False Expectations - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Maximus' pov:
Adelina stood in the doorway, her expression a mask of unreadable calm, like a silent storm brewing just beneath the surface. Her gaze was unwavering, piercing, and I couldn't tell if the tension in her eyes was born of anger, jealousy, or perhaps a mixture of both. The uncertainty gnawed at me, and I knew it was a dangerous game. It felt as though the very air between us was thick with the weight of unspoken words, each of us caught in our own thoughts, waiting for the other to make the first move.
I had to tread carefully now. I had to explain myself—make it clear that Jina no longer had a place in my life, that she was a past I was leaving behind. I couldn't afford to lose Adelina, and she needed to understand that she was the only one I wanted. Only her. I couldn't let her doubt that for even a second.
The words felt heavy on my tongue as I prepared to bridge the gap between us. I had to make her see that, despite everything, I was committed to her. That she was my future.
It was crucial I showed her that I wasn't willing to let her go, that I wasn't about to lose the only woman who mattered to me. I needed to chase her down, prove that I could be the one she could depend on, or everything would be lost.
I glanced at Gina, my eyes hardening. My tone was cold, decisive.
-"Leave us."
-"B-but, babe..." she whined, her voice dripping with her usual, insufferable tactics.
Gina's refusal to leave only proved her desperation. She was trying to use her familiar tricks, those manipulative, old charms that had worked so many times before. But this time, they wouldn't work. Not anymore.
I wasn't the same man I used to be. My focus was now set on one thing—on making Adelina happy. My future with her was my only goal, and I was committed to it. With Adelina by my side, I would be strong, unstoppable, and I'd be able to claim my rightful place as the ruler of all werewolves. I would be invincible. And yet, when I thought of Adelina, I realized she wasn't just a means to an end. She was everything I could ever want. Beautiful, intelligent, and strong. She had proven herself capable of handling herself, of standing her ground. In the end, having her as my mate would benefit me in ways I hadn't imagined.
-"I'm not your babe. Now, leave, before I lose my temper," I growled, the warning clear in my voice.
Gina was grating on my nerves now, and I was tired of this game. How many times did I have to tell her that I didn't want her anymore? I had allowed her to believe she might be my Luna for too long, and that had been my mistake. I should have ended things decisively from the start.
After a few more moments of resistance, she finally walked toward the door. The look she gave me was full of frustration and bitterness—she was clearly annoyed, and her exit was laced with that familiar aura of displeasure. She shot one final glance over her shoulder, as if trying to draw me back in with one last attempt to regain my favor.
But I wasn't falling for it anymore. Her tricks had no hold on me now. Since my injury, I had gained clarity, and my path was clear. Gina no longer fit into the life I was shaping, and I had no intention of letting her back in.
I turned my attention to Adelina, who remained in her position, her arms crossed over her chest. She stood still, her gaze firmly locked onto mine. The disapproval in her eyes was unmistakable, but it didn't shake me. I knew I had to make this right. I couldn't afford to lose her.
-"Adelina, it's not what it looks like. Please, let me explain before you jump to conclusions," I tried to apologize, my voice soft but desperate.
-"Don't rush so easily to conclusions," she replied, her tone laced with an arrogance I wasn't prepared for.
-"Don't pretend you don't care, because I know that's not true," I shot back, unable to hold my frustration in check any longer.
-"You're right," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm terribly sorry for interrupting such an important meeting."
I shot her a disapproving look, and for a moment, she paused. The sarcasm stung more than it should have—it was a personal jab, a quiet insult. I hated it, and it made my blood boil, but I forced myself to restrain the anger rising within me. I could feel the heat in my chest, but I didn't want to make things worse. Despite her composure, I could see it—the subtle shift in her eyes, the tightness in her jaw. She was far more affected by what had happened than she let on.
I knew it. Beneath that mask of indifference, she was boiling.
-"I didn't come here for an explanation," she said suddenly, her voice firm, cutting through the tension. "I don't care about what you're doing with your lover. I'm here for something else."
I blinked, caught off guard. My pulse quickened as I tried to process her words. I truly believed she had come here to demand answers, but that didn't seem to be the case. Not yet, at least.
-"Really?" I asked, a hint of surprise creeping into my voice. "Whatever the case may be, allow me to make this clear: there is nothing between me and Jina. Our relationship ended a long time ago."
Adelina stood there, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her gaze cold and disinterested. It was clear she wasn't buying my explanation. The look on her face was one of indifference, as if my words held no weight. But I could sense there was more beneath that calm exterior, something simmering just below the surface.
