False Expectations - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Adelina's pov:
Maximus stood by his desk, his body tense with barely contained rage. He didn't speak at first, his eyes fixed on me, scanning every detail. The silence between us was heavy, suffocating. The seconds ticked by slowly, each one amplifying the tension.
I stood there, trying to keep my composure, but inside, I was bracing myself for what would come next. He had made it clear earlier that he didn't want me in the warriors' team, and I could feel that he was on the edge now. The last thing I wanted was to provoke him further, but something in me refused to back down completely.
-"Do you understand what you've done?" Maximus's voice broke the silence, low and threatening.
I held his gaze, steady. "I'm just doing what I think is right," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "I want to be useful. I want to be better, and that means training."
Maximus narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening as fury simmered beneath the surface. "Training, huh?" His voice dropped lower, laced with accusation. "You think I'm stupid? That I don't see exactly what you're doing?"
-"And what's that?" I shot back derisively, crossing my arms, my tone daring him to continue.
-"Provoking other men," he growled, taking a step closer, his presence towering. "You use training as an excuse to lure them in. I won't allow it. I won't stand by while you flirt with others right in front of me." His voice was sharp, each word slicing through the space between them.
My expression hardened, my chin tilting up defiantly. "Flirting? Is that what you think I'm doing?" I asked coldly, my voice dripping with disbelief. "I'm training, Maximus. You know—training? The thing you supposedly care so much about? Or is it only acceptable when I'm invisible to everyone else?"
-"You think you can just walk into my pack and disrupt everything?"
I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling inside me. "I'm not trying to disrupt anything," I said, my voice now rising slightly. "I'm trying to prove that I can contribute. I don't need you to make decisions for me."
His eyes flashed with fury, and for a brief moment, I wondered if I had said too much. But before he could react, I continued.
-"You can't control everything, Maximus. You don't control me," I said firmly, my voice steady even as my heart pounded. "You can't just lock me up in a room for the rest of my life." I held his gaze, refusing to back down.
Maximus's expression darkened, his jaw tightening like a storm about to break. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, the tension in the room nearly suffocating. But then, just as quickly, something shifted. His features softened, and the anger in his eyes gave way to an unreadable intensity.
He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair in a frustrated motion. "You really have a lot of nerve," he muttered, his voice low and biting. "You think you can challenge me after everything you've seen? After everything I've done?"
I felt my heartbeat quicken, but I refused to flinch. "I'm not challenging you, Maximus. I'm just living my life. I'm not asking for your approval. I'm asking for respect."
There was a long pause, the air between us charged with an intensity that was almost suffocating. The silence stretched, thick and unyielding, until Maximus finally spoke again. This time, his voice was more measured, but no less demanding.
-"What's your plan?" he asked incredulously, his eyes boring into mine.
-"My plan?" I repeated, confusion flickering across my face.
-"Yes, your plan your real purpose - the reason behind all this. What are you trying to achieve?" His tone was sharp, probing, as if he were trying to peel back my layers to find the truth hidden beneath.
-"My plan? Purpose?" I echoed, still baffled by the accusation. "I don't have a plan, Maximus. I just live my life. I do what I do because it makes me feel good, useful, and productive. So, don't worry—I'm not scheming, and I have no hidden agenda. My only goal is to live the best life I can, even if I'm stuck here under these awful conditions," I said, my voice steady but tinged with exasperation.
He scoffed, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in slightly. "Don't take me for a fool," he said coldly. "I know your plan. You're after the position of Luna of the pack."
-"What?" I froze, stunned by his words. "That's preposterous!" My voice rose as disbelief turned to frustration. "What are you talking about? I'm not pursuing anything, and I definitely don't want to be Luna. In fact, I've never wanted that!"
He shook his head, his expression hard and unyielding. "I don't believe you."
-"You know what, Alpha?" I shot back, my voice firm and unwavering. "That's not my problem. I'm not obligated to explain my life to you. I don't have to prove anything to you—or anyone else. And I'm definitely not sitting here to listen to any more of your baseless accusations."
He stood there, silent for a moment. Clearly, he had doubts about my answer and was wondering if I was telling him the truth or not. I could feel his unease. It was obvious that he was conflicted and didn't know how to react. After a few seconds of silence, while still locking eyes with me, he cleared his throat and spoke sternly.
-"To summarize, I inform you that I forbid you to train with the warriors' team. And this is my final decision. You can excuse yourself now," he added.
-"You what?" I snapped, my voice rising. "How dare you? Who gives you the right to forbid me anything?"
I could feel the heat rising inside me, my temper threatening to break free. I wouldn't let him control my life. He had hurt me too much already. His audacity, to think he could dictate what I could and couldn't do, was infuriating.
-"I am your Alpha. Your life belongs to me. Do not forget it. Ever," he said, his voice hard and final.
I took a deep breath, trying to control the surge of frustration and anger threatening to spill over. I refused to let him see me break. I stood tall, keeping my gaze locked on his, the anger simmering beneath the surface. For a moment, I stared at him, my jaw clenched. Then, with as much composure as I could muster, I spoke.
-"You are the Alpha, but you are not above the law. The law clearly states that every pack member has the right to learn how to fight and defend themselves."
-"Any pack member except you," he retorted, his tone final.
-"Why except me? What's your problem with me?" I demanded, my voice sharp.
-"I don't have a problem. It's nothing personal. It's just my decision as your Alpha. This is it," he answered arrogantly, his gaze unyielding.
