13. Three Days Later

Demi

Three fucking days.

I hadn't seen Max in three fucking days. He had promised to come to my cottage that night to bathe and talk, but he never showed up.

It was heartbreaking at first, but after the second day of not seeing him, I swiftly shifted into a murderous rage. I wanted to find the alpha and slap his stunning face for disappearing. But after the third day, my anger was gone and deep fear took hold. Where was he?

Did something bad happen?

Was he avoiding me?

Or worse, did he not want to be with me anymore…

Fear cut through me, and I wondered if he could sense that I was falling for him. Perhaps he was distancing himself from me before I made a fool of myself.

"Where's Max?" I blurted out to Calia as we lounged in the shade of the gazebo.

It was an especially warm spring day, proof that summer was soon approaching. It was rather lovely with Calia by my side, and Florence fussing about. In the distance, Karis moved in slow circles around the garden. My wolf wanted me to hiss at she-alpha every time she looked our way. But it wasn't her fault Max had vanished.

"I'm not sure where Max is." Calia fanned herself, smoothing one hand over her tiny belly. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it, but she seemed to have a very slight curve beneath her belly button. "Davon mentioned the orcs last night. Apparently, things are a bit tense right now," she said far too casually for my liking. But that's how the Luna was with these kinds of things. She was practical and focused—ready to defend her home at any moment.

We didn't share that quality.

"Davon likes to have all his high-ranking officers when making big decisions." Calia sighed happily, admiring the rose bushes near the packhouse. They were starting to bloom.

"I believe I saw Alpha Davon's whole council in his office this morning," Florence said, urging Calia to lean forward in her wicker chair. He fluffed her pillow, before allowing her to settle back. The omega scrunched up her face, clearly annoyed with his constant fret, but neither one of us was surprised. Florence was annoying even before Calia was with child, but her current condition made him infinitely worse.

"Davon has been meeting with his council a lot lately." Calia gave Florence an overly polite smile as she shimmied in her chair, getting comfortable again. I had to give her credit, she was trying so hard to be appreciative of Florence's attention, but I would have smacked the beta by now. "I'm sure he pulled Max in to help with the specifics." She fanned herself.

"PulledMax into what?" I leaned forward, trying not to let my imagination run wild, but it was damn near impossible. All I could think about was bloody battles and dying alphas, ripped to pieces by orcs. "What did he pull Max into? Are we going to war? Does Davon need him to fight?"

"War?" Calia's brows shot up and her eyes went wide. Even Florence stared at me with a perplexed expression.

I immediately regretted asking.

"What on earth made you jump to that conclusion?" Florence stood stiff at Calia's side.

Not sure what to say, I simply shrugged. "I don't know," I said honestly, my fingers traced over the floral pattern of my silky blue dress. The embroidered flowers were stitched in a pale blue color, standing out against the rest of the royal blue fabric. "I just get nervous sometimes," I admitted. "I'm still not used to how violent life can be here." I looked up at the snow-capped mountains in the distance. My mind drifted to the orc attack last summer, and how I almost died. If it wasn't for Max and Calia, I would have. "It feels weird knowing the village could be stormed at any moment."

"That may be so," Florence's voice cut sharp, very annoyed with me. "But there's no need to remind the Luna of such violence while she's in a delicate condition. Omegas can't?—"

"Florence." Calia reached up, wrapping her hand around his forearm. "I'm a little thirsty. May I have a glass of water?"

"Of course, My Lady." The beta bowed low, before cutting me a stern glare. His bright blue eyes flashed as he walked past me, and he whispered, "Do not upset her."

I rolled my eyes, thankful he was gone. He was too much lately.

"Demi." Calia closed her fan, resting it on her lap. "There's no need to worry." She leaned forward, placing her hand on mine. She was very kind, especially since it was my job to comfort her. "Davon just likes to include his top-ranking officials in all major decisions." She squeezed my hand. "We aren't going to war. If anything, we're moving toward peace."

I slumped, feeling a bit silly. But the thought of Max fighting orcs or dragon-shifters or elves…it all made me sick to my stomach.

"Demi." Calia leaned forward, slipping her hand over mine. Her dark eyes were so soft around the edges. "You seem very on edge lately. Is everything okay?"