I knew then that pushing further wouldn't change her mind, and I wasn't about to beg for her understanding. I had made my position clear, and now it was time for her to make hers.
I sighed inwardly, deciding to drop the subject altogether. There was no point in explaining myself further when she was clearly unwilling to listen.
-"Now, enough about that," I said, my tone shifting to something more direct. "Tell me why you're really here. What is it you want?"
-"I'm here to make a deal," she said, her tone no-nonsense, her expression hardening with determination.
-"A deal?" I echoed, my confusion deepening. "What kind of deal?"
She took a few deliberate steps forward, each one filled with purpose, exuding an air of confidence that was both alluring and intimidating. Her posture was poised, proud even, with her head held high, but I couldn't ignore the slight tension that rippled through her body. She refused to meet my gaze, her eyes purposefully avoiding mine as if the sight of me—or perhaps what she had witnessed—was too much to bear. Was it discomfort? Or was it jealousy? Either way, it was clear she was far from pleased by the scene that had unfolded.
I motioned toward the chair across from my desk, an unspoken invitation for her to sit, but she didn't take it. Instead, she stood tall, as if the mere act of sitting in front of me was beneath her. Her refusal to settle, to lower herself in any way, only added to the tension thickening in the air between us. Silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity. Neither of us spoke, but the space between us crackled with unspoken words, with everything we weren't saying.
I didn't want to be the one to break the silence, though. I wanted to hear her out, to let her speak first. After a few long moments, she seemed to gather herself. A deep breath filled her chest, steadying her, before she finally locked eyes with me. The tension was unbearable, but I couldn't look away.
-"As I was saying," she began, her voice steady, but with an undeniable weight behind her words. The underlying gravity was unmistakable. "I'm here to make a deal with you. I know recent events have made it clear—you need me if you're going to win the throne." Her pause was deliberate, heavy with the knowledge of the stakes. She was making sure I felt the full impact of her words. "And I also know that if I reject you, not only will my pack fall, but many of my loved ones will die... including myself."
Her words hung in the air like a dark cloud, the truth of them settling over me. I could feel the weight of what she was saying—the potential destruction if I were to turn my back on her.
-"I wouldn't hurt you, Adelina," I said calmly, my voice steady, even though the gravity of the situation was threatening to pull me under. "You know that."
But even as I said it, I could feel a growing unease. I wasn't sure what kind of game she was playing, or if she was truly testing me. One thing was clear, though—this wasn't just about power. There was something deeper, something more personal between us that neither of us could ignore.
-"Oh, yes! You certainly made sure to explain it to me at length," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her tone, sharp and biting, grated on my nerves. It was so unlike the calm, composed Adelina I had come to know. Still, I fought to hold back my frustration. I understood—understood—that she was hurt by what she had seen, but her behavior wasn't justified.
-"You're being unjust now..." I finally said, my voice tight with restraint.
-"Really?" she shot back, her eyebrows arched in disbelief. "I'm the one who's wrong? Do you honestly deny that your past actions have shown me otherwise? Because let's face it, Maximus—actions speak louder than words." Her voice was unwavering, and there was no mistaking the bite in her words.
Her words stung, and I hated that they did. But amidst the sharpness, something lingered beneath the surface, something raw. She was right. My actions had sent mixed signals. I had played the fool. But still, her tone... it irritated me in ways I hadn't expected.
And yet, despite the anger bubbling inside me, there was one thing I couldn't ignore. Her voice—her voice—when she said my name. Maximus. It was a simple thing, but it sent a ripple of warmth through my chest that I didn't quite understand. It wasn't just her words; it was the way she said them, like a challenge. I found myself craving it more than I should.
-"I will do everything I can to change your mind," I said, trying once more, my voice softer now, sincere. "Soon, you'll see just how much I care for you. In the last few days, I realized that you're the only one for me, and..."
-"Stop the bullshit," she cut me off, her voice firm, almost cold. "I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. You've had plenty of time to prove yourself, and I'm done listening to promises. Like I said, I'm here for a deal. So let me lay out the terms, and then we'll see if you agree or disagree with them."
Her words were final, leaving no room for debate. The steely determination in her eyes told me she wasn't in the mood for romance or excuses. She was here for something else entirely.
