False Expectations - Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Chris' pov:
It's been two weeks since Adelina's disappearance, and Maximus is still stuck in the same downward spiral: drunk, moody, and locked away in his office. He's neglected everything—his duties, his pack, and even himself. From the moment he wakes up until he finally passes out, if he even manages to sleep, he's drowning in alcohol. I just don't understand it. It's so obvious that Adelina was kidnapped—why can't he see that? Instead, he's convinced she left with another man. Some people are right when they say jealousy is a man's worst counselor.
I still have a small team working in the shadows, searching for Adelina without Maximus knowing. Unfortunately, we've found nothing. It's as if the earth swallowed her up after her visit to Jake's office. I'm starting to suspect Jake might be hiding her somewhere in the pack house, but we can't just barge in there and search—doing that would spark a war between the two packs, and that's the last thing we need right now. I sent Leopold out to cautiously investigate the situation. He's one of the few I can trust to be discreet and thorough. He knows how to handle things without drawing too much attention. I'm hoping that he'll find something—anything—that can point us in the right direction.
Maximus is a wreck, and time is running out. If we don't get answers soon, it could be too late for Adelina. The search for her feels like it's slipping through our fingers, and the tension between the packs is growing thicker by the day.
Despite my ongoing search for Adelina, I'm faced with another pressing issue. The Council has decided to move the skirmishes up by two months, and they just sent us the invitation. I was on my way to deliver it to Maximus' office. The event is scheduled for two weeks from now, and all candidates for the throne will participate in honor of the outgoing King. For Maximus to take part, he needs to be sober. But honestly, I highly doubt he's in any condition to even consider it. Since Adelina's disappearance, he's become a shell of the man he used to be—it's like he's lost not just his mate, but himself.
I really hope that, for once, he'll listen to me, pull himself together, and reorganize. If he does, not only could he find Adelina, but he might still have a shot at the throne.
I knocked on his office door, but there was no response.
-"Maximus, are you inside?" I asked, my patience thinning.
-"Go...away...I...do...not...want to...see...anyone..." he replied slowly and with great difficulty. He was clearly completely wasted.
-"Open the damn door, Max. It's urgent," I said, irritation creeping into my voice. I was fed up with this.
-"Go away...I don't give a damn what you have to say," he yelled from inside.
-"But I do," I said, and with a frustrated kick, I broke the door open.
-"What...the hell...are...you...doing...man?" he asked in surprise, his voice slurred.
-"You're so drunk. Come on," I said, trying to lift him out of the chair. He didn't cooperate, but I managed to drag him to the bathroom, shove his head under the sink, and turn on the faucet. He immediately started yelling and growling, his eyes turning pitch black, and his wolf's voice emerged—deep and guttural.
-"Thanks, Chris. It was about time. I couldn't stand him anymore in this mess," Drako, Maximus' wolf, said, sounding both relieved and irritated.
-"Drako? Is that you?" I asked, shocked.
-"Why are you so surprised? Drako is always present," he replied cockily.
-"But...but how?" I wondered, still trying to process everything.
"Long story short, I'm not affected by Maximus' condition. I'm always in control, no matter how he feels. I just prefer not to take over unless I absolutely have to. And now is one of those times. As you can see, he's too drunk to hold it together. Have you found anything new about Adelina?" Drako asked, his voice tinged with concern.
-"You know I'm still looking for her?" I asked, surprised by how much Drako seemed to know.
-"Of course I do. Don't confuse me with this imbecile," he said smugly, before continuing, "So? What did you find?"
-"Sorry, Drako, absolutely nothing."
-"She's alive and close. I can feel it. I've told this idiot a thousand times to shift and let me look for her, but he stubbornly refuses," Drako said, frustration seeping into his voice.
-"I understand. Can you please give control back to Max now? I need to tell him something very important."
-"Even if I do, he's too groggy to understand or remember anything the next two days. Just tell me instead," Drako replied.
-"The invitation for the skirmishes arrived. If he wants to become King, he needs to confirm his participation or he'll lose the right to compete and, eventually, the right to the throne," I said, my worry growing.
-"Send the confirmation," Drako ordered firmly.
-"Even if I do, how am I going to get him to participate in the skirmishes? He can't compete in this state," I pointed out, frustration building in my voice.
-"Do not worry. He will be ready by then," Drako reassured me, his tone unwavering.
-"How can you be so sure about it?" I asked, my frustration growing.
-"Because I've had enough of this nonsense. I didn't spend years facing every challenge just to end up with a drunk, washed-up Alpha. I am pure Lycan, for goodness' sake. I have a destiny to fulfill. I won't tolerate his stupidity anymore. It's time to show the world who the true King is," Drako said, his voice filled with determination. "The only thing I need from you is to find Adelina. As soon as possible. Search in the forest between our borders and Crescent Moon's."
-"But that area is huge, and my team is too small to cover it. Even with them working day and night, we won't be able to cover it all," I protested.
-"I know that. Take as many warriors as you need. Just find her," Drako ordered.
-"But... but what about Maximus? You know how he'll react if he finds out," I hesitated, concerned about the consequences.
