False Expectations - Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Maximus' pov:
The moment the crown was placed upon my head, I felt a strange emptiness settle over me. As the crown gleamed in the light, symbolizing the peak of my power, I couldn't ignore the deep loneliness gnawing at my chest. It should have been a moment of triumph, but it felt hollow. The weight of leadership was nothing compared to the weight of the absence that tugged at me—the absence of her. I scanned the grand hall for her, my eyes desperately searching the sea of faces. But she was nowhere to be seen. It was as if her presence was the only thing that could make this moment complete, and yet, I was standing here alone.
The reception that followed the coronation felt like a blur. Alphas and Lunas approached me with congratulations and pleasantries. The conversations I shared with Council Members about the fate of the "New Order" members felt trivial, even though they held immense importance. My mind wasn't with them. It was with her. I couldn't stop thinking about her—Adelina.
And then, like a dream or a vision, I felt a shiver run through my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I turned instinctively. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes locked with hers. There she was—Adelina. An apparition in the crowd, ethereal, radiant. She wore a long green dress that seemed to flow around her like liquid silk, accentuating the elegant curve of her body. Her dark hair was styled in an ancient Greek bun, the strands held together by intricate gold pins. Her earrings, large and bold in their Greek design, shimmered in the soft light of the hall.
She stood there, still and silent, her gaze piercing through the distance between us as though she had been waiting for this moment as much as I had. My pulse quickened, and without a second thought, I moved toward her, taking large, purposeful steps. Every other conversation faded away, every other face blurred into the background. It was just her. It had always been her.
When I was inches away, I stopped, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her presence. A soft smile tugged at my lips, and I couldn't contain it. She smiled back—faint, but there. Our eyes held each other's for a long moment, saying everything we both felt without a single word. Finally, I broke the silence.
-"You came," I said, my voice filled with relief and a growing sense of hope. The weight of the crown was still there, but it didn't matter anymore. I took her hand in mine and placed it gently over my heart, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her hand. Her skin felt like silk against my lips, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else.
-"Yes, I have..." she whispered, her voice low, almost hesitant. She tried to pull her hand back, but I didn't let go. I couldn't.
-"Would it be better if we went outside?" I suggested, my voice quieter now, the need for privacy more pressing than ever. "We'll have more space there. More time... Just us."
She didn't speak at first, but her eyes softened, and she nodded once, slowly. That was all I needed. Without another word, I led her toward the balcony, my heart racing in anticipation. The night air hit us as we stepped outside, the cool breeze carrying the sweet fragrance of evening flowers that seemed to have taken over the palace grounds.
She let go of my hand once we were on the balcony, taking a deep, steadying breath, her eyes lifting to the sky above us. We stood there, side by side, silent for a few moments, simply existing in the calm, the scent of the flowers, the stillness that enveloped us. It felt like the world had paused, as if time itself was waiting for what came next.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but inquisitive. "How are you?"
The question caught me off guard, though I knew she had every right to ask. I'd been a King, a leader, a force of nature in the eyes of many, but in that moment, I felt small. I didn't care about titles, not anymore.
-"Awful," I replied honestly, my voice thick with emotion. The weight of everything—the crown, the responsibilities, the expectations—all of it felt meaningless without her by my side.
Her eyes narrowed, a frown creasing her brow. "That's surprising! I've never believed that I would hear something like this from your lips."
Her words stung more than I expected. She sounded skeptical, as though she didn't fully understand why I could feel this way. How could she? She didn't know the depths of what I'd been hiding—what I'd been feeling all this time.
-"I don't care about being a King," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper, raw and vulnerable. "In fact, I don't care about anything... since you left."
I watched her closely, her face shifting from disbelief to something else. She stood there, quiet, perhaps unsure how to process what I had just said. But I needed to say it all. All the things I'd kept locked away for too long, buried beneath layers of pride and duty.
I took a deep breath, my gaze unwavering from hers. "Adelina, the truth is, I've never been more lost. Everything I've worked for, all the power I have now—it doesn't mean anything without you. I don't need to be King, I don't need anything, not if you're not here beside me. I'm nothing without you."
