It was him–Alpha Maximus. Awake.
His eyes snapped open like twin flames in the dark. His fangs were bared, sharp and gleaming under the moonlight, and his gaze fixed on me with raw, killing intent.
My breath caught. For a heartbeat, I was frozen, caught in his feral glare 8
Then, just as suddenly, his grip on the bedpost slackened. His eyes flickered–wild, confused–before he let go and stumped back against the pillows.
I stumbled, weak–kneed, nearly collapsing onto the cold floor. The shock hit me like a blow. He’s awake? But how? I had believed the poison had trapped him in endless sleep, like a living death.
I pressed my hands to my trembling legs, trying to steady myself. My mind spun. What was happening to him? Was this why I wasn’t allowed past midnight? Was this why the omegas ushered me out, so hurried and fearful??
Before I could gather my thoughts, Maximus clutched his head. His fingers dug into his temples as if trying to hold himself together.!! He looked broken. Hurt. But there was something else too–something darker, more desperate. A fierce, hungry thirst flickered in his eyes, and his jaw tensed as if fighting some intemal battle.
My heart slammed against my ribs. A primal fear surged through me. The wolf inside me growled softly, warning.
I took a step back Alpha? My voice barely a whisper.}
He didn’t answer. His gaze darkened, flickering to the shadows around the room as if battling an unseen force. “S-Save me…“}
Then suddenly, he rose with a sharp grunt, teeth bared again, eyes blazing red. His movement was jerky, like he was fighting against himself.
Maximus!” I cried out, but he only snarled, his breath ragged
The wildness in him terrified me. I could smell the vampire poison–bitter, corrupting–mixed with the raw wolf scent of pain and rage. My instincts screamed: Run
I scrambled backward, fear drowning everything else. My hands fumbled for the door, my legs shaking uncontrollably.
I bolted out of the room and slammed the door behind me, lacking it quickly. My back pressed against the cold wood as I slid down to the floor!
I held my breath, every muscle tense.l
What had I just seen??
Was Maximus losing himself to the poison?!
And why did he wake up? How?!
My mind raced, trying to make sense of the chaos inside me. I had known something was wrong, something dark lurking beneath the surface of this pack’s power. But this–this was different.
I sank onto the floor, pulling my knees to my chest.
Why hadn’t they told me? The pack elders had been so secretive, Had they known this could happen? Or were they hiding it to protect me -or themselves?
The silence pressed in until it was shattered by a howl–loud, desperate, and raw
It cut through the night like a blade, jagged and full of pain.!!
I shivered, even though my heart pounded wildly in my chest. The howl was not just a cry: it was a scream of something trapped, something fierce and lost.
My wolf stirred violently, ached with a strange mix of terror and longing. I pressed my palm to my chest, feeling the wild rhythm beating beneath my skin. I didn’t understand it but I felt it deeply. Like I was tethered to Maximus in a way I couldn’t explain,
“Why?” I whispered to the empty room. “Why am I feeling this… this brokenness?”
The howl came again, this time louder, closer l
I swallowed down the rising panic, forcing myself to breathe. I can’t let fear rule me!!
Slowly, I stood and moved to the window, peering out into the silver–lit night. The pack was quiet, but the shadows danced with secrets | could not yet unravel
Maximus was awake. And everything was about to change!
I wrapped my arms around myself, wishing for answers.
Wishing I understood why my heart felt like it was dying with him./
