Chapter Five

Maddox POV

An uneasy feeling came across me as I braced myself for tomorrow, this was it, not only was I about to take over the pack form my father, I was able to find her, my mate. Even though I had already found her as far as I was concerned. Annalee was it, she was my mate! She has to be, I have waited so long for her. Having the Alpha title would allow me to set the rules she could stand by myside and I didn’t have to care what anyone else though of what she was, she would be mine.

The sun was starting to raise and I could feel my anticipation growing, I needed a few moments to calm myself before I went and found her. She would be in the kitchen making breakfast now busy running around. Taking a long shower and dressing in my casual jeans and t-shirt, I made my way to the kitchen, desperate to see her. As I round the corner the doors were only a few feet away, I could hear her in the kitchen. Something dropped on the floor making a loud bang and she cursed loudly making me chuckle. Taking a few calming breaths, I couldn’t wait any longer.  

Walking into the kitchen, I instantly see her looking frustrated with her brows drawn close together whilst cleaning the floor. Staring at her I took a moment to appreciate her beauty, her black hair curly was pulled back in a pony tail sticking up everywhere, her blue eyes glassy with fatigue, but still magnetic, and her lips turned down in a frown. She didn’t even have to try to look perfect or make my heart stop, other girls would spend hours getting ready and threw themselves at me. They were always attracted to power in packs it was hard wired into their DNA, mate with the most powerful. Annalee was different, she didn’t need hours to look beautiful she just woke up and off she went. She also didn’t want the power or the title, she just wanted to belong.

It took her a moment to realise I was there “Oh my God, Maddox, didn’t see you there” she responded a little breathless “Good morning and Happy Birthday” giving me the most amazing smile. She smelt so good, my skin began to prickle with excitement, her scent of cinnamon and chocolate reached me and I was so drawn to her.

“Spill something again” asked leaning against the door frame, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“You know me,” she looked frustrated at the mess, with her hands on her hips wondering where to start. She had no idea what was about to happen. But I would and I could start to claim her, strengthen our bond, and when she turned eighteen, she would have my mark on her. Unable to wait any longer, I closed the distance between us until I was standing right in front of her. Pulling her into my arms, I buried my nose in the nape of her neck. Her body stiffened and stilled, clearly shocked and not understanding my actions. Breathing deeply into her I noticed she smelled amazing her skin felt soft. This was the closest we had ever been and I loved touching her, but that was it! There were no sparks, no undeniable pull, and the one word I thought I would hear when I finally held her today, Mine, ringing in my mind knowing finally that she was indeed mine, it never came. Stepping back, I looked at her shocked, she wasn’t my mate, she wasn’t the one destined for me by the moon goddess.

My vision went blurry with rage, and I stood in front of her shaking. All my fears I never let in came flooding back, the one I refused to acknowledge all this time, if she wasn’t mine, that could only mean she belongs to another. A loud growl vibrated through my chest as all these feeling engulfed me at once, anger, frustration, confusion, sadness, jealousy and pain. She belonged to another, someone else would get to hold her, kiss her, taste her, have her. “you’re not her” I said more to myself shaking my head in disbelief pacing back and forth.

“I’m not who?” I heard her sweet voice confused raising her eyebrows questioning my strange behaviour.

“I thought for sure, I thought it was you, why? how are you not her? you have to be” I still wasn’t really asking or speaking to her just throwing it out there, pleading the moon goddess silently to fix her mistake.

“Maddox, what are you talking about? I’m not who?” she starting to look worried and confused, staring into my eyes looking for some kind of clue to understand what was happening. Letting out a small sigh she asked “have you started your birthday celebrations early” looking at me with concern, grabbing me gently by the arm and sitting me on one of the stools facing her. Holding my face in her hands, they felt so warm and soft making me look into her eyes. This was making my pain worse with her beautiful eyes staring at me, I was lost in them how could the moon goddess do this to me. Annalee was oblivious to my heartbreak she just searched for any sign I was high or drunk and continued to speak in a direct and stern voice as I muttered incoherent things like you’re not her over and over, “Maddox are you drunk? Please tell me you haven’t taken anything stupid? seriously Maddox it’s like 6 am! Ok focus!” shaking my to look back at her “Maddox listen to me, I’m Annalee, Ann-a-lee,” she said it slowly “here let me get you something to eat maybe it will help you soak up whatever the hell you have taken you have guest arriving soon” she turned to start cooking and I couldn’t be here with her anymore. The reality of it hit me, it wasn’t her she wasn’t mine and I would never have her, she belonged to another.