I had no idea how to answer that.

Everything just felt…off. It was like there was an itch under my skin that I couldn"t reach.

"I'm fine," I said with a dismissive wave of my hand. "How are you feeling?" I squeezed Calia's hand gently. "Johns mentioned you might suffer through bouts of sickness. Have you been nauseous?"

Calia frowned, clearly not happy with my question. "Don't change the subject," she said flatly. "You've been weird and you know it. Even your scent is off."

"My scent?" Curious, I sniffed the back of my hand. It was a ridiculous thing to do as most people were nose-deaf to their own scent, but for years I had been told I smelled clean and fresh, and surely I'd be able to tell if it was different. Right?

Not able to tell any difference, I held my arm out to Calia. "What do I smell like?"

She leaned forward, sniffing my wrist. "Very sweet. Kind of like…" She rolled her eyes upward, thinking. "Lemon drops."

"Lemon drops?" I pushed my hair into my face, sucking in a deep breath.

"Stop trying to smell yourself." Calia giggled, pushing my hand away from my face.

"What the hell are lemon drops?" I asked, praying I didn't smell like food. I couldn't stand alphas that smelled like roasted meat or butter cakes, or any kind of meal. It was weird.

"They're a flower," Calia gave me a warm smile. "They're round little buds." She made a fist to mimic the shape. "They smell like citrus sugar and glow in the dark."

I nodded, deciding I was okay with citrus. "Why on earth would my scent change?" I said, completely confused. It was impossible for someone's scent to change once they perfumed…at least, that's what I thought.

"Pregnancy can change your scent." Calia patted her tummy, giving me a curious look. "Any chance?—"

"No!" I cut her off, slicing my hands through the air. "I haven't even been with an alpha since we arrived in Casin," I lied as a nervous laugh bubbled from my throat.

"Really?" Calia's mouth slowly fell open, and she blinked repeatedly. "How long have we been here?" Her eyes drifted over the wooden planks at her feet, thinking. "Six….seven months?"

"Seven." I let out a pained sigh, thinking about how awful it was not to be touched or loved on. But not now. I had Max…kind of.

"Demi." Calia said my name as if shocked I was still alive. "I was under the impression…" She paused, scanning the garden around us. It was still just the two of us, and Karis. But the alpha was kind enough to at least pretend not to hear us.

Clearing her throat, Calia leaned in and whispered, "I thought companions required a certain level of…affection." She grimaced at her choice of words, but it made me laugh.

"Companions are expected to provide a certain level of affection," I gently corrected her. It was nice to be able to talk about my past profession with someone that didn't see it as a character flaw. "But now that I'm a maiden, I can date or sleep with whoever I want, whenever I want. The problem is that no one has caught my eye." I lied again.

I wanted to tell Calia about me and Max, but I didn't want to share my secret if he was going to end things. It was too humiliating.

"Oh!" Calia gasped as a fresh wave of excitement washed over her. "You know, a hobby is a great way to distract the mind from physical needs. I'm fairly certain Davon won't let me continue to teach self-defense classes while I'm pregnant, but maybe you could?—"

"No." I held up my hand, stopping the omega before she said another word. "Swords and spears are not my thing."

"There are no swords." Calia snorted, and I gave her a pointed look.

The omega loved teaching others how to fight and defend themselves, but that wasn't for me. I was the kind of girl that liked to drink hot coffee, take naps, and sit in the sun on cool afternoons. I didn't fight. I relaxed.

"Let me know if you change your mind." Calia popped open her fan, fanning herself once again.

"Will do." I laughed, pushing myself out of my chair. "I need a drink." I smoothed down my flowing blue dress. It was short to my knees with short sleeves. It was perfect for the warm weather. "Do you want anything?"

"I'm good." Calia gave me a friendly smile. "Maybe ask Florence if we can bring some blankets out here. I feel like napping in the breeze."

"Of course, My Lady." I bowed low, making the omega giggle.

Karis nodded as I passed, then she immediately went back to scanning the garden. She examined every tree and bush, her eyes flashing red as her wolf stayed alert and ready to fight. Being a guard must be so boring.

