False Expectations - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Maximus' pov:
In the last two days, my most trusted men had worked tirelessly to round up every traitor whose name appeared on the list. We had detained so many that we were forced to send a number of them to prisons belonging to other packs. The Council had made it clear that no one was to be mistreated or tortured; everything had to be carried out by the book. They insisted that the trials commence in five days' time, at each pack, with at least one member of the Council present to ensure fairness. The courts would determine the severity of the punishments based on the crimes committed, but I had made it clear that if they let any of the traitors off too easily, I would take matters into my own hands. I would not stand by and watch my pack's enemies go unpunished.
-"Alpha, Mario Lupo is on the phone. Do you want me to cross the line?" Gemma's voice broke through my thoughts.
-"Cross the line immediately," I said, my tone cold and direct.
The phone crackled as Mario's voice filled the line, dripping with arrogance. "Maximus Draco, what a pleasure to hear you again."
I didn't waste time on pleasantries. "Where is my mate, Lupo?" I demanded, my voice sharp.
A sickening laugh echoed on the other end of the line. "Oh my... the big bad Alpha is starting to worry about his mate. How thoughtful, considering the fact that you didn't give a damn about her a few days ago." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check. "If you called me just to judge me, you can hang up now," I warned, my patience wearing thin.
He chuckled, an unnerving sound. "You can't scare me with words, Maximus. I'm not like the others. I'm not afraid of you."
I leaned forward, the anger bubbling to the surface. "I'm running out of patience, Lupo. Where is she?"
The line went quiet for a moment, then Mario's voice came, low and deliberate. "If you want to see her alive again, you need to meet me at the Sacred Rock. But you have to come alone."
My mind reeled. The Sacred Rock? I hadn't expected him to take her there, not after everything that had happened. "You expect me to believe that all this time you've been hiding her at the Sacred Rock under my nose? I'm not stupid, Lupo," I replied, skepticism lacing my voice.
Mario's tone shifted, a smugness creeping in. "I never said you would find her there. I told you to come meet me there if you want her back safe and sound."
His words sent a chill through me. I couldn't afford to trust him blindly, not after everything he'd done. "How do I know you're not lying to me? How do I know you won't harm her even if I come?" I pressed, trying to read between the lines of his words.
Mario's laugh echoed again, but this time it was darker, almost mocking. "You'll just have to take that risk, won't you?" he taunted before abruptly ending the call.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding, a mix of frustration and dread rising in my chest. My thoughts churned like a storm. Was I making the right choice? Should I trust him enough to walk into this trap, or was this all part of his sick game? I clenched my fists and forced myself to breathe deeply, trying to steady the onslaught of emotions threatening to overtake me. No matter what tricks he had up his sleeve, I was going to bring Adelina home. I couldn't afford to let him win.
-"Gamma," I said, my voice resolute. "Prepare my things. I'm heading to the Sacred Rock."
I sent a quick mind link to Chris, telling him my plans. He responded immediately, urging caution. He wanted to send two teams to shadow me, keeping hidden and only intervening if absolutely necessary. But I refused. I couldn't risk putting Adelina in further danger. This was my responsibility. She was my mate, and I was going to face whatever came head-on.
With that settled, I grabbed my keys, my phone, and my sword, the weight of it a familiar comfort, and headed straight for the Sacred Rock. This was it. Adelina would be in my arms again tonight. I made a silent vow to Artemis herself that I would not fail her.
After fifteen minutes of tense driving, I reached the dead-end leading to the narrow path toward the Sacred Rock. The area was eerily quiet, and my senses were on high alert. I took slow, measured steps, scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement, any hint of hidden warriors. Nothing. My senses were sharp, and I knew it wasn't just my instincts—I had allowed Drako to take over, sharpening my focus, heightening every sense.
I reached the clearing, and to my surprise, the Sacred Rock stood in solitude. There were no guards, no signs of a trap. I cautiously surveyed the area for a few minutes, but found nothing. It didn't sit right. Why had he led me here if no one was around?
-"Are you looking for me?" The voice was sudden, cutting through the silence like a knife. I spun around, instinctively reaching for my sword. From the shadows of the surrounding bushes, Mario emerged, his smug expression barely visible in the low light.
-"Where is Adelina?" I demanded, my voice low and menacing.
Drako's voice rumbled in my mind, his tone concerned. "Why didn't we notice him before?"
-"I don't know. But this isn't good. Stay alert. He never plays fairly" I warned, my grip tightening on the hilt of my sword.
Mario flashed a grin, clearly enjoying the tension. "Nice to see you too, Draco..." His voice had a playful undertone, but I could hear the edge beneath it, the mockery.