-"That's not even a reason," I shot back, my voice rising in frustration. "You owe me an explanation."
-"I owe you nothing," he said coldly, his expression unreadable.
-"You know what?" I said, taking a step toward the door. "Neither do I. I'm not here to ask for your permission. In fact, I don't even need it. I'll train with the team whether you like it or not."
I turned on my heel, ready to walk out, but his voice stopped me.
-"I don't like your tone. Why do you always make things more difficult?" he said firmly, his frustration evident.
Maximus didn't move, his eyes fixed on mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. He didn't say a word, but his presence seemed to fill the room, making it feel smaller, more suffocating. He could see the struggle in my eyes, the way I was holding onto my last bit of composure. It almost seemed as though he was waiting for something, daring me to make a move.
I stood there, my fingers still gripping the lock, trying to control the rapid beating of my heart.
-"You're not going anywhere," he finally said, his voice low and commanding.
Before I could react, his hand shot out, gripping my arm tightly and pulling me toward him. The sudden movement took me by surprise, and I stumbled slightly. Our bodies collided, and for a brief, dangerous moment, I could feel the heat radiating off him. His grip on my arm tightened, and I felt trapped, caught between the urge to fight and the instinct to push him away.
His breath was warm against my ear, his voice a low whisper. "You think you can just walk away from this, from me? Not so easily."
I tried to step back, to free myself, but his hold was unrelenting. "Let me go," I said through gritted teeth, my frustration mounting.
But Maximus didn't relent. He leaned in closer, his presence suffocating. "Not until we resolve this."
The tension in the room thickened, and all I could think was that I needed to get out of there. I wasn't going to let him control me, not again. I gathered my strength, trying to pull away, but he held me firmly in place.
I looked up into his eyes, frustration burning inside me. What was he trying to prove by keeping me here like this?
I fought against the urge to lash out, to make him regret ever thinking he could control me. But deep down, I knew that wasn't the way I wanted to handle this.
-"Let go, Maximus," I said one last time, this time with a calmness I didn't even know I possessed. "I'm not going to fight you. But I am not staying here either."
He looked down at me for a moment, as if considering my words. Finally, with a slow exhale, he released my arm, though his eyes never left mine.
-"You'll get what you want," he said, his voice still tinged with authority. "But remember, nothing's ever that simple with me."
I turned away, my heart still racing, determined not to let him get under my skin. But as I made my way to the door, I couldn't escape the magnetism that pulled at me from behind.
-"Do you mind?" I asked, my voice steady but laced with frustration.
Without warning, he grabbed my arm, spinning me around to face him. His grip was firm, unyielding. Our bodies collided, and the heat between us was unmistakable—an electrifying tension, almost suffocating in its intensity. His face loomed close as he tilted his head, his breath warm against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
-"Yes, I do," he whispered, his voice low, but sharp with intent.
I tried to focus on the door, to ignore the words, to push through the storm of emotions crashing inside me. "Please, Alpha, open the door. I just want to leave," I pleaded, my voice strained, desperate.
He didn't move. His stance was solid as a mountain, unshakeable, as if he were the immovable force and I was just the storm trying to break him. The air was thick with tension. My hands balled into fists, swinging at his chest, but before I could make contact, his hands shot up, effortlessly grabbing mine and pinning them above my head. His strength was overwhelming, his proximity—unnerving.
His face was inches from mine now, his eyes burning with a quiet intensity that made my heart beat faster. His breath brushed my skin, a whisper against the tension between us.
-"You think you can just push me away, Adelina?" His voice was soft, but there was something else beneath it—something raw and vulnerable that I hadn't expected.
I swallowed hard, my mind spinning, trying to maintain my composure. "I just want to be free," I said, my words coming out stronger than I'd expected. "To make my own decisions. Not to be a pawn in some game." The truth slipped out before I could stop it, and though my voice was firm, my heart hammered with uncertainty. What exactly was I challenging?
Maximus's lips twitched—something between a smile and a challenge. He pulled back slightly, his grip still firm on my wrists, but there was a flicker in his eyes, something that made me pause, unsure of what I was seeing.
-"I'm not trying to control you, Adelina," he murmured, his voice almost pained. "But you push me in ways no one else does. You make me want to break every rule I've set for myself."
His words hit me like a physical blow. There was a vulnerability in his tone, a rawness that I hadn't expected. It made the walls I'd built around myself feel fragile, thin. I had never considered him in this light. But now, as I stood there, unable to ignore the pull between us, it was impossible to deny that something—something deep and complicated—was growing between us.
-"Why do you do this to me?" I whispered, my voice trembling, the words slipping out before I could catch them. It wasn't just about the training; it was about everything—the dominance, the arrogance, the way he seemed to tear down every wall I built around myself.
He didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered from my eyes to my lips and back again, his expression clouded with a storm I couldn't quite read.
-"Because I don't know how not to," he finally muttered, his voice laced with frustration. It was an admission, raw and unspoken, but one he wasn't yet willing to fully acknowledge. He stepped back slightly, his hands still hovering near me, unsure whether to pull away or to touch.
I felt the familiar urge to retreat, to rebuild my defenses, but my heart betrayed me. I was drawn to him, pulled into this complex, dangerous connection between us. A bond neither of us could explain, nor deny.
-"Maximus..." I whispered his name, the air thick with unspoken words, emotions tangled in my chest. He reached up, his hand sliding behind my neck, pulling me closer, as if afraid I might slip away. And when our lips finally met, the world seemed to fall away.