I briefly thought of asking the she-alpha how long she'd be guarding the Luna, but I was worried she'd say it was her new permanent position.

No. I wanted to talk directly to Max. I needed to see his face and ask him what was going on. Find out if he was avoiding me.

The packhouse was quiet and dark, with only a few windows open to let in the light. I rushed past the sunroom and around the library. It was a bit busy in the main part of the house. The service staff were cleaning the entryway and staircase, even wiping down all the paintings. But the hallway to the main offices was completely empty. Coupled with the dim lighting and dark wooden walls, it felt like a cave.

Stern voices boomed from Davon's office. It was Kade. He was talking about Casin's southern border, and how to best reinforce the mountains.

I stood at the end of the hall, not sure what to do. I couldn"t march into Davon's office and demand to speak to Max. Hell, I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to be in this part of the packhouse. I probably should have thought this through before coming here.

My wolf whimpered, begging me to turn around and go back to the garden, but I couldn"t. I had to see Max's face. I had to know that he was okay.

"Just a peek," I said to myself. "Just open the door a crack, apologize for having the wrong room, then leave." It was a shit plan, but it was all I could think of.

"What are you doing?" Max's deep voice boomed right behind me, and I yelped, jumping about a foot into the air.

"What the hell!" I snapped.

"It's just me," Max laughed, curling his hands around my upper arms.

I immediately stepped backward, smacking his chest. "You don't sneak up on people like that."

He chuckled again, giving me a passive apology. "You're right. I'm sorry." He leaned down, angling his head to better see my face. "What are you doing in this part of the packhouse?"

It was so stupid, but I suddenly didn"t have anything to say to the alpha. There was so much I wanted to know, but fear gripped me, keeping the words from leaving my mouth. What if he rejected me?

"Demi?" Max said my name so softly. "What's wrong, beta?"

Determined to say my piece, I tipped my chin up, looking him right in the eye. "I wanted to talk to you."

Max's eyes flickered to the Pack Alpha's office behind me, then back at my face. "Come." He curled his long fingers around my wrist, pulling me back down the hallway. He pushed open a random door, ushering me inside. It was an office of some kind, with worn books stacked on a desk and an old armchair in the corner.

"Talk to me. What's wrong?" Max asked, pulling the door shut behind us. It was so quiet in the tiny room, making it impossible to ignore the pounding of my heart.

Looking up into Max's intense face, my courage died, and I said the first thing that popped into my head, "Calia is worried about you. She wants to know when you'll be returning as her guard."

Max narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing me. "Calia asked that?"

My jaw tensed, and my anger grew. "She's with child," I snipped, reminding the alpha. "Omegas are sensitive. They find comfort in their routine."

"Bullshit." Max leaned away from me, crossing his big muscular arms. He looked enormous looking down at me.

"Bullshit?" I planted my hands on my hips. "Are you really going to call our Luna's delicate emotions bullshit?" My voice rose, and my wolf paced. She wanted me to kiss the alpha, to rip his clothes off and bite his lips until he pinned me down, but I just wanted to scream at him.

"The Luna knows exactly where I am and when I'll be back." Max smirked, and my wolf snarled. "What's really going on?"

My hands went cold, and I swallowed hard, trying to sort through my thoughts. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about you." I crossed my arms, feeling very defensive. "You promised me a hot bath and chocolate cakes, then vanished. No note. No message. Just silence after promising to come to my cottage."

"My apologies." Max bowed his head. "I have been working very late. It wasn't my intention to break my word."

"It was rude," I said a little too forcefully. "You don't make promises like that, then vanish."

"I wanted to send a note, but I was worried it would look suspicious." He slipped his hand up the side of my arm, and I shivered.

"It was still rude." I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my body reacted, but it was impossible to think clearly with Max's warm fingers drifting up and down my arms.

"I take it you missed me?" He chuckled and my anger bubbled. This wasn't funny.

"No," I said firmly. "I'd just hate to find out something happened to you." I tipped my chin up, looking him right in the eyes. "If you died, then I'd have to find a new lover. And I hate mingling."

