False Expectations - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Adelina's pov:
Maximus had been unconscious for about a week since the accident, and over the last two days, he had fallen into a coma. The doctors had run a battery of tests but remained baffled. There was no poison in his system, no signs of any underlying illness, and only one serious wound—a wound that, inexplicably, refused to heal. For a werewolf, this was unheard of. Despite receiving daily updates on his condition, I hadn't been allowed to see him again. Two guards stood stationed outside his room, barring entry to anyone except the doctors, Christopher, and, much to my irritation, Gina—the ever-present, insufferable redhead.
Work, thankfully, provided some sense of normalcy. Mario's new management system had proven efficient, enabling me to finish my tasks on time without needing to work overtime. It was a small blessing, especially when my mind was consumed with thoughts of Maximus.
I also continued my training, finding solace in the physical exertion. It was the only outlet that managed to quell my worries, even if temporarily. My skills had improved significantly; I'd mastered new techniques and refined old ones. Demetrio had even promoted me to Alpha's personal guard team—a symbolic gesture rather than a practical one, since I had no intention of taking up such a position. The idea of guarding Maximus was laughably inconvenient and deeply uncomfortable. Even if it meant being close to him, I wouldn't want it.
Maximus... His accident had unearthed feelings I thought I'd buried. Despite everything that had happened between us, I still cared for him. Even though he had made it abundantly clear that I meant nothing to him, I couldn't help but worry about him, think about him. Perhaps it was the mate bond pulling at me, or maybe it was just my own twisted heart clinging to someone who continually pushed me away.
I wanted to move on. I truly did. Deep down, I knew a relationship between us was impossible. He would wake up—eventually—and when he did, he would return to treating me like I didn't exist. I was certain of that. And yet, I couldn't stop myself from caring. His current condition had left me heartbroken, unable to eat, barely able to sleep.
Thankfully, Alex and Marisa had stepped in. Their efforts to cheer me up had become my lifeline. They made me laugh, even on the worst days, and gave me moments of joy amidst the relentless worry. Without them, I wasn't sure how I would have coped.
~~~~ Two weeks after Maximus has fallen into a coma ~~~~~
Christopher's pov:
-"Dr. Krueger, I want the truth," I said, my frustration evident. "It's been two weeks now, and the Alpha is still in a coma. You understand this situation can't go on. The pack needs its leader. I need answers about his condition. What caused this? We're werewolves, damn it! A single wound shouldn't put us in a coma like this. What the hell is going on?" I demanded as the doctor checked on Maximus.
-"Beta, you know we're doing everything we can," Dr. Krueger replied, his tone calm but weary. "We've run every test imaginable. We know for certain he hasn't been poisoned, nor does he suffer from any underlying disease. To be honest, I can't pinpoint the cause of his condition. It's possible that his wolf is unwilling to wake him up—or worse, that he's lost his wolf entirely. But these are just theories. We can't say anything for sure yet. I'm truly sorry," he said with a solemn nod before leaving the room.
-"Thank you, doctor. Keep doing what you're doing," I said, though my frustration didn't ease as he exited.
I stood there for a moment, staring at Maximus. His pale, unmoving form was a far cry from the powerful Alpha I knew. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. I have to save my friend and protect the pack," I muttered to myself.
Before leaving the room, I turned to the guards stationed at the door. "No one gets in. Not even Gina. Especially not her," I ordered firmly. I'd never trusted that woman, and I wasn't about to start now. She was useless anyway—always lounging in the room, fussing over her hair or nails instead of doing anything remotely helpful. There was no reason for her to be near Maximus in this state.
As I walked down the corridor, my thoughts raced. "I need to inform the council about Maximus' condition. We can't keep this hidden much longer," I thought. The weight of the pack's future pressed heavily on me as I made my way forward.
Suddenly, I collided with someone, the unexpected impact jolting me from my thoughts.
-"Watch out!" I exclaimed in annoyance as I stumbled slightly from the collision.
-"S-Sorry, Beta. I didn't see you coming," came a shaky, nervous female voice.
That voice—it was familiar. I'd heard it before, but I couldn't quite place where. I looked up, and to my surprise, Adelina stood in front of me. Of course—it was Maximus' mate.
I'd been aware of her presence these past days; the medical staff kept me informed about her constant inquiries into Maximus' condition. She had been wandering the corridors, asking questions, always trying to gather any updates about his health.
-"How is the Alpha?" she asked timidly, her eyes filled with concern.
-"The same," I replied coldly, though I regretted my tone immediately. My frustration over Maximus' condition was bleeding into everything I did and said, and it wasn't fair to her. But I couldn't help myself.
-"I'm terribly sorry," she said softly. "I hope he recovers soon." She bowed slightly, showing respect, and turned to leave.
I watched her walk away, her shoulders slumping slightly as if the weight of the world was on her.
-"I really hope so," I muttered under my breath, despair creeping into my voice. Maximus' condition was taking its toll on all of us, and for a moment, I wondered how much more we could bear.
As she walked away, it suddenly hit me. "Adelina! Of course! Why didn't I think of it before? She's Maximus' mate. She might be the only solution to our problem! The doctor said that his wolf might be the reason he hasn't woken up—maybe Drako is waiting for Adelina to be by his side! How did I not realize this sooner? I'm such an idiot!" I scolded myself.
