The Right Door

MAX

I woke up early the next morning, my mind spinning with ways to break my promise to Delta.

I know, it’s pretty pathetic. But I just couldn’t do it.

Not when my hands were shaking, even though I was sober. Not when my vision was blurry, making it hard to focus.

Suddenly being sober, after such a long time, gave me a chance to really look at myself.

I was shocked to see that my hair was starting to gray. I looked older, closer to my actual age than ever before. My eyesight was getting worse, and my hands, well, they weren’t steady anymore.

The rest of my body wasn’t faring much better. I could tell I’d lost a good amount of muscle from not exercising, and I was constantly tired.

My wolf was silent. He’d been that way for days, and I was starting to think he might leave me. I wasn’t sure what would happen if he did. It’s not something that’s happened in centuries, as far as I know.

Part of me hoped that if he died, I would too. But I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case. I’d be left behind to age and deteriorate like a human.

In a way, that was okay. For once, I’d have something in common with Estella.

I was in the middle of pulling on my jeans when the doorbell rang. I quickly threw on a clean T-shirt when I realized my mom had answered the door.

As I hurried down the stairs, I could hear Mom already giving Delta a hard time.

UNKNOWN

Leslie Kinsky had never been a fan of Delta.

But Delta wasn’t bothered by it. A lot of people who knew her story didn’t like her.

People assumed that a woman who wasn’t good enough for her mate to stick around was bad news. Unworthy of the bond and the eternal love it was supposed to represent.

Leslie didn’t know that her son had played a big role in Delta’s story, even though she knew they’d slept together in the past.

Delta didn’t really hold it against him, no matter how it might look.

When she was first rejected, she was angry at both herself and Max. But in a weird way, his friendship helped her get through it.

That, and the fact that he didn’t seem to care about finding his mate, made her think he was the right choice.

Did she see it as a form of revenge? Maybe a small, bitter part of her did.

But the main reason was that she was looking for someone who could match the man who’d rejected her. And Max fit the bill.

He was someone she respected, someone she could fall for, someone she could see herself spending her life with. If she was being honest, in some ways, Max was a better man than Eric.

For years, she thought she’d eventually get her chance with him.

But she was wrong. His love for his human was too strong, consuming him just as her own feelings consumed her. Now, it was time for her to make things right.

To fix what she’d done her best to destroy.

So, Leslie Kinsky’s dislike didn’t matter. Because for once, Delta was doing the right thing. Even if she had nothing to gain from it.

“I’ve told you that Max is expecting me,” she said again, trying to keep her patience. She didn’t want to get into a fight with Leslie.

“My son isn’t in his right mind. Don’t take advantage of that.”

“I’m not taking advantage of anything, Mrs. Kinsky. I asked Max to help me with a patient.”

“Sure,” Leslie scoffed. “Just another trick to reel him in.”

Before Delta could respond, Max’s voice came from behind his mother.

“Leave her alone, Mom.”

“Max…,” Leslie started, but he cut her off.

“I’ll be gone for a few hours. Don’t expect me back before dinner.”

“Like you even eat anymore,” Leslie said bitterly. But Max just walked past her, motioning for Delta to follow him.

Delta quickly followed him to his car. She didn’t want to risk him changing his mind and telling her he couldn’t help.

They got in the car, and he started the engine, driving out of his pack without a word. Any minute now, he’d ask the question, and she’d risk him backing out.

Everything about what she was planning was risky. All she could do was pray to the Goddess for luck and help to make things right.

This time, the Goddess had to listen.

“Where are we going?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

“South Moon Pack,” she said calmly.

He didn’t stop the car. He didn’t turn around. He just gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white.

“Eric’s pack,” he said flatly. She nodded, even though Eric was just the beta.

They didn’t say anything else after that, and the silence was starting to get to her. She knew this was nothing compared to what was coming in a few hours, and she braced herself for it.

As long as everything was fixed, she didn’t care. Her life was already a mess, and her reputation had been ruined long before she’d messed with Max’s fate.

The only thing that bothered her was that she was about to lose the closest thing she had to a friend. But she couldn’t even feel sorry for herself. It was all her fault.

When they pulled up to the pack, Max finally spoke again.

“You know I’m not welcome here, right?”

“The alpha has approved your presence,” she assured him.

“And what about the beta?” he asked.

“The beta can suck it up,” she said, deadpan. “This is bigger than him.”

“If you say so.” He shrugged and got out of the car.

She followed his lead and then led him through the pack’s borders.

MAX

I felt like I’d been tricked.

The human was in the South Moon Pack? Where Eric, the man who hates me as much as he hates Delta, is?

They aren’t exactly known for being friendly to humans, so it’s kind of surprising they’re concerned about someone’s health.

As we walked through the pack, a few of the warriors shot us hostile glances. Maybe they were friends of Eric’s?

I never really thought of him as the type to have friends. But maybe it was a pack thing, looking out for one of their own.

“Speak of the devil,” I muttered under my breath when I spotted him emerging from the pack house.

He looked just like he did the last time I saw him, after he’d broken up with Delta and confronted me.

His anger was totally uncalled for, since I had no way of knowing Delta was his mate before I slept with her. But we fought anyway, and I won, which only hurt his pride more.