"A new lover?" Max's eyes glowed red, but his smile stayed firmly in place. "And who else in Casin would you invite into your bed?" He closed the space between us, planting his hand against the wall behind me. "Who do you fantasize about when I'm not around? Who else makes that tight little pussy drip?"

"Why?" I swallowed hard, basking in the warmth of his big body. He smelled incredible. Smokey and sweet, with deep masculine notes of oak. "Why do you care who I fantasize about?" I sounded bratty, but I couldn't help it.

Max leaned down, crowding me. I loved how close he was. "I want to know the name of the alpha I need to kill," he growled softly, his fangs flashing as he spoke. It thrilled me to no end.

"Kill?" I stared at his pointed canines, wondering what they would feel like buried deep in my skin. It was a shocking thought.

Betas didn't react to an alpha"s bite like omegas did. It wasn't a calming sensation or even especially pleasurable, but Max's fangs….the sight of them made me light-headed. Dizzy. Horny.

"What would you do if another alpha touched me?" I asked. It was a dangerous question, but I had to know. I needed this alpha to adore me as much as I adored him.

"I'd fucking destroy him," Max snarled and my pussy clenched. "I'd rip his skin from his bones, hang his head from the village gate, then fuck you in the town square."

Heat pooled between my thighs, and my body swayed. "Okay." I sounded drunk, and maybe I was. Max's scent was unreal, saturating the whole room. It felt as if it dripped from my hair and skin, soaking through to my bones.

"I'm sick of this game, Demetria." Max growled, gripping my hip. His fingers curled into my side, holding me tight enough to bruise. "I don't want to be your friend." He spat the last word as if it were poison, and fear hit my gut like a stone.

"What?" I grabbed his shoulders, terrified he"d leave me. "Why? What did I do?" I was panicking, but there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"I can't be your friend." Max cornered me, pushing me against the wall. I let him, wanting him as close as possible. "I can't bear the thought of you loving someone else. I want you to be mine." The word slipped into a breathy growl, making me shiver. "I have adored you every day for the last seven months, and I refuse to pretend I want anything else."

"Max." I blinked repeatedly, struggling to form sentences. But my damn wolf had never been happier. She wanted to jump and bark and race all over the village. "I…I had no idea." I shook my head.

"If you don't feel the same, put me out of my misery." Max gripped my upper arms, pulling me close. "If you don't want me, say it now. Gut me in one clean blow and let me go. But if you can accept me…" He pulled in a sharp breath. "Please, Demi," he whispered, his tones deep and warm. "Be mine."

"You really adore me?" My mouth hung open as I stared up at the alpha. He was so intense, looking at me with the kind of emotion I had always dreamed of, but I never actually got. "I've never been in a real relationship," I admitted. "I might not be any good at this."

"I haven't given my heart to another woman in over eight years." Max slipped his hands around my back. "I'm not exactly experienced either."

My mind shot to the barmaid. The memory of Max fucking her like an animal against that woodshed would stay with me forever. I just couldn"t figure out if it was a good or a bad thing. It felt devious and sexy, but it also annoyed me. The more I thought about it, the more I didn"t care for the way she touched him. Max was mine.

"Demi," Max took a step back, and the urge to follow him pulled hard within me, "I don't want to have to convince you to be with me. I won't beg for love, beta. Either you want me or you don't." His words were pointed but still somehow kind. "Do you want me?"

And all I could see was the barmaid lifting her dress, asking Max if he wanted her.

"Yes." I said firmly. "I want you." My hands flung out, grabbing both sides of Max's face. "I want you." Then I crashed my mouth to his.

He kissed me hard, roaming his hands up my back, then down to my ass. "Fuck, Demi." He growled low in his chest. "I can't do this right now," he whispered. "I have to get back to work."

I snarled, digging my fingers into his shoulders. "Why? What's happening?" I asked, letting my curiosity get the best of me. "Why have you been working so much?" I really wanted to ask what was more important than me, but given that our relationship didn"t officially start until five seconds ago, it felt a little too forward.

"The Pack Alpha has a lot going on right now." Max cupped my cheek, placing a soft kiss on my lips. "It's nothing for you to worry about."

I immediately gave him a pointed look. "You know that I'm the Luna's maiden?" I said flatly. "I have the clearance to hear anything that affects her or her safety."

