustion were too obvious to hide. He didn't talk immediately but stood there and monitored me for a while before speaking."Maxine," he said softly, his eyes filled with pity as he took in my bruised and battered state."Go away, Tobias," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Liam will be furious if he finds you here. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me.""I don't care," he replied firmly, shutting the door b
Liam PovLately, Maxine had changed, and it was bothering me more than I wanted to admit. She was no longer the broken, submissive girl who flinched at my every command. Instead, she moved with a purpose I couldn't quite place. She was either at training or in her room, and even when I summoned her to warm my bed, she complied without complaint. This new attitude of hers chewed at me, and I found myself increasingly obsessed with figuring out what was going on.I sat in my office, staring at the reports in front of me without really seeing them. My mind kept drifting back to Maxine. What was she up to? Why had she changed so suddenly? I needed to know.I called Kris, my Beta, into my office. "Kris, I need you to keep an eye on Maxine," I said, trying to keep my voice casual. "She's been acting strange, and I want to know what she's up to."Kris raised an eyebrow but didn't question me. "I'll take care of it, Alpha," he said, nodding. "Do you suspect something specific? Or anyone?""I
Liam povAs I watched Maxine leave my chambers, a storm of conflicting emotions roiled within me. Her attitude was unexpected, and it chomped at me. What was she up to? Why the sudden change? The way she carried herself, the determination in her eyes—it was all new, and I couldn't help but be intrigued.I monitored her closely over the next few days, my frustration was mounting as I found nothing suspicious. She trained harder than ever, pushing herself to the brink, but there was no sign of any covert meetings or plans. It was maddening. She was either becoming the warrior I wanted or hiding something far more cunning.One evening, after a particularly grueling day of overseeing pack affairs, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. The night breeze was cool and refreshing, providing a brief respite from the chaos in my mind. As I passed the training grounds, I noticed Maxine sparring alone, her movements were fluid and fierce. I watched her from the dark, noting the fire in her ey
Maxine PovWeeks passed, and each day brought its challenges. My body ached from the relentless training, but the pain was a welcome distraction from the emotional torment. Despite my warnings, Tobias continued to sneak into my quarters late at night to help me train. He was determined, and I was grateful, even though I worried about the risks he was taking. Because if Liam should find out, hell would let loose."Tobias, you shouldn't be here, this is dangerous," I whispered one night as he slipped into my room."And leave you to fend for yourself? Not a chance," he replied, setting down a small bag of training gear."Liam's watching me," I said, my voice trembling with concern. "If he finds out, he'll kill you."Tobias gave me a reassuring smile. "I'm careful, Maxine. And besides, you're worth the risk."His words warmed my heart, but they also filled me with worry. I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him because of me. But I knew he was right. I needed this training
Maxine PovBack in my room, I paced back and forth, my mind was filled with different thoughts. I felt like men in this pack saw me as a plaything, something they could manipulate and do whatever they wished they could.Tobias's confession had thrown me off balance. I had trusted him and relied on him for support and training. But now I wasn't sure what to think. Was he truly in love with me, or was he just another man trying to control me? I couldn't make any sense of what he asked. Rather I felt hurt and insulted.I sat down on my bed, my head in my hands. I couldn't afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment. I needed to put all that behind me and stay focused on my goal. Liam was still watching me, and any misstep could be fatal. As much as I was training, I don't think I would be able to handle another fighting punishment with Linda.As time went on, I avoided Tobias, keeping to myself as much as possible. I couldn't face him, not yet. My mind was a whirl of conflicting thoughts