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
MAXINEI was so embarrassed. I scurried out of the room and into the hallway, closing the door behind me. Tears blurred my eyes as I pulled the blanket tightly to my body.I needed to get out of here. I traced my way back to the main door and although it took me a while to find it. A lot of the wolves in the pack house were staring at me as I left.I hurried back to my house, keeping my head down low. But before I could get anywhere, Kris pulled over with his car. He rolled down the window."Hop in." He told me. I hesitated, looking back and forth waiting for anyone that I could use as an excuse not to enter.He must have sensed my fear. "Liam asked me to take you to another house." He said.My eyes widened. "But, my things… my life is in that house," I said, mentally making a list of everything that was in that house. "I… I can't just leave."Kris got out of the car and walked over to my side. He pulled the door open and came to me, herding me into the car."Liam's orders. If you hav
LIAM"Undress," I repeated looking right into her eyes. I crossed my legs and rested my chin in my hands.She was still wearing the shirt I had seen her in the pack hospital. The shirt hugged her chest in a way that remained imprinted in my mind even after I had walked past her.Her eyes were still widened but she nodded, bowing her head as she made to undo the buttons of her shirt. She did it calmly and something about it was attractive.She finally finished unbuttoning it and she took it off. The next to go were her black trousers. She unbuckled it and took it off, standing in front of me wearing nothing but her underwear.Surprisingly, they matched."Turn around," I told her, using my finger to gesture.She did as I said, turning around. I stood to my feet, taking off my jacket and my tie, before slowly unbuttoning my shirt. I could hear the sound of her heart racing in her chest.I got to her and slapped her buttocks a few times. She winced. "Go to the bedroom," I instructed.Care
MAXINEI smiled, staring at the new phone. Liam didn't want to get me a phone because he thought it would make me distracted and I wouldn't be able to do my job well.I wanted to call him. But, I didn't have his number and even if I did, I wasn't sure if he wanted to be reminded of this small kindness he just did to me. I didn't know what was acceptable now.Still, I was grateful for the phone and I didn't hesitate to find out all the things that it could do.I was still very much sore from last night so I called in sick to work and had a warm bath. I was feeling a bit sick. The warm bath helped a bit. After that, I washed off the stained blanket and stayed in bed, using my phone.I was extremely bored after a few hours. I didn't have any of my friend's numbers and I still hadn't gotten my things from the old house.I decided that I had to get this done or forget about actually moving in completely anytime soon. I pulled on baggy joggers and locked the doors, stuffing my keys in my po
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