Chapter 13

Maddox. I glared as I made my way out of the dungeons. The air was thick with tension as my footsteps landed heavily on the floor. I reached my car, sliding into the driver's seat, the leather cold against my heated skin. My hands gripped the steering wheel with such force that I feared it would break before I slammed the door so hard I thought it would rip off its hinges like I had done in the cell. I started the car, hearing the engine roar to life, a growl that matched the one still resounding in my mind. I felt my primal anger just beneath the surface again. The sensation of losing control, succumbing to the raw power of my powerful wolf, haunted me. I had sworn to protect, to lead with strength and clarity, but in that moment, I had become something else. Someone else. And it was all her fault. That damn human. Desiree. As the car pulled away, tires screeching against the gravel, I couldn't shake the image of Desiree from my mind. The confusion in her eyes, the fear upon seeing me lose control yet again. My mate. The one I was supposed to protect, not terrorize. I growled under my breath. She infuriated me. I never lost my cool. I was always in control of my emotions but everything about her turned my mind upside down. The drive was a blur as the landscape passed by beside me unnoticed. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, wrestling with my thoughts within. It wasn't just Desiree who was trapped; it was me, ensnared by the unpredictable force of the mate bond. I had warned her not to touch the mark anymore. But she hasn’t listened. It was the mating mark. And when touched like that it sparked desire especially when we were near. Many mates use it as a way of calling their other half back to them. It was a connection neither of us fully comprehended. Because I hadn’t thought of being mated any time soon, nor was I mentally or emotionally prepared. The raw power of the mate bond surged through my veins, an undeniable force that demanded respect and restraint. But I had disrespected her and myself. I hadn’t restrained myself. Desiree's face haunted my thoughts. The fear in her eyes mirrored the turmoil within me. I didn’t know how I could guide the pack when I couldn't control the primal urges that lurked beneath the surface. The mate bond was a wild, unpredictable force, and it challenged the very core of my being when I was around Desiree. The mate bond was a double-edged sword, it was a connection that brought out a different part of me but it also made it hard to control. I had scared Desiree so much and almost shifted, I didn’t even know what I had licked her but I wanted to soot the pain inside of her. I wanted her to feel safe but I had made it worse. Slowly, I parked the car in front of a familiar home, and stepped out, watching the half-full moon for a second before I turned in the direction of the house. The full moon was still weeks away, I had time to sort this out before we shifted for the month. The Chief Elder’s house was a place where the weight of the history of our pack dwelled in old books and minds. I stared at the text message on my phone saying he had wanted to see me to discuss the situation of the pack. And I wanted to avoid it but I needed to distract my mind from Desiree or I was going to go crazy. The door opened upon my first step on the porch and I looked up to see him. He was an old man with long grey hair and empty pale eyes that seemed to focus behind me missing me by an inch. He was blind but I knew he could see beyond what eyes had to offer. He wore a wrinkled brown robe that fell to his feet as he stepped back for me to enter. “Maddox. I didn’t expect to see you.” He said, giving me a toothless grin as I sighed and entered the house. “I needed a distraction,” I said, looking around the small cottage that had enough books to fill a library. I could smell incense burning somewhere in the house but I paid no mind as I sat causally on the sofa, pushing away some books in irritation. “Oh. What seems to cloud your mind, young one?” He asked from behind me. I didn’t turn to him but I heard the clattering of cups to know he was making tea. “A lot is clouding my mind. I'm the Alpha. I have a responsibility to the pack,” I said, crossing my legs. “That doesn’t answer the question, Alpha Maddox.” I heard him come behind me before tapping me slightly. “Here, a tea to cool the young mind,” he said before he gently made his way to the opposite couch. I took a sip and felt the hot liquid down my throat before I sighed. “The human is here.” I started as the Chief Elder gave me a small smile. “Is she?” “She’s locked up and won’t be doing anyone any harm now,” I said proudly but my heart felt different. “And are you sure you have made the right decision?” he asked me and I frowned; it was getting so tiring that everyone was asking me that. “Yes.” “And how do you feel about her being your mate? She is a human who is a threat to the pack and the one you’re destined to be with. How do you plan to solve this situation so it’s a win-win for everyone?” I frowned. “This is what burdens your spirit. You feel the pull of the mate bond. A force that defies easy explanation. It challenges us as you have seen l, it tests the limits of our strength and discipline. However, it’s a gift a beautiful feeling that warms your heart. It is the harmony of two souls.” His voice lowered. “The bond you share with this human is not supposed to be a chain, but instead a thread connecting the very essence of your beings as one. It feeds of understanding, patience and most importantly love.” “But what of the death she caused?” I asked as Chief Elder gave me a soft smile. “Alpha Maddox, the root of a tree runs deeper than the surface. So is the problem of the pack. There’s no connecting the dots that Desiree is the enemy. But you are being blinded by your eagerness to put this to an end. The moon has always guided us.” He looked out the window as if he could see the moon outside. “It unravels mysteries. The human may be entwined with our fate more than we realize. So before casting judgment, make sure to seek the moon goddess's help and follow your heart.” I said nothing to that for a while before I rose, dropping the empty cup on the small round table before speaking. “I should go.” “Time is short Maddox, even the moon has its resting days.” He said before he headed toward the end of the hall. I watched him disappear before shaking my head and going out to my car, the cold wind slapping me in the face. The drive back was different from when I had come and this time my mind was more relaxed as I drove to the dungeons. But the moment I got out of the car, I knew something was wrong. Panic surged through me as I raced inside and saw the broken bar I had ripped off the cell, lying on the floor as if kicking me for my lack of control. But the person I had existed to be in here wasn’t. And it was an eerie silence that resounded in my ears like a thousand bells. I had been so stupid to leave her like that. I had made so many rash decisions lately and it was all coming to bite me in the ass. The realization hit me like a physical blow. She was gone; of course she was going to leave, I had scared her, bit her and locked her up without any explanation. A mixture of guilt and frustration welled up within me as I ran my fingers through my hair thinking of where she might have gone. “I figured I might find you here.” I heard a voice behind me and I turned to see Diane holding an empty plate of food. “Why are you still awake?” I asked as I sniffed the air trying to find the lingering scent of Desiree but found nothing. I growled angrily. “Nothing. Just watching Desiree leave. She’s gone, Mad.”