-"I'm not in the mood for games. Tell me where Adelina is, or you won't live to see another day," I snarled, stepping closer, my gaze unwavering.
Mario smirked, clearly enjoying the power he held over the situation. "Ah, the big bad Alpha is getting angry. What do I do now...?" He taunted, before his expression darkened. "Did you really think I'd just tell you where Adelina is? Draco, you're a fool to believe I'd give in that easily! You must really think you deserve to be King... but you're nothing more than an idiot."
I was done with his games. "Tell me where she is. You promised to release her as we agreed. Answer before I lose my patience." I unsheathed my sword in one swift motion, the cold steel glinting in the sunlight.
Mario's eyes flickered to the blade, but he remained unfazed, still playing his sick game. "You think you scare me? This is all just a game to you, isn't it? The longer you drag this out, the more you'll regret it."
The wind howled through the trees, and I tightened my grip on the hilt, prepared to do whatever it took to bring her back. "Where is Adelina? Did you set her free as we agreed?Where. Is. She? " I repeated, my voice now deadly calm, the warning clear.
I wasn't going to let him toy with me any longer. Not after everything he had put us through. I had one mission: to get Adelina back, and nothing—nothing—was going to stop me.
-"I never agreed to anything with you," Mario spat, his voice dripping with venom, and without warning, he drew his sword.
-"You are a disgrace," I retorted, my anger flaring. In an instant, I lunged at him with all the force I could muster. The clash of steel filled the air as we began to fight. I led the charge from the very beginning, and despite his skill, I was faster and more precise. Each strike I delivered found its mark—across his arms, shoulders, and ribs. He tried desperately to evade, using every trick in the book to break my rhythm, but he was no match for me.
The battle raged on for almost half an hour. Mario's moves became increasingly frantic, his sword swings clumsy. It was clear he was tiring. Finally, I saw my opening. I ducked under his wild swing, disarmed him in one fluid motion, and sent his sword flying through the air.
-"That's why I'm the best candidate for the position of King," I said, standing tall, my chest heaving with pride.
But before I could savor my victory, I heard a sharp whistle. It sliced through the air like a razor, and before I could even react, something sharp and cold struck me in the back. I gritted my teeth, instinctively reaching for whatever it was. It was an arrow—barbed and deadly. I tugged it from my skin, bringing it up to my nose to smell it. The unmistakable stench of wolfbane and silver burned my nostrils.
It was poison. Poison that could kill any wolf in an instant. But I was no mere wolf. I was a Lycan.
I glared at Mario as I pulled the arrow free, feeling the poison already working its way through my veins. His smirk only widened.
-"Did you really think I would play fair?" he sneered. "That's why I deserve to be King—because I never leave anything to chance." His voice dripped with arrogance as he moved closer, launching himself at me again with renewed ferocity.
I could feel the poison spreading rapidly, my body growing heavier with every passing second. My muscles screamed in protest, and I knew I was running out of time. But I wasn't about to let Mario see me weak. I let my Lycan side take control, my vision sharpening, my instincts heightened. Even as my strength faltered, I would fight until my last breath.
But Mario wasn't done. His attacks came harder, faster. Each blow felt like it could be the one that finished me. The poison was working its magic, clouding my thoughts, making my limbs sluggish, but Drako's will kept me fighting. The Lycan blood inside me was my only chance now.
I stumbled back, my head spinning, my breath ragged as I leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree to steady myself. The dizziness was overwhelming, but I couldn't afford to let it consume me. Mario didn't give me a moment's respite. As soon as he saw me falter, he shifted into his wolf form. His beast was far more vicious than he could ever be in human form. I braced myself, ready for whatever he had planned.
The wolf was upon me, teeth bared, claws slashing. I tried to dodge, but my reflexes were slow, my movements sluggish, and the poison was making everything feel distant and surreal. It wasn't the first time I'd fought a wolf in human form, but never had I fought one while my body betrayed me with every second that passed.
Even as Drako pushed forward, lending me strength, the poison continued to sap my energy, draining me more than I could replenish. I had fought too long and too hard, and the edge was fading fast. My legs were shaky, and my vision blurred, but I couldn't afford to give in.
Mario's wolf pressed me harder, knocking me to the ground. I hit the dirt with a painful thud, my body aching, the cold poison crawling through my veins like fire. I gasped for air, struggling to find the strength to get back up, but it felt impossible. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
Mario shifted back to his human form, towering over me with a smug look on his face as I struggled to regain my footing.
