False Expectations - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Adelina's pov:
The door closed with a soft click, and the man walked up to me, his presence commanding the room. He stood directly in front of me, casting a sideways glance that felt as though it pierced through me. I raised my head, and when I realized who it was, my breath caught in my throat. My mind went blank, and for a moment, I couldn't speak. How could it be him?
-"Hello, dear! How nice to see you again. How are you feeling?" His voice dripped with feigned sweetness, completely interrupting my train of thought.
-"You?" The word barely escaped my lips as I tried to process the shock. "What are you doing here?"
-"I'll explain everything soon, but first, let me apologize for the way you arrived and the accommodations. Unfortunately, circumstances are... complicated. I hope you're comfortable," he said, a forced smile spreading across his face.
-"Oh, yes... so terribly sorry. What's all the fuss about? This place feels like a five-star hotel. Is he blind, or is he messing with us?" my wolf muttered inside my mind, the sarcasm clear in her voice.
-"If you wanted me to be comfortable, you could at least untie me. I promise I won't try to escape," I said, keeping my voice calm, despite the growing unease.
-"Oh yes, yes... I'm really sorry. I was so eager to see you that I completely forgot!" he replied, his words slipping out too quickly, clearly rehearsed.
He took a step forward and began loosening the ropes binding me. I stood up slowly, stretching my stiff limbs, wincing from the soreness that had settled in my back and wrists. The skin around the ropes was raw and red.
-"You know, I wanted to see you sooner, but your dear brother didn't want to help me out. So, I had to take matters into my own hands," he said with an unsettling smile, his eyes glinting with something that made my skin crawl. "And now, here you are."
A strange feeling tightened in my chest, something I couldn't quite place. His words held a hidden undertone, as if they were masking something darker. The way he looked at me, so cold yet filled with unspoken meaning, sent an icy shiver down my spine.
-"What do you want from me?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
-"Isn't that obvious? I want your company," he said, but the smoothness of his words did little to convince me.
-"Nice way to ask for someone's company," I commented, rolling my eyes. I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms. "What are you really after?"
-"I think I've answered that question before, my dear," he said, his irritation clear.
-"But of all people, why me? You've never shown me the slightest interest. What is it that you're after? Why now? Why like this?" I pressed, my mind racing with confusion and suspicion.
-"From the first time I saw you, I was mesmerized by you," he replied, his tone serious, almost too sincere.
-"Yeah... right," I muttered, disbelief lacing my words.
-"I'm telling you the truth. You have to believe me," he insisted, trying to convince me with a pleading look.
-"If you wanted me, why didn't you show me anything? What did you expect? Why let my brother imprison me? Why didn't you save me? Instead, you bring me here and tie me up like this?" I snapped, the anger bubbling to the surface.
-"Too many questions, and so little time to answer, ma petite," he said, his tone mocking.
-"Just start over," I growled, frustration rising in me. I'd always hated being called that, but hearing it from his lips felt like a betrayal in itself. It made my skin crawl. It pissed me off.
Sometimes, I can't figure out where I find the strength to act like this. What's wrong with me that I challenge him even when I'm at his mercy? I must have completely lost my mind.
-"I want you by my side. I've been in love with you since the first time I met you," he confessed, his voice soft but steady.
-"We are on fire, baby! If only Maximus were here to see how stupid he was to underestimate us for so long. The world wants us," my wolf declared triumphantly, her voice echoing in my mind.
-"Hold your horses. The world? You mean a psycho?" I taunted, my sarcasm laced with disbelief. "Yeah, sure... Maximus is definitely going to be very jealous," I added with a smirk.
My wolf growled in frustration, retreating to the back of my mind. Oh, Goddess, not only do I have to deal with this man's madness, but now my wolf is sulking too!
-"Right... and why didn't you say anything until now?" I asked suspiciously, narrowing my eyes at him.
-"I couldn't. First, it was too soon, and I didn't have the courage to tell you. Then, because Maximus appeared in your life," he admitted, his gaze softening slightly, as though he were genuinely explaining himself.
-"If what you're telling me is true, then why show up now? And most importantly, why this way?" I demanded, still unconvinced.
-"Because you needed me, Adelina. That's why. I rescued you, don't you see?" he said shamelessly, almost as if he believed his own twisted logic.
-"If you rescued me, then why am I still tied up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere?" I shot back, the frustration and confusion growing within me.
-"Because I don't want you to suffer any harm. Many people are looking for you, wanting you dead," he said with a confident smirk, as though he held all the answers.
-"You don't want me to suffer any harm, yet here I am, tied up. It doesn't make any sense..." I trailed off, shaking my head. Nothing about this situation made sense.
He didn't answer immediately but shot me an angry look, his expression revealing how much he disliked my tone. I refused to let it affect me, keeping my focus sharp as I pressed on with my questions.
-"And who are all these people who want me dead?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
-"Maximus and his men, of course. Who else?" he replied with a self-satisfied grin. "He's got an entire team out looking for you. He's ordered them to kill you when they find you."
"-What? Why?" I wondered aloud, my mind racing. Deep down, I didn't believe a word he said. Maximus might be dangerous, yes, but kill me? That seemed extreme.
-"That's his plan?" my wolf interjected, her voice laced with disbelief.
I pushed the thought aside, but still felt a knot of unease in my stomach. "You're lying. If Maximus wanted me dead, I would be long gone by now. I'm more useful to him alive than dead," I said proudly.
-"Really, girl? That's your argument? Pathetic," my wolf scoffed, sounding as frustrated as I felt.
-"Shut it!" I snapped at her mentally.
-"Don't you see?" my wolf went on, ignoring my frustration. "This guy thinks you're an imbecile and that he can manipulate you however he wants. He must be crazy for thinking that, especially with a brilliant wolf like me in your head!"
