Contracted to Alpha Maximus - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

ZIA
As a Luna, one was not supposed to share any Pack information with other Alphas or the council.
In other words, you never revealed what your Alpha did or any secrets that could harm your Pack.
But- - -
I was desperate.
I told Maximus that Aiden lied about the threat from Alpha Nathan so he could wage war on him. He didn’t do anything about it, and I had a hunch, he wouldn’t either.
After all, Aiden Caine was his family and I was nothing. So, I had to take matters into my own hands and forge my way if I wanted to get what I needed.
“ Why have you called everyone here, Zia? ” Aiden snapped, sitting on his usual chair.
My gaze drifted towards Emily, who was occupying my spot again. My eyes twitched, but I pursed my lips and held my tongue against her.
Alpha Zane started, “ Alpha Aiden, Alpha King told you that your mistress is not needed- - - ”
“ It’s fine by me. ” I interrupted, shooting him a glance.
He looked up, and after seeing me staring right into his eyes, his expression turned sour. A female was not supposed to look Alphas in the eye either.
I rolled my eyes and directed my gaze towards Maximus. He was watching me with a familiar intensity in his eyes.
My skin burned under his stare as if he was touching me without being close. I swallowed, heat shooting down to my core and making it a little uncomfortable for me to stand here.
I ignored the way he made me burn for him and placed my palms over the table. I was standing right opposite Maximus, and he never took his eyes off me, not even once.
“ After our ordeal yesterday, I thought- - -you all needed some convincing. ” I smiled, a little colder than I intended.
All eyes turned to me, different emotions flickering in them, but I couldn't care less.
“ Alpha Aiden, my- - -mate here. ” I gestured towards him with my chin. “ did something unspeakable and I thought I should bring it to everyone’s attention. ”
“ Zia. ” Aiden sprung up from his spot and stalked towards me.
I lifted my hand and made him stop. My gaze remained fixed on Maximus. On the surface, he looked neutral and emotionless but I could tell, he was ticked off and could snap any moment.
“ Alpha Nathan- - -the Alpha my mate killed, and his Pack that we acquired after winning the war. He never provoked Alpha Aiden. Alpha Aiden made up the story about his warriors attacking our border and waging a war. Alpha Nathan merely defended his Pack. ” I revealed with a solemn expression on my face.
My heartbeat sped up as Maximus narrowed his eyes on me. The Alphas looked as stiff as cardboard, and their Lunas looked equally surprised.
“ You do realize you are saying your Pack committed war crimes? ” Alpha Zane hissed, his voice rising with anger.
“ No. ” I smiled and glanced at Aiden.
He looked so still that I wondered if he was even breathing. His Adam’s apple bobbed when our eyes met. “ Alpha Aiden here committed war crimes. Even I was not aware of the truth until the war was over. ”
“ Zia. ” Aiden whispered, his eyes twitching from the corners. “ stop this now. ”
I turned to face the Alphas and their Alpha King again. “ I wondered why he would do something like this. But then Aiden’s fated mate came along and now I think I know why he got rid of an entire pack. Emily Crusher says she was Alpha Nathan’s slave, but what if she was his chosen mate instead? We know Alpha Nathan had a Luna, but who was it? ”
Silence fell over the room, and all eyes turned to Emily. She opened her mouth, panicked, and glanced at Aiden’s back.
So, I guessed right.
I kept wondering if she was a slave and tortured for years, why were hair so shiny, why her face glowed so much, why her whole exterior looked so put together?
If she experienced pain, how couldn’t she understand someone else’s pain?
Maybe, it was because it was all a lie these two made up to find an excuse- - -an excuse to get rid of Alpha Nathan, the obstacle in the way of their great love.
“ Aiden. You know that’s not true. ” Emily sniffled, her fake tears rolling down her cheeks.
The pitiful sight must have tugged at Aiden’s heart because the next moment, he disregarded everything and lunged at me.
I was not expecting the blow. He grabbed my throat and pushed me back with an inhumane force. My back collided with a wall and my breath whoosed out of my lungs.
Instinctively, I took hold of his throat and clawed at it. Anger burned brighter than pain and fear as I changed our positions. His back slammed into the wall just like mine did and the concrete cracked under the force of my blow.
Aiden gasped, but his eyes turned murderous as he pushed me back and growled. His wolf was so close to breaking out, so I called on Jessie and growled back.
It was a dangerous move to shift into a wolf in the middle of the conference room where several other Alphas were present. They wouldn’t punish Aiden, but they would do something about me.
Aiden’s hand reached for my shoulder, his instincts kicking in. I prepared to counter his attack, but a figure appeared in my blurry sight and blocked my view of Aiden’s angry face.
I gasped, my face hitting the back of that man. My heart missed a beat as his masculine scent soothed the ache in my throat.
Maximus.
I breathed.
Gurgling noises sounded in my ears, pulling me out of the daze. Emily’s screams were next, and then the Alpha’s were shouting.
“ You dare attack her in my presence. ” Maximus had Aiden in the air by his throat and his grip was so tight that the latter’s face was turning blue.
Bile rose to my throat as I looked into Aiden’s bulging, horrified eyes. A little more pressure and his eyeballs might just explode.
“ Alpha King, please release him. ” One Alpha intervened and tried to get him to let Aiden go.
But it only made Maximus tighten his hold. Aiden was kicking his legs, but he couldn’t break free.
After all, if your breath was cut off, you couldn’t muster up the energy to fight back. A person’s brain didn’t work when there was not enough oxygen in there.
Emily rushed towards Maximus and kneeled beside his leg. Tears fell from her eyes uncontrollably and I couldn’t help but think she was awfully close to Maximus.
My brows lifted as I noticed her hand touching his thigh and slowly creeping towards his cock.
What the fuck was this bitch doing?
“ Alpha King, please. Please spare him. I beg you. Please. ” She cried out, but not once took her eyes off Maximus.
My hands curled into fists. Did she have her eyes set on Maxie now?
Frustrated, I grabbed Maximus’ jacket and tugged at it from behind. His shoulder muscles visibly stiffened.
“ Please. ” I murmured. “ Please let him go, Alpha King Maximus. ”
Please, Maxie.
As if my voice was all he needed to react, he let Aiden go but not in a civilized way. He threw him away, slamming him into the cracked wall until it caved in completely and the bricks fell over Aiden.
I cringed, but then it hit me. The pain. I gasped, doubling over to clutch my chest.
Damn you, Mate Mark.
My knees gave out as adrenaline disappeared and the agony finally settled into my bones.
I could feel Aiden’s pain. He could have blocked it out if he wanted because we were chosen mates and not fated, but he wanted me to feel everything he did.
What a bastard!