Chapter 8

Maddox. “Leave us.” I commanded as Willis bowed and left the room, giving her one long look of displeasure. The cold air settled in and I watched as she shivered and pulled closer to the wall. There was a flickering light casting its shadows on the stone walls. Despite the dimly lit room, her hair was a bright orange resting around her small face that was filled with exhaustion and distress. There was a connection and I could almost feel the same way. “What’s your name?” I asked gently, feeling a huge wall between us and there was the urge to break it down. I didn’t know why I wanted to know more about her. This wasn’t what I thought a mate bond would feel like. I was no longer myself and I couldn’t control my impulsive desires. Her blue eyes turned to me filled with weariness and I wondered how long she had been locked here. For a moment there was a heavy silence in the air but she kept her eyes on me. “Desiree,” she replied, her voice was calm but I didn’t miss the defiance in it. I nodded, feeling my wolf within me happy with the new source of information but I kept my cool as I spoke. “I’m Maddox.” 'And your mate,' I wanted to add. She said nothing to that; confusion flashed in her eyes, but I wasn't ready to explain any terms to her. As much as I was drawn to her. It didn’t change the fact that she was dangerous and she was the cause of the uproar in the pack. Despite her being my mate, my first responsibility was to the pack. “Why are you killing my pack members?” I blurted out as she frowned at me. “I know you’re responsible for their death and sudden Illness. We have lived amongst the mountains in peace for many years. But you, a human suddenly moved in and my people started falling sick. Who are you and what do you want from us?” I noticed every change in her emotions, the confusion that clouded her face and the slight discomfort in her eyes as she opened her lips to speak. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t kill anyone.” She answered, her voice laced with genuine bewilderment. I ran my hand through my hair, there were so many conflicting emotions. I didn’t want to trust her because of my Alpha instinct but I knew she wasn’t lying. I could feel her like she was a part of me. “Why did you move to the cabin?” I asked and she looked away from me before turning back to meet my gaze. Her eyes were suddenly filled with tears as she tried to blink them away. She took a moment before she responded. “I...I didn’t have anywhere else to go. After...” Her voice broke as she rubbed her eyes, then gave me an intense glare. “You’re horrible,” she spat and I flinched at her sudden anger, her eyes glaring daggers at me. “You came into my home, bit me and kidnapped me. You locked me up here! And you have the nerve to accuse me of something I know nothing about!” I felt the weight of her words, the accusation hanging like an air of unspoken truth and guilt clawed at my throat. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said sincerely. “I...” I stopped, unsure of what to say. “So why did you? I have no idea why I’m here in the first place,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks and I felt my heart heavy with emotions. “I don’t know how to explain this,” I started as she frowned at me. “Maybe start from why the hell you fucking bit me!” she shouted and I choked back a laugh that threatened to escape my lips. “Trust me. That’s the most difficult part to explain.” I said softly and she eyed me before sighing. “Could you at least tell me how you are able to change to a wolf or something? Because I swear I wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating.” “This is going to be a lot to take in but it’s true. Have you heard of a real life werewolf?” I asked as she raised her left brow at me before wiping off her tear-stained cheeks. “Only the ones in fantasy shows. That we believed in when we were kids,” she replied, and I sighed. “They are real. Or rather we are real. I’m not a human like you. I am a werewolf,” I said, pausing to gauge her response. Desiree said nothing at first and then a loud laughter escaped her lips as it echoed through the stony dungeons. I was taken off guard by her smile. Her eyes sparkled with some sort of amusement making them appear like a glittering diamond. Her laughter was a mixture of surprise and disbelief. “You’re joking right?” Desiree asked, fits of laughter escaping her lips. “Werewolves, really? Nah. This has to be some kind of prank. Is this what it is? Where are the cameras?” she asked, looking around the dungeon as if to find something to invalidate my words. I said nothing at first, watching the smile fall off her face as she looked around the cold room and her hands tied behind her, a wave of sadness washed over her. “It’s the truth. Werewolves exist. It’s not just fantasy. You can’t easily make up that lie, rumors are born from small realities. We are beings who can change into wolves and humans at will. It is a part of who we are, the gift the moon goddess has given us for centuries. We live in packs, a community of wolves to survive and bond together. As we are social creatures.” I watched as her eyes widened with a mix of disbelief and curiosity before she shook her head again. “Wait a second. You’re serious?” “You saw me shift back to a human. You tell me.” “But...“ “You saw my men outside your home the day before we attacked. You knew you saw an animal like a wolf watching you that night.” I pressed on as she shook her head as if to disperse the thought that it was true. “This is my pack. Woodland Pride. We’ve been living in the mountains for years. We are the largest pack in the city with over three thousand wolves. But we are in danger because of you,” I said and she snapped her head to me in confusion. “Me?” she asked and I sighed again. “It is my belief that since you arrived in the cabin we’ve had sudden death of my people as well as sickness. We can’t say for sure what the problem is but it’s tied to you.” “Why would I want to harm your people?” she asked. “I’ve never hurt a fly before and now I’m a killer. Even if I wanted to harm someone. I don’t even know how to. I’m human and I can’t even protect the one I care about.” She said, bowing her head slightly and I felt a wave of sudden jealousy. “What do you mean?” I asked through gritted teeth. “I’m not telling you,” she said defiantly as she looked past me in anger. I could feel her distrust and I understood why. “I’ll have someone get you some food and water,” I said as I started to leave but she only glared at me angrily. “You can’t keep me here!” she yelled. “I’ve done nothing wrong to you! You have no right to treat me this way!” I smirked at that, it sounded like a challenge and I felt my wolf perking up at that. “Oh I can. I haven’t introduced myself yet.” A dark smile filled my lips as she squinted her eyes at me. “And who are you? Let me guess. A lame wolf in the ‘pack’?” I could almost see the quotes in the air as she eyed me with displeasure. “No. I’m Maddox Karl. The Alpha of Woodland Pride.”