I groaned internally, rolling my eyes at her cocky attitude. She had a point, but that didn't make this situation any less maddening.
-"Adelina, I'm your friend. You have to believe me. I'm telling you the truth," he said, taking a step closer, his eyes almost pleading.
-"You have a strange way of showing friendship," I retorted, stepping back slightly to put some space between us.
-"Please, you have to understand," he pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. "I'm in love with you. I want to protect you. I want to make you my Queen."
I couldn't help myself. "I didn't know you were already a King," I said, sarcastically raising an eyebrow.
-"I'm not yet, but I will be soon, with you by my side," he said seriously, as though it was a done deal. "I've put too much into this plan to lose you now."
-"You mean, you're behind all this?" I asked, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "You're the one who orchestrated all of this? You're the one who fooled Jake into imprisoning me?"
-"I never forced him to do anything," he said, shaking his head as if I were misunderstanding. "He's so delusional, thinking he's better than everyone else and that he deserves to be King. It's ridiculous! Can you imagine? Jake, a King? He isn't even fit to be Alpha of a small pack, for goodness' sake!"
-"While he is? Give me a break! What a jerk," my wolf muttered in the back of my mind.
I ignored her for the moment, still grappling with what he'd said. "Okay, I can understand Jake's grandiose plans... but why you? You're one of the most successful werewolves. Why do you want to become King?"
-"Why do people keep trying to get more and more?" he asked rhetorically, his gaze lingering on me with an unsettling intensity.
I stared at him, completely speechless and frozen. My mind was whirling, too many emotions and thoughts clashing at once.
-"Say something, girl!" my wolf chided again. "That's why he thinks you're an idiot!"
-"Would you stop doing that?" I shot back mentally, my patience fraying.
She sighed, retreating into the back of my mind, while the man in front of me raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
-"The answer is simple, ma petite," he said, his voice dripping with smugness.
I didn't reply. I stood there, silent, my mind struggling to make sense of everything. His words, his presence, the whirlwind of information—everything was a blur. I wanted to escape, to shut it all out, but I couldn't.
-"I see you're having trouble finding it," he said, his voice taking on a mocking tone. "Let me help you. It's one word, five letters. Can you guess what it is?"
I stood there, still in shock, my brain failing to process any of it. I stared at him, unable to form a coherent thought. This couldn't be real. I had to be dreaming.
-"I'm really not in the mood for games," I said, after what felt like an eternity.
He flashed a sardonic smile. "The word is power, ma petite. I want the ultimate power. I want what I've been deprived of all these years, just because I was the third child in my family. My brothers, though incompetent, received the highest positions without doing a damn thing. Unlike me, who worked so hard to get here. I must take the position that's rightfully mine. I must be King. I'll change the world we live in."
-"Yes, it was you the Palace was waiting for so long to function! What a moron!!" my wolf snickered in my mind, clearly unimpressed.
I was starting to feel the same way. The entire conversation was growing tedious and, frankly, was getting on my nerves. I just wanted to escape all of this.
I took a deep breath before addressing the man in front of me. "You've already achieved so much. Why would you want to throw it all away? You could do so much from where you are. You have the ability and resources to change things. You don't have to be King to make a difference," I said, trying to reason with him.
He snapped back, his eyes flashing with anger. "Oh, you think your mate is more capable than me? Is that what you're saying?" he growled, his fists clenching at his sides.
-"No, I never said that," I replied quickly, trying to calm the situation.
But he wasn't listening. "Please, don't treat me like a fool. I know how much you support him, despite the way he mistreated you," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain.
I felt a spike of irritation. "You blame Maximus for everything, but you treat me no better than he did, considering the situation you've put me in."
He sneered, his expression darkening. "You're a bit of a goofball, aren't you?"
Ignoring his insult, I stood my ground and demanded, "What do you want from me?"
-"I already told you. You just don't pay attention! I want you to be my Queen," he said, the frustration evident in his tone.
I stared at him, incredulous. "What makes you think I want this position?"
He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. "If you don't accept, I have no reason to keep you here."
I stared back at him, unflinching. "Okay, then let me go, because I clearly don't want to be Queen."
His face twisted in anger, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "I never said I would set you free."
A chill ran down my spine. "Then what are you going to do with me?" I asked, impatience and fear rising in my chest.
His voice became cold and calculated. "If I'm not going to have you, then no one will. I'm going to keep you here forever."
I shook my head, my heart pounding. "You can't keep me here forever."
-"Then I'll kill you. That way, I'll be sure you won't open your mouth," he said flatly, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.
My breath caught in my throat. "What?? Why? Why would you kill me? I haven't done anything to you!" I protested, desperation creeping into my voice.
He just looked at me, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "You're Maximus' mate. I'd be a complete fool to let you go back to him."
Tears of frustration welled up in my eyes as I pleaded with him. "Please, let me go. I won't tell anyone. I swear, I won't say a word!"
-"Stop begging," he said dismissively, his voice colder than ever. "I've made my decision."
A wave of panic hit me as the walls seemed to close in around me. "Let me go. You risk someone finding me. What if someone, or Maximus, finds me?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
He smirked, clearly unmoved. "Then they'll find you too late."
-"That idiot will never do it. I've cast a magic potion around the perimeter of the cabin," he said with a twisted grin. "This potion reduces one's scent so their mate can never find them. So don't get your hopes up. Even if he's looking for you, he will never find you. And if your mate can't find you, imagine how difficult it will be for others. So decide whether you'll come with me or not."
My mind was still numb from everything that had happened. This man is insane! He orchestrated all of this just to become King? What is it with male werewolves these days? Why does everyone want to be King? And why does he want me by his side as his Queen? There are so many other wolves, for goodness' sake! Why did he have to choose me? Where did I get myself into?