Contracted to Alpha Maximus - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

ZIA
After the whole fiasco, Aiden remained on the floor for a long time, just groaning and moaning in pain.
Until his cracked bones healed, he made sure that I felt every moment of that agony.
Maximus turned to me and tried to help me to my feet, but I refused by lifting my hand. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t push it.
“ Alpha King, this is a mess. Alpha Aiden is your brother’s son. This can become a family issue, and Elders of the Council can get involved. ” An Alpha was saying, but I could no longer tell who it was.
My vision was going black, and I was slowly losing my mind with the pain I was forced to endure.
I closed my eyes and clutched my stomach as I placed my hand on the floor to support my weight. Taking this as a chance, Emily finally rushed to Aiden’s side and faked tears again.
I opened my eyes and directed my blurry gaze towards the couple. The agony of seeing them together was worse than the pain I felt in my body.
Now, I could tell. Aiden was being fooled. Maybe the whole Alpha Nathan scheme only involved Emily and her family. This meant Aiden was just a simple-minded fool.
But it didn’t help the anger I felt towards him. Cheating on me was his choice. Falling for Emily’s trap was his own doing.
Aiden picked up his head, and our eyes met before his gaze lowered to my hand that was placed over my stomach. He straightened up, anger swirling in his eyes.
I thought he would send more pain my way, but I was proved wrong. The pain started to disappear as if he was consciously blocking it from reaching me.
I sighed a breath of relief as the pressure on my muscles eased. I could finally move without feeling like I could fall dead at any moment.
“ Alpha King- - - ”
“ I am not done yet. ” I whispered, interrupting Alpha Kai, who was trying to say something to Maximus.
Pushing myself to my feet, I staggered back to the table and dropped my palms atop it. The Alphas had more disdain in their eyes for me now, but like before, I couldn’t give a fuck about what they thought.
Maximus’ eyes twitched as his gaze dropped to my trembling hands. I stiffened, noticing the darkness in his eyes. It felt like he was boiling with fury, barely holding back from lashing out at me, and it was- - -a very scary thought.
“ Alpha Aiden’s silence proved that he did all the things I accused him of, didn’t it? ” I swallowed.
“ Zia- - - ” Alpha Zane turned to me, but I lifted my shaking hand, making him pause.
“ We are not sure what Emily and her family want. I don’t trust that girl and her brother or father enough to let them get involved in my Pack’s affair. ” My voice rose as I sneered.
“ What do you mean? ” Alpha Enzo frowned at me.
My lips pulled into a smirk. “ I don’t think Alpha Aiden informed you of the decisions he is making in his Pack. ”
“ Zia. ” Aiden warned from behind, but his voice was weaker now.
“ He stripped Beta Jack of his position and gave that spot to Emily’s brother. Instead of keeping his father’s trusted Gamma Alfred as his main advisor and negotiator, he offered that position to Emily’s father. My father’s house- - - ” Fire burned in my veins at that thought. “ MY HOUSE. Aiden gave that to Emily’s family without getting my permission! ”
“ He is an Alpha. He can do what he wants in his Pack. ” Alpha Enzo huffed.
I opened my mouth to tell him that he could shove all this Alpha talk up his ass, but Emily beat me to it.
“ Alpha King. ” She cried out, crossing us all to reach Maximus once more.
My heart missed a beat as she dropped to her knees and pressed her chest against the side of his leg. Her eyes were filled with tears, but her parted mouth was inviting.
“ Please. Alpha Aiden just thought that my father and brother were more capable than the previous Beta and advisor. He had no bad intentions. ” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she put on the innocent act. “ And Luna Zia’s house- - -That house was sitting vacant and was so close to the main Packhouse that Alpha Aiden gave it to us. It’s all my fault. I just didn’t want to be away from my family after enduring hardships in Alpha Nathan’s Pack. ”
“ Emily! ” Aiden yelled, making me flinch.
I could feel his presence behind me, just a step away. He could grab me again, and I didn’t like that possibility when my back was facing him.
“ Get up. ” Aiden added, taking a step closer.
His hand brushed my back, and my body froze. I didn’t like these cheap sparks anymore. They could calm me down, but they were not nearly as explosive as those current jolts I felt whenever Maximus was near.
My eyes met his dark gaze when I thought about him. He was glaring at me without giving a thought to how other Alphas were noticing this exchange once again.
Emily inched closer, gripping onto his sleeves. “ Please, Alpha Aiden didn’t attack Alpha Nathan out of spite. Alpha Nathan was a monster. He kept me locked up in the dungeons and tortured me day and night. He was obsessed with me and refused to let me go. ”
Her face reeked of innocence and vulnerability. That’s something people loved. Back at home, this is what everyone kept telling me that I lacked.
I couldn’t fall to my knees and fake innocence like she could. I couldn’t make a fool out of myself in front of so many people.
My lips pressed into a thin line as I lowered my gaze to the table. Maximus was going to fall for Emily, too, right? If Emily kept at it, he would melt just like Aiden did, and then, I would be left with nothing. Like before.
“ As the Luna of my Pack, I want you, Alphas, to assure me that my position is promised. If not, then I need my Pack returned to me. This is what the law states. This is what this council is for. ” I whispered. “ In return, I won’t mind Aiden’s mistress, and I will make sure that no other mistakes happen with other Packs again. ”