Running into the woods behind the pack house I sprinted off shifting mid-air. Not stopping till my lungs burned, my muscles seized and I could no long keep going, collapsing in a heap and let out a heartbreaking howl, letting all the longing and pain of my broken heart come through me to the surface.

Not knowing how long I was out there wondering aimlessly, pleading the mood goddess to change it, to make her mine. But I knew nothing would change the harsh reality. When I returned, I went straight to my room and jumped in the shower wanting to wash away this day and go back to before I knew. Complete and utter darkness consumed me and I thought my life was over, and then something shifted. Realising, I had guest coming for my party tonight, if I wasn’t her mate maybe one of them would be. They could claim her and in two short years they would come back and take her away from me. No, I wouldn’t let that happen I had to keep her away! No one can have her but me!

In that moment I knew one thing, I was the next god damn alpha of the Orion pack, no one would take what was mine, and she was mine, I no longer care if the moon goddess fated her to me. The only thing that mattered now is making sure she was kept away from the visiting packs. I couldn't risk of her being taken away, I needed a plan and I knew who could help without Annalee blaming me.

                                      **************************

Annalee’s P.O.V

Absolutely no idea what his problem was! strutting in here and out of nowhere hugs me and flips out. Stupid Maddox, he was defiantly either drunk or high or both, and I was mad. I had put all this work into his party, and he will be pass out before it even starts at the rate he was going. Busying myself with cooking breakfast and completing my chores, I could barely keep my eyes open I needed to get some sleep. But that was a distant dream with everyone showing up in a few hours there would be no way I would be allowed to sneak off and rest. Sighing loudly, I wiped the sweat from my face with an old towel and kept mopping the kitchen floor. Completely lost in thought of the party tonight I hadn’t heard Brittany come into the kitchen.

“Seriously I have no idea why they even let you stay here, you pathetic little hybrid whore, why don’t you just do everyone a favour and leave, or better yet kill yourself, no one wants you here and no one would care” her words hurt, mostly because they were true. No one would care if I was gone no one would miss me at all. But I refused to let her get to me so I tried my best to just ignore her. Wrong thing to do apparently because without warning she slams me backwards, making me fall, landing in the dirty mop bucket. As I trip my ankle rolls and a loud crack follows. Not only was I in extreme pain, I was now wet with dirty water that smelt fowl and the floor needed to be mopped again. This day just keeps getting better I mutter to myself. Brittney just laughed, grabbed a juice out of the fridge and left feeling very pleased with herself.

Grabbing my ankle, I slowly removed my shoe, wincing at the pain and groaned at how swollen it already was. Not sure if I could even walk, but I needed to do something I couldn’t just lay here on the floor and feel sorry for myself. So, I hobbled to the medicine cabinet, taking out the first aid kit, and wrapped my ankle, it felt better but still hurt like a bitch. However, no time to complain, I had things to get finish before the party if I didn’t, I would be punished. Managing to clean the water off the floor and finished up in the kitchen. I was in desperate need of a hot shower to rid myself of this smell and these wet clothes, and maybe even put some ice on this ankle if I had time before the guests arrive. As the pian worsened I went to my happy place, this time imagining all the beautiful people at the party, the food the music it would be wonderful, not that I could attend, but I was glad everyone could enjoy themselves, and knowing I had a small part in that made me smile.

Stepping off the stairs, I saw Alpha Maxwell standing at my door, oh no! he looked pissed. Oh no what did I forget? what had I done? A thousand thoughts filled my head suddenly scared and feeling very small. “Hello, Alpha is there something I can help you with?” I asked in a whisper.

