False Expectations - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Maximus' pov:
I arrived at the northern border within minutes. The border guards had set up a strong defense, and I immediately joined them. After several intense minutes of fighting off the rogues, we managed to repel most of them. Once again, the border guards performed admirably, and I couldn't be prouder of my warriors. Chris reported that the situation in the south was improving as well. Most of the ruthless attacks had been repelled, and thankfully, we had suffered minimal losses and injuries. However, the enemy's weapons and combat techniques were highly advanced, and that raised alarms. If I had once suspected that another pack was behind these attacks, I was now certain of it.
I was engaged with two "rogues" when one of my men, who had been keeping watch over Adelina, mind-linked me with alarming news. "Adelina is out of the club with Nicolas, the Alpha of Winter Woods Pack," he confirmed. My heart dropped. What the hell is she doing with him?
-"Alpha, we're waiting for your orders. What should we do next?" the guard asked.
-"Nothing for now. Keep an eye on them, and if possible, try to eavesdrop on their conversation. If you hear anything suspicious, let me know immediately," I ordered, my mind still spinning with questions.
What is Adelina's relationship with Nicolas? How long have they known each other? Are they just friends, or is there something more? How did they even meet?
I was consumed by these thoughts when suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my right side. Without thinking, I pressed my hand to my ribs, only to find it drenched in blood. A wave of dizziness hit me, and my vision blurred. The next thing I felt was the cold, harsh reality of the ground beneath me. My breath was shallow, my chest tight, and the pain in my side was unbearable. I tried to move, but my limbs felt heavy, my body betraying me at the worst possible moment. Not now... I thought, pushing through the fog in my mind. I can't be weak... not like this.
I could hear the distant sounds of battle—my warriors still fighting on, unaware of my condition. Focus, I told myself. But the blood from the wound in my side continued to pour out, staining my clothes and the earth beneath me. I clenched my teeth, struggling to remain conscious. My heartbeat was erratic, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I could feel my wolf, Drako, urging me to heal, but I was too far gone. I needed time.
-"You have to stay awake," Drako's voice rumbled inside my mind, though he sounded distant. "This isn't the time to give up. The pack needs you. Adelina needs you."
Adelina. The thought of her made my chest tighten in a different way, and for a moment, the pain in my side didn't seem as intense. I let the image of her face fill my mind, the way she had looked earlier tonight—confident, beautiful, yet so far from me. I'd hurt her, pushed her away, and now she was out there, alone, with another Alpha. Damn it, what was I thinking?
I fought through the dizziness and tried to push myself up, but my body refused to cooperate. Every movement sent a jolt of pain through my ribs, and I gasped, clutching the wound tighter as if that would somehow stop the bleeding.
-"Maximus, you need to get up. You're not done yet," Drako urged, his voice cutting through the fog. "You can't let them see you like this. Get back in the fight, or everything you've built will crumble."
I know, I thought back at him bitterly. I know. But this injury... it's bad. I can barely focus. My vision's fading. My body... was shutting down. Darkness overwhelmed me.
Adelina's pov:
I approached Alex and Marisa, ready to greet them and meet the new people, when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm from behind. A loud growl followed immediately, sending a chill down my spine.
I turned to see who it was, only to find Nicolas' hand firmly holding me, while the growl had unmistakably come from Alex. My eyes widened in surprise. What was going on?
Alex had never been possessive like this before. He was usually the laid-back type, always at ease and unbothered. But now, there was something different in his stance. His jaw was clenched, his eyes narrowed, and the air around him felt charged with an unfamiliar tension. I could feel the possessiveness radiating off him, and it threw me off balance.
I glanced at him, my right eyebrow raised in surprise, my confusion clear. Why is he acting like this?
Nicolas, however, seemed completely unfazed by the growl. In fact, he looked almost amused. With a broad, confident smile, he handed me my wallet, the one I had almost forgotten about earlier. He didn't seem to care about the tension in the air between the two of them.
-"I believe this is yours," Nicolas said smoothly, his smile still wide, as if he hadn't noticed the growing conflict between Alex and him.
I took the wallet from his hand, my heart still racing from the unexpected turn of events. "Thanks, you're a lifesaver," I muttered, forcing a small smile as I tried to regain my composure. My fingers brushed against the smooth leather of the wallet, grounding me for a moment.