-"Drako," he purred, his tone cruel and confident. "These will be your last minutes alive before I send you to meet your ancestors. Any last words?" he taunted, his eyes drinking in the sight of my struggle.
I could barely breathe, barely move. The poison had taken hold, but as I looked up at Mario, I refused to let him see how close he was to winning. My pride, my strength, and my love for Adelina kept me fighting through the haze of the poison.
I couldn't let him win. Not like this. Not after everything we had been through.
-"Yes..." I managed to rasp, my voice barely a whisper. Every word felt like it took every ounce of strength I had left. My body was falling apart, trembling uncontrollably as I struggled to hold myself together. The poison coursed through my veins, making every movement feel like an agonizing fight. Yet I knew I couldn't stop. Not now. Not with everything at stake.
But Mario was relentless. He saw my weakness, and like the predator he was, he took advantage. Every strike he delivered was a brutal reminder of how close I was to my end. Cuts, bruises, and bites marred my body, but Drako couldn't heal me—not with the poison spreading like wildfire through my blood. My vision blurred, and everything seemed to spin.
When Mario finally paused, no doubt to catch his breath, I seized the moment.
-"Which is?" he asked, a mocking smile on his lips. "I'm a civilized wolf, after all. I'll grant your last wish before I kill you."
I took a labored breath, summoning whatever was left of my resolve. "Just..." I inhaled sharply, trying to focus, "just... go to hell, Lupo."
The words barely left my mouth before I pushed myself up, drawing on every last bit of willpower. I couldn't fall. I would never be a coward. My fists and feet began to fly, fueled by pure defiance. I struck him with everything I had left—my claws digging into his flesh, teeth sinking into his skin. For every punch, every kick, every hit, I felt the weight of my fury lift me up, pushing me beyond my limits.
I forced him down, slicing deep into his abdomen, his arms, his legs. I felt his resistance weakening, his movements becoming sluggish. This was my chance to survive, to turn the tide. But just as I thought victory might be within reach, my strength evaporated. The poison had drained me too far.
With a feral grin, Mario capitalized on my weakness. He kicked me with all his might, sending me crashing to my knees. My head hung low, sweat dripping down my face. Every breath was a battle, and I couldn't tell if it was the poison or my own exhaustion that kept me from falling entirely.
Mario stood above me, the sight of my struggle evidently thrilling him. "Who would've thought?" he sneered. "Maximus Drako, the strongest wolf in all the packs, kneeling before me. This sight is worth a million gold pieces." He raised his sword, its gleam flashing in the moonlight, ready to end it all.
I could feel myself slipping away. The exhaustion, the pain, the poison—it was all too much. I would have accepted it. Maybe it was time to let go.
But Drako wasn't finished. His voice, deep inside my mind, urged me not to give up. "You have to fight. Get up. Finish this." At first, I thought it was just a desperate plea, a final cry from the wolf inside me. But then... he said something that made something shift within me.
-"Adelina's life depends on you."
The words pierced through the haze of pain, and suddenly... it all clicked. The rage, the desperation, the need to protect her—it surged within me like a tidal wave. And just like that, I felt a surge of strength unlike anything I had ever experienced. The poison, the weakness, the dizziness—all of it was gone in an instant.
I stood tall, stronger than ever, my body no longer betraying me. My senses sharpened, my fury ignited, and Mario's eyes widened in disbelief.
-"No...this can't be" he whispered, stunned by the change. But it didn't matter. I was beyond reason, beyond mercy. I was ready to end this.
The battle raged on, and with a few swift moves, I had him down. I straddled him, my hands gripping his throat.
-"Tell me where Adelina is," I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. His eyes darted frantically as I slowly squeezed the life out of him. He gasped, struggling to speak, but I wasn't about to let him go easily.
"Tell me where she is," I repeated, my grip tightening.
He wheezed, his voice barely a whisper. "Sh...e's... d...dead...Drako..."
The words hit me like a hammer. Dead.
-"No".
I couldn't believe it. But the shock only fueled my fury. The moment I heard those words, all hell broke loose. My anger, my grief, my desperation—they all merged into a primal force that consumed me.
I began to hit him, to kick him, to beat him until his body gave way to my rage. Each punch, each strike, was a release. I heard his bones crack beneath my fists, felt his body give in to the relentless assault. But I didn't stop. I couldn't. Not until he was nothing.
Finally, as his breath grew weaker, I grabbed his head and snapped his neck with a single, brutal twist.
And then... everything stopped.
The power that had surged through me left as quickly as it had come. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to my knees. The adrenaline faded, and the exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave. My head hung low, and darkness closed in around me.