“HOW DARE YOU GIRL! after everything we have done, taking you in, feeding, clothing and giving you a bed to sleep in and this is how you repay us?” he was shouting at me and I went blank, what had I done? I had no idea what was happening was everyone in this packhouse losing their god damn minds today.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Alpha” bowing my head and not looking him not wanting to seem like I was challenging his authority.

“Do not try to deny it, young Brittany came to me this morning telling me how you have been trying to seduce Maddox, and when she confronted you this morning you attacked her” he was furious, and I was lost for words. What the hell, me try to seduce Maddox, the thought made me turn red I had never had a sexual thought in my life, I was only 15 and not interested in seducing anyone, I wouldn’t even know how. “Are you trying to damage the Hartley name by having my son associate with the likes of you, knowing now would be the time with other packs coming here, do you want to hurt us?”

“No Alpha, I don’t know what….”  But I couldn’t finish he cut me off

“Now you have the nerve to call a high-ranking pack members daughter a liar? After threatening her life and attempting to harm her, lucky she is well trained and could fight back who knows the damage you could have done being what you are. I should have cast you out long-ago girl! But my wife would never forgive me. But that does not mean I will not punish you for your crimes against this pack and Brittany. Let’s see if a few days in the cells teaches you how to behave”. His eyes as cold as ice and I knew there was no way to convince him, he wouldn’t believe me. So, I accepted my fate and hung my head in defeat, nodding, trying to hold my tears in. Before I had time to think two men grabbed my arms and started leading me down the stairs and towards the back door. Trying as hard as I could to keep up, but their legs were bigger than mine, paired with my injured ankle, they were practically dragging me by the end. Once we entered the prisoner’s section at the back of the property, I spotted heavy iron doors concealing the cells. Until now I don’t think I knew the gravity of the situation I was in, now standing in front of the doors I felt my heart quicken and my body started to shake on its own.

“No use crying little hybrid, this is a direct order from the Alpha, no escaping this” one of the guards smirked, and I felt tears on my cheeks and hung my head. He was right I had been ordered here by the Alpha these men wouldn’t go against his orders and by the looks on their faces they didn’t want to. Placing me, actually, throwing me! into a cell, I hit the floor hard. It was dark and couldn’t see anything, there were no windows, no bed, nothing but emptiness, I was alone, and scared. Sobbing uncontrollably till I couldn’t breathe and I had no tears left, I really wanted my bear.

What felt like hours laying on the dirty cold floor I finally heard the lock open, hopefully they had realised it had all been a big mistake and they would let me out. Yeah right! That’s not what happened! Instead of letting me out a large man, holding a small light, picked me up by my hair and dragged me towards the back wall of my cell. The cold wall pushed against my stomach and I felt heavy chains being placed around my wrists, before as my hands were raised above my head. All my weight was now on my ankle, that I was sure was broken, making me scream in pain.

The man behind me let out a dark sadistic chuckle at the sound of me in pain “don’t start screaming yet, the fun hasn’t even started!” Feeling my shirt being ripped from my body, my back was exposed and I felt numb. Knowing what was coming I did what I always did in situations like this, I closed my eyes and went to my happy place “you’re okay, you’re going to be okay” I repeated over and over in my mind. Switching off, I began to imagined I was in someone else’s body, maybe someone at the party having a good time, dancing and eating good food. Then it started, the crack of the whip and the sound of flesh being torn from bone. Fresh blood spilled down my back, thick and warm and I held in my scream, the blinding pain that seared through my body. Hit, after hit, came until I passed out from the pain, I must have thrown up at some point because when I came to, I was back on the floor, shirtless bleeding and covered in my own vomit. Laying silently alone, scared in the dark, in shock, I can’t believe this was happening, I knew they hated me for what I was, I knew they didn’t want me around, but why this? was I that bad? did I really deserve this? I thought I would start crying again, but I there was nothing left, no tears, no fight, no hope.