-"Lifesaver? Nah... It just didn't match my clothes," Nicolas replied humorously, a playful smirk dancing across his lips.
This man, in addition to his other qualities, had a sharp wit and an effortless charm. His humor lightened the atmosphere, even as the tension between him and Alex lingered in the background.
As I chatted with Nicolas and the others, I couldn't help but notice Alex's constant, unwavering gaze. His eyes flickered between Nicolas and me, his expression unreadable but intense. I couldn't understand his behavior. Why was he suddenly so hostile toward Nicolas? Was there a conflict between them I didn't know about?
I made a mental note to ask Alex about it later. Whatever was going on, it wasn't something I could ignore.
The night progressed smoothly for a while, filled with light conversation and the buzzing energy of the club around us. Then, out of nowhere, a sharp, searing pain radiated through my right side. I gasped, clutching at my ribs, as the wave of agony left me breathless. It wasn't just the physical pain—it was accompanied by an overwhelming flood of emotions: despair, weakness, and an inexplicable sense of loss.
My knees nearly buckled under me, and I had to steady myself against a nearby table. Nicolas was the first to notice. "Adelina, are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he stepped closer to me.
Alex was at my side in an instant, his earlier hostility replaced by alarm. "What's wrong?" he demanded, his hand lightly resting on my arm as he searched my face for answers.
-"I—I don't know," I stammered, my voice trembling. The pain and emotions didn't feel like they were my own, but they were so vivid, so consuming. "It feels like... something's wrong. Someone's hurt."
When the pain finally subsided, my thoughts immediately turned to my family. A surge of panic gripped me. Did something happen to them? My fingers trembled as I quickly dialed my sister Stella. She picked up on the third ring, her voice tinged with both confusion and amusement.
-"Adelina? What's going on? Do you know how late it is? Are you... drunk?" she asked, her words laced with playful suspicion.
I ignored her teasing tone, focusing on her answer. "Is everything okay there? Is everyone safe?" My voice came out in a rushed, desperate plea.
Stella's laughter faded. "Of course, everything's fine. Are you sure you're alright? You sound... off."
Relief washed over me like a wave, though it did little to soothe the lingering ache in my chest. "I'm fine," I lied, forcing a steadiness I didn't feel. "I just... needed to check in."
-"Well, thanks for the midnight scare," she said with mock exasperation, but I could hear the concern creeping into her voice. "Go home and get some sleep, okay?"
I mumbled a quick goodbye and ended the call, my mind still racing. If my family was safe, why was I still feeling this way? The pain returned, sharper and more intense than before, forcing me to crouch down. My heart pounded wildly. What's happening to me?
As I struggled to piece things together, Alex's raised voice cut through the haze. I turned my head to see him a few feet away, his phone pressed to his ear. He was speaking loudly, almost shouting, his tone thick with worry and frustration. His normally composed demeanor was gone, replaced by visible tension.
He ended the call abruptly and headed straight for the exit, his strides quick and purposeful. Alarm bells went off in my mind. What's going on with him?
-"Alex, wait!" I called after him, but he didn't stop. Ignoring the renewed throbbing in my side, I forced myself to run after him. I caught up to him just as he reached the stairs leading outside. His car was already parked in front, engine running, as if he had planned his escape.
He turned to face me, his expression a storm of emotions. "Adelina, not now," he said, his voice strained. "I have to go."
-"What's wrong?" I demanded, my concern overriding my own pain. "Why are you leaving so suddenly? Is something happening?"
For a moment, he hesitated, his jaw tightening. Then, as though deciding something, he softened slightly.
-"I must go to the hospital. Maximus is hurt," he said, his voice laced with agony.
-"Maximus? As in Alpha Maximus? Hurt? How?" I stammered, panic gripping me. My legs felt like they would give out beneath me. The idea of Maximus being injured was unfathomable.
My wolf growled in despair. "How is that even possible? He's one of the strongest werewolves I know. Who could have possibly hurt him? That's why we felt his pain."
