STARLETTE
The days leading up to our meeting with the witches dragged on painfully slow. We anticipated the meeting, wondering how it would turn out. Though we were tensed, what made it easier was the love and affection I and Maximus shared within those days. We got to know each other better, but my chest felt heavy knowing I still had secrets in store. The baby.
I was surprised that the doctor didn’t detect the pregnancy when he examined me. Bella was just as puzzled. Perhaps he knew and chose to keep it to himself.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay behind?” Maximus asked as the car started to move.
Following us were three vans filled with heavily armed men.
I smiled sweetly. “I’ll be fine, Max. Stop worrying about me and focus on what we have ahead of us. Just stay calm, and try as much as possible to not turn it into a fit of rage.”
“As you wish, my queen.” He leaned in and captured my lip in his, sucking my bottom lips before gliding his tongue against mine. My body filled with warmth, and I pushed myself against him, wanting to feel more of him.
Tom suddenly cleared his throat. Only then did I remember that Kade and Tom were in the front seats, and I hastily jerked myself away from my mate. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Everything, everyone blurred out whenever I was with this man.
Maximus hissed. “Mind your freaking business.”
“Get a room.” Kade teased.
Maximus reached to strangle him, but Kade quickly reminded him.
“I’m driving, and your mate’s in the car.”
He balled his fingers into a fist, his jaw tightening and his breath hitching.
Relaxing back into the seat, he groaned. “Just keep quiet and drive.”
The remaining distance to the meeting ground was covered in silence. But it was a horny silence between me and Maximus, as we didn’t fail to cast longing glances at each other.
When we arrived at the meeting ground, the witches were already there. Like us, they had come with an army large enough to fight a war. We stepped out of the car cautiously, surveying the scene.
“Starlette.” Amelia beamed, waving at me. She stood beside her father.
A wide smile spread on my lips. “Amelia.”
“Let’s begin.” Her father started without bothering to exchange greetings.
Me, Maximus, Amelia, and Kaelin approached ourselves and simultaneously stopped when there was a 10-foot distance between us.
“First of all, I would like to know why you are after your brother.” Maximus said. “How can I be sure that you aren’t working with him?”
Kaelin’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “I would never work with Gabriel. You don’t have to believe me, but I hate him as much as you do.”
Gabriel, I registered his name. The enemy who had been terrorizing us.
“Then I have to know the reason you agreed to work with us. You know mine. We can’t proceed without knowing yours.”
Kaelin breathed deeply. “He was banished for performing dark magic when he was twenty-two and, I, twenty. Before he left, he tried to kill me for being the good child our parents favored. But I miraculously survived. After being in coma for almost two years, that is.”
“So you want revenge.” Maximus stated.
“That’s not the only thing. He stole something from the clan, and we have been desperately trying to search for him to retrieve it. Once he activates what he stole, he would be unstoppable and capable of burning the entire world to ashes.”
“You want that ‘thing’ for yourself instead, yeah?” Maximus raised a suspicious brow.
“Once it’s in our possession, it will be destroyed.” Kaelin retorted. “You see why we need each other. Now, let’s get down to business.”
Maximus was still suspicious of the clan elder but agreed to proceed anyway.
“What’s next? How do we capture them?” he asked.
“He is cloaked, and as Amelia said, so are the invisibles. So a location spell won’t work.”
“What do we do then?” My mate seemed impatient.
“My suggestion. A few witches would settle in your pack, and when the invisibles attacked again, they would be captured, and the source of their magic would be traced.”
“That is not possible.” I was the first to object. “Our people would feel uneasy with the witches roaming around, and knowing how much both species detest each other, a bloodbath would be inevitable.”
Kaelin shrugged. “I can tolerate the wolves if I will myself to.” His gaze scanned all the wolves present. “Like I’m doing right now.”
“We might be able to control ourselves. But can you vouch for your people?” I shot at him.
“Can you vouch for yours?” He shot back.
The silence that followed was the answer we both needed. None of us could vouch for our species. The hatred we all had for each other was deep-rooted and couldn’t end in just one day. Allowing them in our park would be a recipe for disaster.
“Come up with something else,” Maximus said.
Kaelin thought for a moment. “What if we cast a boundary spell?”
“Elaborate,” Maximus said.
“A boundry spell would be cast all around your pack. Entrance would only be allowed, and no one would be able to exit. Within that boundary, all magic would be nullified. And when the invisibles attack-”
“Think of something else.” Maximus cut him off. “We aren’t allowing ourselves to be trapped.”
“What if the boundary spell is cast in a particular spot? Like the large clearing in the woods. We could lure the invisibles there during an attack.” I suggested.
“That could work. Once they’re within the boundary, call me, and I’ll arrive within seconds. Deal?” He snaked his arm around Amelia’s shoulder. “I would cast that spell myself, alongside my powerful, beautiful daughter.”
Maximus cast his gaze at the men behind them. “I’m not allowing you to my pack with your entourage.”
“We go alone. We can protect ourselves from you.”
“Deal, then.” Maximus groaned.
Kaelin and Amelia rode back with us to the pack, and they were shown the clearing where the boundary spell would be cast. They requested a few things for the process, and within half an hour, they were done and returned to their territory.
“That went smoother than I expected.” Maximus breathed with relief once we were back in the room alone.
I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so proud of you for keeping your temper in check.”
“And I’m even prouder of you for what you did back there.” Leaning in, he trailed warm kisses down my neck. “You’ll make an excellent Luna.”
My blush reached my ears.
He trailed those kisses back up and settled on my lips, kissing me gently. “Now, let’s talk about the Luna and mating ceremony.”
My pulse rate accelerated, and a lump formed in my throat. I suddenly remembered what happened the last time we had sex.
“That night.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Iris begged you to mark us. Why didn’t you oblige?”
He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me even closer than I already was. I could feel his warm breath on my face as he spoke. “You were in ecstasy and couldn’t think straight. You weren’t in the right state to give consent. I wanted you to make that decision at your own will, not when you were vulnerable.”
My heart pounded so hard, barely containing the overwhelming love I had for him.
He planted a kiss on my lips, and just when I had expected him to go deeper, he pulled away from me. What was he doing? My eyes darkened with disappointment. I had fucking anticipated his touch all day!
He noticed. “I know you want me. I want you even more. But I can’t get what you told me away from my mind. I haven’t confronted her since then. I tried so hard to avoid her until she delivers the baby, but I can’t anymore. I need to ask her. I need answers.”
The hurt that flashed his eyes was palpable. But he quickly replaced that countenance with a sinful smile.
“I’ll be back for you, my love.”
My pussy ached in anticipation. I’d kill him if he took too long to return to me.