Max pushed out a long breath, scanning the full length of my face. It was almost as if he was deciding what he could and couldn't share. "Alpha Davon's mother is on the verge of death. The healers don't expect her to make it through the week."

I let out a gasp, pressing my hands to my chest. "Does Calia know?"

"The Luna is aware." He nodded.

A twist of shock cut through me. I knew not to take it personally that Calia didn't confide in me—after all, the omega's relationship with her mate's mother wasn"t something she had to share with me—but I hated the idea of her carrying around such painful information without someone to lean on.

"But," I tilted my head, struggling to understand, "why does that mean you have to work such horrible hours?"

Max leaned down to whisper in my ear. His mouth was so close to mine. "Davon is in the thick of negotiating a truce with the Mountain Orcs." I turned my head to look the alpha in the eyes. "The idea of peace between our people has angered many other tribes, especially the Inner-Valley Orcs."

"Okay," I said, really trying to listen. I was never good with serious things like war and treaties. I was better with broken hearts and anguished alphas. "So what does that mean?"

Max glanced at the office door, then he said, "Davon also has a pup on the way and his mother is at death's door." He restated the facts I already knew. "Many enemies will assume Davon's not in his right mind right now. They'll look for an opportunity to attack once that news comes out. The Pack Alpha wants our borders secured and his mother's funeral plans set as soon as possible. He simply likes to be prepared."

Fierce shame cut through me. There were so many serious things happening right now, and I was obsessing over a man. "I'm so sorry." I suddenly felt so out of place. "I shouldn"t have bothered you. I should have?—"

"No," Max cut me off, slipping his hand up to cradle the back of my head. He pulled me close, scenting my hair. "I'm the one that's sorry. I should have spoken to you when I had the chance, and told you what was happening. I have walked past your cottage every day on my way home. I peeked in your window, hoping you were awake, but you never were." He sighed hard, the sound filled with regret. "I should have woken you."

My face warmed and my wolf yipped excitedly within me. "You watched me sleep?" I should have been upset, but I was practically beaming.

"I watched you for too long." He gave me a sheepish grin. "I watched you toss and turn, and mumble and snore."

My mouth dropped open, offended. "I do not snore."

"You do snore," Max said firmly, before he smiled widely. "And it's cute."

I didn't know what to say to that. It made me feel shy, maybe even exposed, but in a way I actually liked. It was a weird feeling.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk to you, and hold you, and fuck you," Max said. "But first I have to help my Pack Alpha. This is my duty, just like your duty is to Calia."

Shame pushed at my shoulders.

Max was a loyal guard and a fierce alpha. It was clear he loved his pack more than anything else. But I was an uneducated beta, pretending to be a maiden. I didn't deserve him.

"We should be done with the preparations soon." Max gently pinched my chin, placing his thumb in the center. "The full Moon is very soon. I know you don't want to run with the pack, but I'd love to take your wolf somewhere private. We can stay in the village. We can go back to the meadow. No running in the dirt. Just you and me, and the stars."

Dread settled in my gut like a rock.

I wanted nothing more than to lie with Max's wolf under the stars, but I had once made the mistake of admitting to a lover my wolf's issues with shifting. And I'd never do it again. I couldn"t take the judgment, or the insistence to see a healer or witch to "fix" me. The tests and medicines and looks of disappointment were all too much.

"That's very kind of you, but I like to be alone on the full Moon." I ran my hands through Max"s short hair. But the alpha didn't look pleased. In fact, he looked very confused. "I'd rather talk about tonight."

"Tonight?" Max's brows shot up and his eyes flashed red. I hoped his reaction was one of excitement and not disappointment, but it was hard to tell.

"Yes." I pressed a kiss to his inviting lips. "I'm reading the most fascinating book on packhouse etiquette. I have a feeling I'll be up all night studying it." I gave the alpha a coy look, biting my bottom lip.

"Demi," Max's voice dropped to a deep rumble. Its effect on my sensitive nipples was immediate. "You don't have to stay up?—"

I pressed a finger to his lips, cutting him off. "I'll see you tonight." I kissed him again, then flitted from the room.