I was taken aback by the way she spoke to me. Her tone was cold, impersonal, and strangely detached—nothing like the woman I thought I knew. There was a sharpness to her words that made my chest tighten. Honestly, I didn't expect this from her. Her behavior today was completely subversive—almost as if she had completely distanced herself from the person she had been before. Despite the unease gnawing at me, I refused to show it. I remained silent, carefully studying her every word, her every move.
She stopped for a moment, giving me a look that was almost calculating, as though waiting for me to react. Her gaze lingered on me for a few seconds, and then she continued, the words flowing from her lips with a determination I couldn't ignore.
-"I will accept to be your Luna under certain conditions," she began, her voice firm. "First of all, I want you to give me the position I deserve in the pack. And I don't just mean the title—I mean real power. I want to be respected, starting with you and then extending to every member of the pack. I also want to be involved in every major decision—finances, management, foreign policy... everything. And lastly, I want to continue working at the hospital so I can earn my own money."
I couldn't help but feel my frustration building. Her words were demanding, her expectations high, and I wasn't sure how much of it I was willing to accept.
-"The Luna of the pack has specific obligations," I said, my voice hardening. "What you mentioned isn't part of the role. And as for work, you know you don't need it. My money is yours as well."
-"Keep your money," she cut me off, her voice unyielding. "And please, don't interrupt me."
The way she spoke, so firm and uncompromising, was beginning to irritate me more than I cared to admit. But I kept my anger in check, knowing that any outburst would only give her more leverage in this power struggle.
-"Secondly," she continued, "I want my old pack to be strengthened—both financially and militarily. I want you to give my brother land and business, so that my old pack can stand on its own two feet. I also want you to give him some of your warriors to help him train his army, to make them strong and powerful. And last, but most importantly..." She paused, taking a long, deliberate breath before continuing. "I may be your Luna, but we will never truly be a couple. We will act as one in public, but when we're alone, there will be no intimacy between us. You can have relationships with other women and satisfy your carnal needs, as long as you keep it secret. I demand respect, and I won't tolerate being ridiculed by you or anyone else."
Her words felt like a slap in the face, cold and calculated, and something deep within me recoiled. The audacity of it all, the coldness in her voice—it was clear that she was not asking, but demanding. I wasn't sure whether to be furious or impressed by her boldness, but one thing was certain: I didn't like her terms at all.
-"Is that all?" I asked, my tone as cold as ice. The last condition—the part about intimacy—was out of the question. No part of me would ever accept that.
She let out a sigh, her expression almost regal in its arrogance.
-"If I think of anything else, I'll let you know," she replied, almost dismissively, as if she were granting me the privilege of her presence.
I could feel my patience wearing thin. She was pushing my boundaries, and I wasn't willing to bend any further without addressing it.
-"I have some objections," I said, my voice laced with the kind of authority that comes only from being pushed too far.
-"Please," she said, her tone dripping with mock politeness, "go ahead." Her words were laced with a certain arrogance, as if she had already won, as if she expected me to back down.
-"Firstly, as I told you before, the Luna of our pack does not participate in any decision-making regarding finances, management, or foreign policy," I explained, my voice steady despite the frustration beginning to simmer within me.
-"It's time for your pack to change its ways. Don't you think?" she shot back, her tone demanding, almost challenging. Her words hung in the air like a weight, and I could feel my mind racing, trying to keep up with the implications of what she was saying. Her boldness caught me off guard, and I found myself staring at her, stunned by her unwavering confidence. I couldn't remember the last time anyone had spoken to me this way, and yet, she didn't seem intimidated at all.
I couldn't deny that her requirements were putting me in a difficult position, one that I wasn't entirely sure I was ready to navigate.
-"Okay... I... I promise I will think about it," I said, trying to calm the growing tension. My words were sincere, but my mind was clouded with doubt.
-"There isn't anything to think about," she retorted, her voice hard and cold, a touch of finality in her tone. "If you don't agree with any of my terms, there will be no deal, and you will have no Luna by your side. Is that clear?"
Her words hit like a slap to the face, and I found myself taken aback. There was no room for negotiation, no room for compromise. The strength in her stance was undeniable. She wasn't bluffing, and I could sense the seriousness in her every word.
-"You know I have the power to make you," I said, trying to assert control over the situation, my voice carrying the weight of my position.
-"You can't oblige me to do anything," she fired back, her anger palpable. "If you do, I will kill myself. Is that clear?" Her voice was laced with venom, her eyes flashing with intensity.
The threat caught me off guard, and a knot tightened in my chest. I knew she wasn't just playing games, and the severity of her words hit me harder than I cared to admit.
