Chapter 115: Chapter 115

~That was too harsh~.

She knew she’d crossed a line the moment the words slipped out, but there was no taking them back. He provoked her. ~It was his doing~. It was his responsibility. ~Damn it~. Alphas and their egos. She’d seen Alex when his pride was wounded.

“That’s a clever defense mechanism.”

“Pardon?”

He spun around, leaning into her, forcing Maya to retreat against the stairs. Her cup teetered as he slammed his hand down. He used his newfound leverage to bring his face closer to hers.

“So, when you feel threatened, you lash out. Is that your thing? Sarcastic comments, tough girl act?”

She hadn’t anticipated this reaction to her harsh words.

"So, you think I'm all fragile and broken inside? That I need rescuing?" She pursed her lips. "Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but I'm perfectly fine. There are no deep-seated issues you need to fix. I can handle myself."

“That’s not what I meant.” He lifted his chin. “There’s a look in your eyes… it’s familiar.”

“Oh, from your vast memory bank?”

“Something like that.”

“Sorry to disappoint you. This isn’t a defense mechanism. I don’t have patience for nonsense and I won’t tolerate it. I know myself. Much better than you do.”

“Do you really? Seems like you’ve been playing this role for so long, you’ve forgotten.”

~Who was he to tell her who she was?~ He didn’t know her. Why did her refusal to put up with nonsense imply she was pretending? She didn’t want that kind of burden, that kind of drama in her life. She didn’t need to walk on eggshells around someone and their emotions.

That’s just how life is.

Alex never cared about the consequences of his actions. Sure, he was the Alpha and she wasn’t, but the same rule applied. At the end of the day, she only had herself to rely on. If she didn’t look out for herself or surround herself with the right people, she would be the one to suffer.

She had one life to live, and she chose to live it freely. Yes, pack life could be restrictive at times, but that was part of the deal. Maya had come to terms with that.

“You don’t know me, so you can keep your opinions to yourself. You’re clearly an arrogant alpha, and I don’t need to remind you of that.”

“You kinda do.”

“Be quiet.”

Julian laughed, covering his face with his hand, his laughter muffled.

“What?”

“You are so exasperating, do you know that?”

“Yeah, I’ve been told.”

A smile? A throbbing pulse? She hadn’t expected any of that. Anger, perhaps. She knew he was capable of it, despite the cheerful, confident front he put up most of the time. There was something else, something hidden beneath the polished surface. If only she could figure out what it was.

“Got anything ~new~ to add?”

“Maya?”

“What?”

“For once—~be quiet~.”

And for ~once~, she didn’t get a chance to respond. He cupped her face in his hands, bending down to bring her closer. He tilted her head, a movement she allowed, and then, he ~kissed~ her.

She could push him away.

~She really could~.

But she didn’t want to.

Maya wasn't one to hold herself back. When she desired something, she went for it. An itch? Scratch it. Julian, though? She had been resisting her instincts from the start. Something she couldn't have but ~should~ be able to have.

A living nightmare.

He had really gotten under her skin. He was so sure he had her all figured out. ~He didn’t have a clue~.

Her hands shot up, clutching his shirt as if it was her lifeline. She drew him closer, deepening their kiss. His lips were soft against hers, her mind unable to focus on anything but ~him~.

She’d kissed others before—but this was different.

Her body was on fire, her thighs tightening at the thought of what those ~hands~ could do if they weren’t holding her face. She slid her hands down his chest, feeling the firmness of his body under her touch.

She had seen it all, she knew she could let loose.

His tongue traced the line of her lips, and she opened up to him. His tongue danced with hers. ~Damn~. Her hands found his belt, and she held on, trying to control herself.

~Just a little taste~.

Maya bit his lower lip gently, pulling at it. He let out a moan into her mouth and ~oh~ did her body respond. It was like a spark had ignited in her belly. ~Push him down~. Then she could climb on top of him and…

His hold on her face relaxed and Maya pulled back, watching as his arms dropped to his lap. ~Damn~. Talk about bad timing. She licked her lips, savoring the lingering taste of him. Her inner wolf was howling, a wave of pleasure coursing through her body.

