MAXINENick told me all about his life growing up. His parents had owned a large farm and after they had been murdered on a trip, his grandparents had stepped in to take care of him.They had been both kind and strict, making him the man that he is today. It was why he couldn't turn away when he saw someone in need. It was why he felt obligated to help me."One time, just one time, I had brought in four stray cats into the barn. They were as tiny as my fist." Nick said, making a fist for me."I thought that since the farm was big enough, I could raise them and my grandparents wouldn't have to find out. I was so wrong," he continued."My grandmother brought the box into the house, scolding me about picking up stray animals." The memory brought a smile to his face."Did she throw them out?" I asked."Of course. But not immediately. We raised them for a couple of months until they were big enough and then we let them out. They kept coming back though. So, Grandfather drove them to anothe
MAXINE"You must be Maxine. Hi, I'm Ariel, Nick's sister." She said still smiling. She held out her hand but there was something about her smile that made me uneasy.Nick didn't have a sister. He looked a bit flustered when I ignored his supposed sister and looked at him instead."Nick? You never mentioned having a sister." I said. That only meant that he lied to me. I wondered what else he lied to me about.She glanced at him briefly. "Don't mind him. I'm his cousin. Grandma and grandpa sort of adopted me and took care of me after my parents died so we usually just kind of play it off that we're siblings." She explained.This didn't sound believable but it was a similar story to Nick's. They were both raised by his grandparents.I looked at Nick. "Is it true?" I asked.He nodded. "It is." He said.I hummed my distaste but I decided to be polite. "Welcome to town," I said, finally holding my hand out to her. She shook it."It's such a nice place." She told me. The smile was still the
MAXINE"You're one of them. You're a werewolf killer," I said, realization finally dawning on me.He was new to town. He did home jobs. It meant that he had access to people's lives. That was how he chose his targets. That was how he knew the people to kill.He was a werewolf hunter. That was why I thought something was off about his sister. She's most likely one of them too."Maxine," Nick called but I was already turning on my heels and running away.I needed to get away from him fast. I needed to find someone who I could report him to. I had to get to safety.I took several turns and when I didn't hear him behind me anymore, I slowed down, looking around. Where were the patrol wolves when you needed them?"You shouldn't run from me, Maxine," Nick said as he hurried out from another alleyway in front of me.I took a step back, startled. "How did you…?" I looked back from where I had run from. "How did you find me?"Nick was still covered in blood. There weren't a lot of people on th
LIAMI gave them the details about her. I needed them to get a scent of her so, I stood to my feet and walked over to one of the cabinets.I opened it and searched through it. I found what I was looking for and gave the messenger the spare keys to her house."Give them something of hers to sniff. That way, they can know her scent." I instructed."Okay, Alpha Liam." He bowed."I give you twenty-four hours to get me a lead on her. Do you understand?" I asked."Yes, sir!" They replied, bowing."You may leave," I instructed. They left my office and set out to find her. And the moon goddess helps me control my anger when I find that girl.***The call came in the next morning, right when I was having breakfast. I answered it and brought it to my ear."Yes?" I said into the phone. I didn't care who was on the other side. You didn't call me before my working hours unless it was extremely important."Alpha Liam, this is Henrick. I'm one of the wolves you sent to find Maxine." He said.The way
MAXINE"I'm your worst nightmare," he snarled, his voice dropping lower than I've ever heard it.I knew that Alpha Liam was scary but I didn't know he was scary enough to make another grown man doubt what kind of creature he was. I was still stunned and I didn't even realize when he had walked away until a wolf nudged me."Oh, sorry," I apologized, quickly hurrying after Liam."Get in," he told me as he got into the car. I timidly got into the passenger seat. He started the car and began to drive away."If this should ever happen again, I'm going to find you and then kill you myself, do you understand?" He asked me, his eyes on the path."Yes, master," I replied, folding my fingers together between my laps.He sounded like he meant it and I was more scared that I would do something wrong and he would be reminded of the dungeon. What if he chooses to lock me up until he sees fit?"Maybe a few days in the dungeon will be a good lesson to you." He said.It was almost like he read my mind
MAXINEIt was Alpha Gerald— the man who had rejected me as his mate and chosen my best friend instead.I slammed the door in his face and leaned back against it, panting. How had he found me here? Had my father told him where he had taken him? Why was he here?He knocked on the door again. "Maxine, don't be stubborn. Open the door." He ordered.This was the same man that I had loved. That I had dreamt of giving myself to for a thousand nights. I had imagined him falling in love with me, holding me, and confessing his undying love for me.I had so many dreams about him. But after he had rejected me the night when my wolf refused to awaken, everything I felt for him died, replaced my hatred.Or so I thought.My knees were weak and my heart was racing. This wasn't what someone felt when they met the person that they hated. This was wrong. Why did he have such an effect on me?"Maxine!" Alpha Gerald called again, banging on my door.If he continued like that, he would disturb my neighbors
LIAM"This is not up for discussion. You've wasted your time. I'm not sorry because I didn't invite you. This meeting is done." I said sternly.There were sounds of disapproval from them. However, the Alphas and their representatives began to get up leaving over by one, many of them displeased. I didn't care. I've never been one to kiss up to the Alphas.Besides, I was strong enough to challenge them like this and get away with it. After they had left, the only ones in the room were me, Varis, and Alpha Gerald.He acted like he had something to say to me. I eyed him wearily. "Is anything the problem?" I asked.He shook his head. "No, of course not. But…" he trailed off."Alpha Gerald, if you have something to say, I suggest you spit it out," I said as curtly as I possibly could."There's still one problem that you have to take care of." Alpha Gerald said to me.I lifted my brow at him. What could know that I wasn't already aware of?"And that is?" I asked."There's a wolf—" he stopped
MAXINEAlpha Gerald wanted to have his way with me. I cried and struggled. This was the wrong day to wear a skirt. This was the wrong day, period.I closed my eyes, begging the moon goddess to save me. My door opened and I peeled my eyes open in time to see the Alpha's right-hand man walking into my house.He grabbed Alpha Gerald by the shoulders and lifted him off of me, pushing him away. "You disregarded the Alpha's warnings," he growled out, standing between me and Alpha Gerald.I quickly stood to my feet, arranging my clothes and holding what was left of my shirt to cover myself. I glared at Alpha Gerald.He looked like he knew that he had been caught doing something wrong. Because he had been."Leave this town, immediately," Varis commanded him."Don't think you've escaped this time, Maxine. This isn't the last you'll hear of me." He said as he began to walk backward. "I can promise you that."When he was gone, my knees grew weak. I staggered back to the couch and held onto it fo