-"Crystal," I said coldly, my voice devoid of emotion. I needed to regain my composure, and fast. "Now, I have a question for you regarding the last term."
She raised an eyebrow, her stance unwavering, her gaze never leaving mine.
-"Which is?" she asked, her tone slightly more guarded now, as though preparing herself for what I was about to say.
-"Am I the only one who will have the privilege of satisfying my carnal needs, or will you have that claim as well?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral, though the tension in the room was almost suffocating.
She didn't hesitate. "I will have the same right, under the same conditions, of course."
I felt a surge of anger, my chest tightening. The audacity of her words sent a jolt of disbelief through me.
-"That's out of the question," I said sharply, my voice cold and final. "My mate can't fool around with other men. There is no deal."
Her eyes narrowed, and I could feel the air between us thickening with hostility.
-"How selfish you are!" she snapped, her voice rising in frustration. "What did you expect? You fooling around with every woman in the pack while I stay alone for the rest of my life?" Her words were biting, and the anger in her voice was unmistakable.
I could tell this was a subject that hit close to home for her. Her vulnerability was clear in the way she spoke, though it was masked by the sharpness of her words. Still, her anger was laced with a deeper pain—something raw and real that I couldn't ignore, despite the irritation she was causing me.
-"I didn't say that. I do not agree with the idea of you having a lover," I replied firmly, my voice cutting through the tension in the room.
-"But it's okay if you have one? Am I right?" she shot back, her words filled with incredulity and a sharp edge.
I could feel her challenge hanging in the air, and for a moment, I found myself at a loss for words. It was the question I had been avoiding, the one I wasn't ready to confront.
-"No, it's not," I said, my tone serious as I held her gaze. The reality of the situation was settling in, and I could feel the weight of her scrutiny.
-"Yeah, I see that. You've proved it so many times in the past," she said with a bitter, sarcastic laugh. The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable—an armor she wore all too well. I realized then that it was one of her weapons, one she used to shield herself from vulnerability.
Her words stung, but I didn't let them show.
-"The past belongs to the past. Now we are talking about the future, our common future," I stressed, hoping to steer the conversation in the direction I wanted.
-"We rely on the past to build the future," she commented, her eyes narrowing slightly. It was clear she wasn't ready to let go of the past so easily, and a part of me understood. The scars we both carried were not easily erased.
-"Not always," I countered. "Anyway, I want to make it clear to you that from now on, the terms of our agreement will apply to both of us," I said, my voice more firm than before.
-"I have no objection to that," she replied, her words flat, but I could sense the underlying tension in her stance.
-"Before our conversation is over, I have a clarification to make—especially about the third term of the agreement," I continued, gathering my thoughts as I prepared to lay out the final terms.
She sighed, as though bracing herself for whatever I was about to say.
-"Please..." she muttered, her voice a mix of impatience and resignation.
-"We should add that neither of us is allowed to have a lover. In addition, we should try to make our relationship work. Whichever of the two violates one of the terms, the other has the right to reject him or her, with every following consequence to them or their people. So, do we have a deal?" I asked, my voice unwavering.
Adelina stood silent for a few long minutes. The silence stretched on, each second ticking by like a countdown. I could see the inner turmoil reflected in her eyes, the flicker of doubt before she finally spoke. She lowered her gaze, seeming troubled, as if wrestling with the weight of what I had said.
I waited for her answer with bated breath, my mind racing, trying to predict what she would do. The room felt suffocating with the tension. I wasn't sure what I was hoping for—her acceptance or her rejection. Either way, I knew things would never be the same after this conversation.
Finally, she looked up at me, her gaze steady, her eyes locking with mine. She cleared her throat, and for a brief moment, I saw the vulnerability beneath her hard exterior.
-"It's a deal," she said, her voice surprisingly calm.
Before I could respond, she turned sharply and walked out of the room, leaving me alone. The door clicked shut behind her with an eerie finality.
I stood there, motionless for a long moment, the silence pressing down on me. A strange feeling settled in my chest, something I couldn't quite name. Satisfaction, perhaps—but it was a hollow kind of satisfaction, the kind that comes from giving in, from compromising in ways I never thought I would.
Why am I so willing to compromise with her? What is it about Adelina that makes me bend in ways I've never bent before?
Questions swirled in my mind, but there were no answers. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had given up something significant, and yet, I couldn't bring myself to regret it. Something was changing in me, and I didn't know if it was for better or worse.
But one thing was certain: this deal, this strange arrangement, was only the beginning of a much deeper and more complicated journey.