Without wasting any more time, I turned around and quickly caught up to her. She was about to step into the elevator when I called out to her.
-"Adelina, wait!" I said, reaching out and grabbing her arm gently.
She froze, startled. "Yes, Beta? How can I help you?" Her voice was filled with confusion, and I could sense the wariness in her.
-"I need to talk to you," I said firmly, but with as much calmness as I could muster.
-"About what?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. It was clear that she didn't trust me. Given everything Maximus had put her through, I couldn't blame her for that.
-"It's something very important," I said, trying to soften my tone. "Would you please come with me? I promise." The last thing I wanted was to make her feel more uncomfortable. I hated that she had such bad feelings toward me. I wasn't her enemy. I was the Beta—her packmate. I wanted her to feel safe, to trust me.
She hesitated, still looking unsure. "Something important? About what?"
-"You'll find out soon enough. Please, just follow me."
I led her down the hall to Maximus' room. When we arrived, I gave the guards strict instructions to keep everyone out and not let anyone disturb us.
Once inside, I turned to Adelina. "Please, take a seat." I gestured to one of the chairs by the bed.
She stood still, several paces away from Maximus, her eyes glued to him. Her face was filled with sorrow and worry, her concern for him palpable. I could see the pain she was hiding. It was so obvious she cared for him, but it broke my heart that Maximus hadn't reciprocated her feelings.
-"Adelina," I began, "I brought you here because I need to ask you for a favor."
-"A favor?" She seemed almost startled by the request. "What kind of favor could I possibly offer you?"
-"You know about Maximus' condition," I started, my voice steady despite the weight of the situation. "The doctors have done everything they can, but nothing's worked. They don't have the answers. And that's why I'm asking for your help."
-"My help? But... how can I help him? I'm not a doctor," she replied, her voice laced with uncertainty.
-"I believe your help is more valuable than anything the doctors can offer at this point," I explained, trying to make her understand. "Adelina, I know you're Maximus' true mate. And I'm aware of the way he's treated you, which, for the record, I completely oppose. But that's not the reason I brought you here." I paused, looking directly at her, knowing how hard this was going to be to explain. "The truth is, you're his mate. And if there's any chance for Maximus to wake up, it's going to be because of you."
She looked at me, still confused and hesitant. "But... how? What can I do? I don't understand."
-"Please, let me finish," I said, my voice gentle but insistent. "Maximus is a powerful Alpha, but even he can't overcome what's happening right now on his own. His wolf... Drako... is likely refusing to wake him up, maybe because he's waiting for you. That's why I need you to help me. I want you to be the one to help him wake up. He needs you, Adelina."
She stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You want me to wake him up?" she whispered, as if she couldn't quite comprehend what I was asking.
-"Yes," I said firmly, locking eyes with her. "Maximus may not have treated you the way you deserve, but you're the only one who can reach him right now. I believe that with all my heart. Will you help me?"
You must be out of your mind," Adelina finally said, her voice sharp with disbelief. She took a step back, as if preparing to leave.
I quickly stepped forward, blocking her path. "Adelina, please, just listen," I implored, my heart pounding. "I know this is a lot to ask, and I know everything that's happened between you and Maximus. But right now, the only thing that matters is that he wakes up. He's the leader of this pack, and we need him. The pack needs him. And you—his mate—are the only one who can bring him back."
Her eyes flickered with emotion, but she didn't speak right away. She just stood there, staring at me as if weighing my words, her brows furrowed in frustration.
-"Why now?" she finally asked, her voice strained. "After everything he's done to me—why would I help him?"
I understood her anger, her resentment. I had witnessed, firsthand, how Maximus had treated her, and I knew it wasn't right. "I can't change what's happened between you two. I know he hurt you, and I'm sorry for that. But this isn't about him or you right now. This is about the pack and the man who needs your help."
Adelina clenched her fists, her emotions teetering between anger and sorrow. "He doesn't deserve my help. He doesn't deserve anything from me."
I could feel her pain in every word she spoke. The bitterness was thick, but beneath it, there was still something—something that held her here, in this room, as if there was a glimmer of hope left for Maximus.
-"You're right," I said quietly. "He doesn't deserve your forgiveness. But he needs you, Adelina. Drako needs you. And for whatever reason, you're the key to bringing him back. If there's a chance to save him, you're it."
She took a shaky breath, her eyes darting toward Maximus, still unconscious on the bed. She looked torn—her face a mixture of frustration and a deep, almost painful sadness.
-"I'm not sure I can do this," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "How am I supposed to trust him again, after everything?"
I didn't have an easy answer for her. Trust was a complex thing, especially in a situation like this. But I had to be honest. "You don't have to forgive him, not right now. But for him to wake up, for him to heal, you need to be by his side. He needs his mate. Only you can reach him."
Adelina hesitated for a long moment, her hands trembling. The silence stretched between us, heavy with the weight of her decision.
Finally, she nodded slowly, her voice a quiet murmur. "I'll do it. But not for him. Only because you're right... he's our Alpha, and the pack needs him."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, relief washing over me. "Thank you, Adelina. You don't know how much this means."
She gave me one last look, her expression a mixture of resignation and determination. "I hope you're right. I hope this actually works."