MAXINELiam was going to kill a lot of people, I was sure. I could feel his murderous intent from here but he was smiling. And joking about the chicken.I helped Varis tie up the unconscious attackers one by one before he started to make some calls. I looked for my phone in the kitchen where I had been using it to cook.It was on the floor, shoved under the refrigerator, probably during a scuffle. I brought it out and found a few scratches but it still worked perfectly.Less than an hour later, cars were pulling over in front of the house. We stood to our feet and walked outside, with Kris of course. He was healing well. We stood, watching the park.Men in formal attire got out of the cars and surrounded the front of the house, turning their backs to it. They were guarding us, when we didn't need it anymore.The Alpha Beck of the Crimson River Pack got out of his car with, surprisingly, my father Alpha Harold. They walked towards Liam."What happened here?" Alpha Beck asked. Although
MAXINEI went to work the very next day. Even though the night before with Liam had felt strange, I returned to work. I didn't want to bet on the fact that he was going to help me out with my job at the pack hospital.I didn't know how long the leave he had gotten me extended for. So, I didn't want to risk it. Besides, I was bored at home.At work, nothing new had happened. It was the usual gossip mill. Some nurse was screwing some doctor and one or both of them were worried. I met some people who had been searching for me to buy herbs. I gave them my number.I was going to stick to delivering the herbs to them. I didn't want a repeat of Alpha Gerald. If more people knew where I lived, the risk of getting attacked was raised much higher.Someone with good intentions could give my address to someone who didn't mean well.As I walked home, I was reminded of Ella and Tobias. I hadn't seen them in days and I don't think I had invited them to my new place. I wonder if they had heard that I
MAXINEMy jaw must have been touching the floor. I couldn't hold back my surprise. I was short of words. Of all the things bothering her, I had never considered that Tobias cheating was one of them."What?" I asked. "How did you find out?"For as long as I've known Tobias, I never for once thought that he was that kind of person. He seemed upright, with good values.Well, I guess I wouldn't know. I had never really been in a relationship with him. Ella was the one. So, I wouldn't know what he was like when someone was in a relationship with him."I… just feel so. He comes home later than usual. He doesn't talk much with me anymore. I…" Her eyes glistened with fresh tears. "I don't even think he wants the baby anymore.""Oh, Ella," I said, immediately wrapping my arms around her and pulling her to my side. "Don't say that. Of course, Tobias wants the baby. He could never not want it."She wiped her tears and pulled away from me. "Then why is he acting this way? He suddenly just changed
MAXINEI nodded. "Yeah. And she's thinking things." I replied.Tobias ran a hand through his hair. "I messed up. Shit." He replied. "I've just been working extra hard, getting more jobs. I'm doing it for our future, for our baby.""She doesn't know that. All she sees is that you're coming home later and not seeing her." I said. "Her words. She says it's like you know that she's around but you don't see her. She thinks it's because there's someone else. Someone else who has your attention, your time, your love."He let it sink into his head. "I was just so tired. Always am. I didn't know this was affecting her too." He said."You should go let her know. I'll wait here so you guys can talk. Or better still, I'll leave." I offered."Thanks for all you do, Maxine. Thank you." He said."Don't mention. What are friends for?" I said. I left the room.Ella was still in the kitchen, cleaning. My thought was that she was trying to keep herself busy. But I knew that she was thinking about Tobias
MAXINE"Come, let's go," Nadia said, picking up the tray of antiseptics and surgical scissors.I followed after her into the torch-lit corridors of the pack hospital. The pungent smell of antiseptic hung heavy in the air. Nadia's eyebrows furrowed but she bounced with nervous energy."You were incredible with that delivery, Maxine," Nadia said, her voice filled with awe. "The way you helped her deliver that baby… it was like magic!""Again, the herbs did the job. Not me. Though, I wouldn't call it magic." I said, turning her thoughts down.They reached a doorway draped with heavy furs, muffling the sounds within. A low moan escaped from the room, followed by a muttered curse.Nadia's gaze softened. "Looks like Elara's in good spirits, despite the cracked ribs." She said. She had been worried about her because she had been slow in healing."Yes," I said.Nadia's sighed, her usual cheer dimmed. "But our best doctor is away tending to a rogue sighting near the southern border. We could u
MAXINEI gave her a cup of tea and sat down in the chair opposite her with my cup. I made a mental note to make the moonflower tea for Elara.We drank from the cup of tea slowly, sipping. I was going to force her to say anything. I was just going to let her be. Whenever she was ready."He's a good man," She began.I was surprised to hear her speak so soon. "Who is?" I asked, putting down my cup.Lindsey gave me a small smile and looked into her cup of tea. "Mark— Marie's father. He was the love of my life. He was kind, he was thoughtful. He was everything I ever wanted." She explained slowly.I watched her quietly. The look in her eyes told me that she was remembering all the good times, the reason why she had fallen in love with Mark. The reason she had started a family with him. She was still in love with him."He was a good husband. I thought that he would be a good father too." There was a look of regret on her face. She sighed. "He just wasn't what I thought he was.""What happen
LIAMI've never seen her look so desperate before. She stayed on her knees, her hands pressed on her knees and her head bowed slightly."Please, master," she begged again.Frustration gnawed at me. Her voice was trembling with fear, sadness, and something I couldn't quite place. She wanted me to have sympathy. But pity was a luxury an Alpha couldn't afford."I thought she was your neighbor. Have you ever lived a month with her? Why are you putting your all to help this woman?" I asked, not understanding.It felt like Maxine was always trusting. The same way she was with Nick. I swear, I could smell the desperation oozing from her second skin. "Please, Alpha Liam," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. "Just a word… Lindsey's a good mother, they can't take her daughter away!" The name Lindsey was a foreign sound in this office. I didn't know her before this. Going out of my way to waddle in legal cases was not what I was looking forward to.I wasn't a glorified pack enforcer, o
MAXINEI stopped in front of the cafe and read the sign. It was Howl's Cafe. I had managed to get a hold of Mark and convinced him to see me. It had taken a lot to make him come here today. I hoped he was here.As I pushed the door open and walked in, the scent of cinnamon and roasted beans filled my lungs. The bell at the top of the door rang, signaling my entry.My eyes scanned the small crowd in the interior and landed on Mark who was hunched over a steaming mug of coffee. I walked over to him and slid into the worn leather booth across from him.Mark glanced up, surprise flickering across his face before settling on indifference. He hadn't noticed me until I was seated opposite him. I must have thrown him off."Maxine," he acknowledged, his voice flat."Mark," I replied. "Thank you for coming.""Don't thank me for anything yet. I only agreed to meet you. Nothing more." Mark countered gruffly before taking a large gulp of his coffee."I came here to negotiate," I said, skipping str