-"Do not fret, Beta. Max will never know. I will erase the memory of our conversation today. Do not worry about that. I'll keep him busy with the skirmish training. Do you have anything else to add?" Drako asked, his confidence unshaken.
-"No, Alpha," I said, feeling somewhat reassured, though still uneasy.
-"Then go. I'll take care of the rest," he said with certainty, and somehow, his calm resolve eased the tension in my chest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Earlier in the morning~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adelina's pov:
Two weeks had passed since I was imprisoned by my own brother. So many days of constant thinking, yet I still couldn't make sense of Jake's behavior. How had he become this way? And, more importantly, why? Fortunately, I was treated with relative kindness and well-fed by the guards. I knew most of them, and I could tell they didn't agree with my unjust imprisonment. But what could they do? They couldn't disobey their Alpha to save me, and they were all too aware of the consequences that would follow.
And what about Maximus, my faithful mate, my lifelong companion? Did he even care about me? Did he notice my absence, or had he already moved on? Did he return to Gina or find someone else? Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe he was out there looking for me. But if he was looking, why hadn't he found me yet? For goodness' sake, I wasn't that far. I'd been under their noses for two weeks now! The thought of it made me want to scream in despair.
-"Adelina, you need to calm down! Stay focused if you want to get out of here," my wolf urged, trying to steady my nerves.
-"You're right," I sighed, feeling the weight of my emotions. "I just need to conserve my energy and hold onto hope. Eventually, someone will find me. At least, I hope they will. Or maybe Jake will realize what he's doing is wrong and set me free. If neither of those things happens... I'll have to escape on my own. If I get the chance. I have to seriously consider that option. In the end, I might be my only savior."
I fell into a fitful sleep, my mind swirling with endless possibilities. But then, the sound of approaching footsteps broke through my dreams. I immediately closed my eyes, pretending to sleep, while silently observing every movement. The footsteps stopped, and the door to my cell opened. Two tall, muscular men dressed in black entered, their faces covered with hooks, their scent unfamiliar. They weren't from Crescent Moon—of that, I was certain—but they were definitely wolves.
Without a word, they grabbed me by the arms, dragging me down the hall. I knew I didn't have the strength to fight them off, so I didn't resist. Even if I did, I knew I couldn't escape without being caught. There were too many guards around. I would be caught again, and worse, I'd probably be tortured.
The van jerked as it began to move, and I could feel the tight grip on my wrists as they continued to hold me. I remained still, trying to gather my thoughts. The darkness around me was suffocating, but I couldn't let fear overtake me. I had to stay calm. The unknown men and their silence made my heart race with anxiety, but I couldn't afford to show any weakness.
-"Where are you taking me?" I thought, trying to piece together what was happening. I didn't want to panic, but it was hard to ignore the overwhelming sense of dread gnawing at me.
I could hear their steady breaths, and even though I couldn't see anything, I knew they were watching me, probably waiting for me to make a move or say something. I wanted to speak, but I also knew it would get me nowhere. They didn't answer my questions before; they certainly wouldn't now.
I focused on my breathing, reminding myself that staying calm was my best chance for survival. My mind raced back to Maximus, to the hope that he was out there looking for me. Was he? Did he even know I was gone? Had he already given up on me? No. I couldn't believe that.
I had to keep the hope alive. No matter how dark it seemed, I needed to believe that someone would come for me. I just didn't know when or how. The only thing I could control now was my own resolve.
After what felt like an eternity of bumping along the uneven road, the van finally came to a stop. My stomach churned from the rough ride, and the nausea was overwhelming. I had no idea how long we had been traveling, but it felt like time had stretched on endlessly. The van door creaked open, and a rough hand gripped my arm.
-"Get out," one of the men ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.
I tried to stand, but with my vision still blocked, I stumbled. I could barely make out anything. I was dragged again, my feet dragging along the uneven ground. I felt the shift in the air—the temperature was cooler, fresher. We were in a forest. I could smell the pine trees and hear the distant chirping of birds, though I couldn't make out the details. My mind raced. Where was I being taken?
I felt grass brush against my bare feet as they continued to pull me forward. They eventually made me sit in a chair, roughly tying my hands with rope. The handkerchief was removed from my face, and I blinked in the dim light of the cabin. I was alone for what felt like a long time, but time was a blurry concept in my current state.
The cabin was old, neglected, with the musty scent of dust in the air. It was dim, with just two flickering oil lamps hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows. There was a table in the center of the room surrounded by worn-out chairs, and a half-destroyed fireplace in the corner. It felt like a place lost in time.
I began scanning the room when the door creaked open. The harsh daylight poured in, blinding me for a moment. I squinted, trying to make out who was entering. When the door finally closed behind the figure, my breath caught in my throat.
Standing in front of me was a tall, dark man. He was dressed entirely in black, his strong build unmistakable. But it was more than his physical appearance that shocked me—it was the recognition. He was a man I knew well, someone I had once admired for his intellect, his cunning, and his ambition. The same man I had trusted in the past.
But now, in this moment, I wasn't sure if he was my savior—or the one who had orchestrated my capture.
The man's gaze met mine, and I couldn't shake the cold feeling in the pit of my stomach. What was he doing here? Was he here to help me—or had he played a part in this nightmare?