~Oh boy~.

He was trouble. Annoying and trouble.

She could give in to her instincts, forget about what had kept her away from him. ~It was tempting~. But this was a game. It had to be. ~Pull yourself together, Maya~. He hadn’t touched her before. They shared a room and he hadn’t made a move. Now, he ~had~ to kiss her?

It was a test or a diversion.

Either way, she wasn’t going to let him win.

She exhaled deeply, slowly standing up. All the while, his eyes were locked on her. ~Oh yeah~, she wasn’t the only one affected. She cleared her throat before smoothing down her shirt.

“Don’t think this means you’re getting in my pants,” she warned, putting some distance between them now that her body was ~buzzing~ with desire.

She didn’t care what he thought he knew, or what he thought he saw in her. She had her life under control. Maya didn’t need anyone to save her. She was ~okay~.

A bit sexually frustrated now, but ~okay~.

~Damn it~.

~Who~ was making all that noise?

Maya peered out the window, seeing some of her packmates approaching with someone she did ~not~ recognize. At first, she was going to dismiss it as just some stray they’d found… but something felt wrong.

Everyone seemed on edge, their strides purposeful while their new ~friend~ didn’t seem too cooperative. ~That’s not good~. She left the dish she was washing in the sink and headed outside. She pushed open the patio door, stepping onto the porch.

She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the fresh air, the wind playing with her red hair. ~No scent of blood~. That was a good sign. There hadn’t been a fight or an injury.

Her instincts were still on high alert as she descended the steps. She rubbed her arms, running her hands over her forearms. Why was her heart pounding like that? Maya tried to slow her breathing, trying to calm her racing heart.

As they got closer, it was clear that whoever they had with them wasn’t a willing participant in this little ~stroll~ to the packhouse.

Jason broke away from the others, hurrying to catch up with Maya. “We found someone wandering around.”

"Someone?"

“A girl—a wolf.”

So not a hunter.

“Okay, bring her in, get Alex. We’ll figure it out.”

“She looks pretty rough,” Jason added, gesturing behind him.

Maya shifted her body to get a better look around Jason. She saw Mason and Luke supporting a girl, each holding one of her arms. Jason wasn’t exaggerating. Her arms were covered in bruises. There were cuts and dried blood as well, and the left side of her face was swollen.

~What happened to her~?

Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to look at Julian. Could this be connected to him? He was staring at the girl, but there was no sign of recognition in his eyes. Why did that make her feel relieved?

They pulled her nearer, her head bobbing weakly. Maya could now see the chapped lines on her lips and the dried saliva at the corners of her mouth. She was clearly dehydrated. Maya wondered how long she had been alone. Her brown hair was matted with dried blood, and her matching brown eyes were hidden behind fluttering eyelids.

“Two of you holding her seems excessive. She can barely stand,” Maya said, trying to keep her voice even.

“Everything okay?” Julian’s voice came from behind her.

A shiver ran down her spine. ~Why is he here~? Had he sensed some danger that she hadn’t?

There was no commotion, no one was injured.

But Julian didn’t push. He stayed back. ~Maybe I’m just overthinking~.

Mason and Luke let her go, and for a moment, Maya thought she would collapse. But she steadied herself, her hands clutching her thighs. Then, she looked at Maya and Julian, and her face transformed.

~Joy~.

Pure, unadulterated joy.

“JULIAN?” she croaked out.

~Wait, what~.

“I thought—you were dead. There was so much blood and—~I can’t believe you’re still here.”~

~Hold on.~

~What?~

“I did what you told me to!” Tears streamed down her face. “I hid…but then…I smelled you! I KNEW IT WAS YOU! I thought I was losing my mind…”

The girl, now free, threw herself at Julian. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against him as tears flowed freely. He looked shocked, his eyes wide like a deer in the headlights. His arms hung limply at his sides while the girl clung to his shirt.

~Okay.~

~Who the hell is this girl?~

~She better get her hands off Julian before Maya removes them for her…~

Damn.

Jealousy.

She was jealous.

~This is going to be a problem~.