Alex's expression was grim as he gestured for me to hurry. "Quick, get inside! I'll explain on the way to the hospital," he urged, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
I climbed into the passenger seat, my hands trembling. Before I could even secure my seatbelt, Alex floored the gas pedal. The car sped through the streets, but I barely noticed the rush. My mind raced with questions, my chest heavy with worry.
-"Maximus... hurt? He was supposed to be invincible. The very idea that someone could injure him sent my thoughts spiraling. Who could possibly do this? What kind of enemy could take down a man like Maximus?
The drive blurred by, and before I knew it, we were at the hospital. Alex jumped out, heading upstairs to prepare for surgery, leaving me alone in the waiting area. My heart pounded as I paced back and forth, my mind unable to settle.
And then I saw him.
A stretcher was wheeled through the doors, surrounded by a swarm of doctors and nurses. My breath caught in my throat as I approached hesitantly. Maximus lay there, his body battered and bloodied, a ghost of his usual self. His face was pale, his strength absent. It looked like the blood covering him was his own.
The medical staff buzzed around him, shouting orders and monitoring his vitals. They were working frantically to stabilize him, but to me, time had frozen.
I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. He looked so fragile, so vulnerable—an image I never thought I'd associate with Maximus. My world tilted, the weight of it all crashing down on me. He had done so much to hurt me, pushed me away over and over, but seeing him like this... I couldn't bear it. Tears blurred my vision, and dizziness swept over me like a tidal wave. My wolf whimpered, the pain we felt unbearable.
The stretcher moved again, the staff rushing him toward surgery. I took a shaky step forward, but my legs gave out beneath me. As the world spun, darkness claimed me.
I fainted.
I woke up to the faint beeping of machines and the sterile scent of the hospital. Realizing I was lying on a patient's bed, I tried to sit up, but a nurse approached me quickly.
-"Good, you're awake," she said with a smile. "Can you tell me your name and age?"
Thankfully, I answered her questions correctly. She nodded approvingly but frowned slightly. "You don't remember how you got here, do you?"
I shook my head.
-"You fainted in the lobby. You've been out for about two hours. You need to take it easy, okay? Lie down and relax." She took my blood pressure, handed me a glass of orange juice, and then left the room.
As I sipped the juice, memories flooded back like a tidal wave. Maximus. He was hurt. My heart clenched as the earlier panic surged within me.
I threw the covers off and stood abruptly. A wave of dizziness washed over me, but I pushed through it. I had to know if Maximus was okay.
I rushed to the front desk, my voice trembling as I asked, "Where's Maximus? What's his condition?"
"The surgery is over, and Alpha Maximus has been moved to room 501," she said sharply, her tone carrying a note of reprimand.
I realized, too late, that calling the Alpha by his first name must have struck a nerve. The respect his title commanded wasn't just a formality to her—it was a matter of honor.
I swallowed hard, nodding quickly to show I understood. "Thank you," I mumbled, trying to suppress my growing impatience.
Without wasting another moment, I turned toward the stairs and began climbing, my thoughts racing faster than my feet. Finally, I reached his room, standing outside the door for a moment to collect myself.
I took a deep breath and entered.
The sight of him stole my breath away. Maximus lay unconscious on the hospital bed, pale and fragile. He looked so unlike the powerful Alpha I knew. The machines monitoring his vitals beeped steadily, but it was a small comfort.
I approached quietly and reached for his hand. It was cold, lifeless. Tears welled up as I kissed his hand gently and placed it against my chest, feeling the faint sparkles that always accompanied our bond.
-"You have to fight," I whispered, my voice cracking. "For you, for your friends, for your pack. Please, Maximus. Wake up. For all of them. For me."
Tears streamed down my face as I clung to his hand, desperate for any sign that he could hear me.
-"What are you doing here, Miss?" a stern voice cut through the silence. I turned to see a nurse standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.
-"You are not allowed to be in here," she said sharply. "Please leave the room immediately, or I will have to call security."
-"Will he recover?" I pleaded, my voice breaking.
The nurse didn't answer, her expression firm as she stepped closer. "It's forbidden to discuss Alpha Maximus' condition. Now, please leave." She grabbed my arm gently but firmly, steering me toward the door.
-"Okay, I'm leaving! Relax," I muttered, pulling my arm free. I took one last glance at Maximus before walking out, my chest heavy with insecurity and fear.