STARLETTE
I patiently waited for Maximus in the room. No, impatiently. Because I wouldn’t stop pacing, terrified that he might harm Amelia. I was the one who brought her here, and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her. I just hoped he would keep his promise not to hurt her.
It had only been minutes, but it felt like hours, each second intensifying my anxiety. I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to know if she was okay.
I hurried toward the door, my hand just touching the doorknob, when Bella’s voice sounded from behind.
“Seems you don’t value my life.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I turned around. Anxiety clouded my mind so much that I had forgotten Maximus threatened to take Bella’s head if she let me leave. I didn’t believe he would actually do it, but it was safer not to dare him.
“I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice trembling.
“I warned you about the risks,” Bella muttered.
I so much hated the ‘I told you’ moment.
Pacing again, I hoped it might help ease my mind, but the more I thought about the situation, the worse I felt. My thoughts burnt like fire, crawling up every inch of my skin. I hated this feeling.
Turning to Bella once more, I asked, “Can you mind-link him? Maximus, I mean. Ask-”
“I don’t think that’s a great idea,” she interrupted.
“What about Kade?”
She shook her head again, leaving me with little hope.
“Tom is my friend. He wouldn’t mind,” I pressed, trying to find any solution to ease my worries.
But before Bella could respond, the door flew open, and Maximus appeared in the doorway, a hard frown etched across his face.
My heart plummeted to my stomach.
“Leave,” he growled as he stepped into the room. We both knew he wasn’t referring to me, so I remained rooted in place, my gaze fixed on the floor as Bella silently walked past me and exited the room.
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving us alone.
“Why did you do that?” Maximus shot the question at me, his voice taut with frustration.
“Do what?” I played dumb, even though I knew exactly what he meant. Why did I say that?
“This is no time for jokes, Starlette. Why did you bring that witch to my pack? Why did you risk your life?” His tone brimmed with annoyance.
I raised my head, meeting his gaze for a moment, but a sense of shame washed over me, and I looked away.
“I wanted to help Lucius,” I breathed.
“Why?” he demanded sharply.
“Because I owe him that much.”
“Why?!” His voice rose slightly, pressing me further.
Finally, I met his eyes and retorted strongly. “He saved me when no one else would-not even you. He found the evidence that proved I was innocent of the accusations Lauren pinned on me. So yes, I owed him that much.”
No matter how angry or disappointed he was, I didn’t regret my decision.
“You’d rather please him than obey me?” He asked, his voice dripping with malice. “I told you to stay away from him, but not only did you disobey my orders, you also risked your life.”
“But I’m still here, aren’t I?”
Maximus palmed his face, blowing out a sharp breath. “You’re not getting the point, are you?”
I knew exactly what he was trying to say, but at the moment, it wasn’t my top concern.
“How’s Amelia? What did you do to her?” I asked.
“She’s gone,” he said, his tone flat.
“Gone?” I asked, my heart racing, fearing the worst.
“Gone as in, she went back to their lands,” he clarified, and I exhaled a long sigh of relief. My heart had nearly leaped out of my chest.
“So, you let her go?” I asked, surprised but pleased that he released her so soon.
“She escaped.”
I couldn’t help but let out another sigh of relief. I was just glad she was able to return unharmed.
“She promised to give us information about the invisibles. But she said she would only speak to you. She claimed you know how to reach her.” He raised a brow, clearly skeptical. “How do you plan to do that?”
“She, uh…” I scratched the back of my neck. “I have her phone number.”
Maximus seemed lost in thought for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. So…” He folded his arms across his chest, gazing intently at me. “You promised you’d tell me everything today. No more sneakiness. I’m listening.”
“I’m giving you the chance to redeem yourself, Starlette,” he added when I hesitated, his voice gentler but still firm. “What else are you hiding?”
There were so many things I needed to tell him-the pregnancy, the situation with Lauren-but I didn’t know how to. I wasn’t sure how he would take it, especially the pregnancy. In truth, I wasn’t sure I was ready to share that at all.
I swallowed hard. “That’s it. The witch and Lucius’s issues are the reasons I’ve been acting suspicious. Nothing more.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Are you sure?”
I swallowed again, nodding this time.
He blew out a sharp breath and stepped closer, his face suddenly softening. “I haven’t been the best mate either. I did terrible things to you when you first arrived. I tried staying angry at you-for bringing a witch into my pack, for helping Lucius without my consent, for lying to me-but I couldn’t. I can’t hold that against you because I’ve done worse.”
Closing the distance between us, he took my hands in his. “Let’s start again. A fresh start. What do you say? No more secrets?”
“No more secrets,” I repeated, my voice trembling as my eyes welled up with tears. But these weren’t tears of joy. I was crying because of how much I hated lying to him. Again.
He raised his hand to my face, gently wiping my tears away with his thumb.
“I missed you. So much,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
I missed him too.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him. His scent overwhelmed me, intoxicating and familiar. Oh, how I’d missed being in his arms.
“I missed you too,” I whispered back.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he lifted my chin with two fingers, our eyes locking.
“I want you. So badly,” he rasped, and before he could say anything else, I rose on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his.
The feeling was mutual.