The funny thing was, if he tried to fight me now, he’d probably kill me. My wolf wasn’t likely to come to my defense.

“Kinsky,” he greeted me coldly, giving a curt nod.

“Bane.” I nodded back. “Where’s the human?”

He glanced at Delta, then back at me.

“Inside,” he finally said. “The alpha is waiting for you.”

“I’d rather see the patient before I talk to your alpha.”

“Suit yourself. Follow me,” he ordered.

Without waiting for a response, he turned and started walking. Just like him to not stick around for small talk.

At least not with me. And if the way his fists were clenched was any indication, I’d bet he’d rather punch me than welcome me to the pack house.

Just as I was about to step into the large mansion, I stopped.

I sniffed the air, blinking in disbelief. Was I still drunk? I sniffed again, deeper this time, and that’s when my wolf started to stir, whimpering softly.

It was her scent, and my wolf’s reaction was all the proof I needed. I stood there for a moment, taking it in, then I rushed into the pack house, shoving Eric out of the way.

I didn’t need to ask where she was. Her scent was getting stronger in the air, guiding me to her, even in this unfamiliar place.

I’d open every damn door in this place to find her.

If anyone was yelling behind me, I couldn’t hear them. All my senses were focused on her.

Find her.

See her.

Take her home.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and my breath was coming out in short, ragged bursts. Part of me was scared that I was losing my mind.

I was afraid that I’d search the whole place and never find her. But her scent was getting stronger. Was it just my imagination?

No.

I refused to believe that. And somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized that Delta never mentioned the human she wanted me to examine by name.

It didn’t surprise me, knowing Delta and remembering how she referred to my Estella as “human,” but it was all starting to make sense.

Her desperation, her insistence, her despair…

But if she was talking about Estella, why didn’t she just say so? So I wouldn’t lose my mind?

As if that wouldn’t happen as soon as I caught her scent, like it was happening now.

I wanted to kick down every door and growl at everyone who looked at me like I was crazy, but I knew none of that would matter once I found her.

The scent of wildflowers and morning dew was filling my senses, warming my heart.

I felt like I was melting.

I felt alive.

I felt hopeful.

Then I found her door and didn’t hesitate before pushing it open.

She was there.

Already looking my way. Standing by the window, her eyes wide with disbelief, pain, and wonder.

There was something else in her eyes, too, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Not when I was seeing her for the first time in so long.

It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over my head when I saw her and remembered what Delta had said.

“That… that human is very sick. Dying, actually.”

That’s what she’d said.

She was sick. That much was clear. And it was my fault. Her white hair was proof of that.

I’d done this to her, and I think I know when. The same night the burn mark appeared on my chest.

Guilt was threatening to swallow me whole as I stood there, frozen in the doorway, when she said my name.

“Max…”

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to make me cross the room and pull her into my arms. She was so fragile I was afraid I’d break her, but I held her as tightly as I could.

I needed to make sure she was real. That she wasn’t a dream. I kissed her hair, her neck, her cheeks, then pulled her back into my arms.

“Are you really here?” she asked, sounding unsure, as if she were in my head.

I laughed and kissed her lips. She tasted as perfect as ever, and I was so lost in the kiss that I didn’t notice when she started to push me away.

I broke the kiss reluctantly but kept her close.

I couldn’t let her go.

I would never let her go again.

“What’s wrong, darling?” I asked softly.

She didn’t answer, but her eyes filled with tears, and she kept pushing me.

“Why did you leave me?” I asked, finally voicing the question that had been eating at me.

“Why did you run away? I looked everywhere for you. I was about to lose my mind. Why?”

She looked up at me, confused.

“You should know,” she said quietly, frowning.

“The only thing I know is that you sent me that email, rejecting me. Why did you reject me, Estella?”

“What else was I supposed to do, Max?” she said, her voice rising, her anger flaring.

She pushed me away harder, but I didn’t budge, not just because I wanted to hold her closer, but because she was weak. Weaker than I’d ever seen her.

“Stay with me!” I growled. “We planned our life together, and you just up and left without a decent explanation.

“Because I can’t believe for a second that you held a grudge for what happened years ago.”

“Are you kidding me?” She shook her head, disbelief etched on her face. “While I was gone, you found your mate, Max. I had nothing to return to. No. I did return, only to have my dreams of us shattered.”

I stared at her, speechless.

“What are you saying, sweetheart?” I whispered. “It’s always been you. Only you.”

“Don’t lie to me, Max. She showed me the mark. She did, and I had to leave because…” Her voice faltered, but she pushed through. “I can’t compete.”

A pang of pain shot through my heart. I couldn’t understand how she’d come to such a conclusion. She didn’t seem unhinged or delusional. She was just in pain.

More pain than I was in, which meant I was missing something.

Which meant it was time to finally tell the truth.

“Sweetheart, you’ve been the winner since the day we met.” I smiled, gently cradling her face. “You’re the one for me.”

“No, Max. I saw her mark,” she persisted, her voice cracking and her eyes losing their spark.

“What are you talking about? Whose mark, Estella?”

“Mine,” Delta’s voice chimed in from behind us.