I said it all, my heart laid bare, the words spilling out like a flood that could no longer be contained. I wasn't the King right now. I was just a man, desperate for the woman I loved. I could only hope she would understand, hope that my vulnerability wouldn't drive her further away.
-"Why didn't you reply to any of my calls? Why are you avoiding me? You said I had the same chances as the others, but in reality, you never gave me one," I said, my voice tinged with frustration and hurt.
Her eyes shifted, avoiding mine, as if she were looking for an escape. "It's not that I'm avoiding you on purpose. It's just that I have a lot of work to do," she tried to explain, her voice tight.
I wasn't convinced. "You know you're no good with lies," I replied, my tone more pointed than I intended.
She straightened, her irritation clear. "I'm not lying!" she snapped, her eyes flashing.
I sighed, taking a step closer. "Adelina, I'm not here to accuse you of anything," I said softly, my voice losing the edge. "I'm here because I want to open my heart to you. I'm a difficult person, I know that. I've made many mistakes. I'm not good with words, but I have one thing going for me—I never lie. What I'm telling you now, what I've been carrying in my heart all this time... it's the truth. The only truth."
She looked at me then, her expression unreadable, but I could see the faint flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. I reached for her hand, holding it gently between us. "Adelina... I can't live without you anymore. Your absence—it's unbearable. I don't care if I lose everything—my position, my pack, my privileges—I'll give it all up if it means I can have you by my side, forever."
Her breath caught, and she seemed to struggle with the weight of my words. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out.
-"Max, I..." she began, but I couldn't let her finish.
-"Shhhhh..." I whispered, pressing a finger to her lips gently, silencing her. With the same hand, I caressed her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingers. My other hand found its way to her waist, pulling her just a little closer. The moment my touch made contact, sparks of electricity shot through me, and I felt her body tremble slightly against mine. She didn't pull away. In fact, her hands slowly found their way around my shoulders, her fingers gently clasping the back of my neck. The connection was undeniable. The bond between us still thrummed with energy, but this time it was different. It was deeper. More profound.
I leaned my forehead against hers, my heart hammering in my chest. This—this was what I'd been waiting for, what I'd been longing for.
But just as I was about to close the distance between us and kiss her, she pulled away. My heart sank at the loss of contact, but I didn't reach for her again. I couldn't. She needed space. She sighed heavily, composing herself quickly as she took a few steps back.
Her gaze was distant, hurt. "Then why didn't you look for me when I got kidnapped? Why did you leave me alone?" Her voice was plaintive now, raw with emotion. "Why didn't you care about me?"
Her words hit me like a cold wave, and for a moment, I was speechless. "Who told you that?" I asked, my voice hoarse, almost desperate. "I never left you. I looked everywhere for you!"
Her eyes filled with something that looked like sadness, but also... anger. "No," she said firmly. "You stopped after a week."
I swallowed hard. She was right. "Yes... this is true," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. Shame washed over me, and I could feel the weight of my failure pressing on me, suffocating me. "I... I shouldn't have stopped looking for you. I know that. But... Adelina, you don't know the whole story. You don't know the reason I had to stop."
She stood there, unmoving, waiting. Her expression was a mixture of frustration and curiosity, but there was also pain there. She wanted to know. And for the first time in a long time, I realized I owed her the truth. I had to explain everything—everything I'd kept hidden for too long.
I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak. The words felt heavy on my tongue, but I knew I couldn't keep them buried any longer. "I stopped looking because I... I had to choose, Adelina. My duty as Alpha and the responsibility of leading my people weighed on me. I couldn't risk leaving my pack without a leader for too long, not after everything we've been through. But the truth is, it broke me. Every day I spent without you... it tore me apart inside."
I paused, my eyes never leaving hers. "But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere. I made a mistake, and I've lived with that regret every single day since. I can't fix the past, but I can promise you this: I won't ever leave you again."
-"Whatever the reason, I don't care," Adelina said, her voice sharp with anger. "All I know is that you abandoned me during my most difficult time. You never came to rescue me. If it weren't for Nicolas, I would be dead now."
-"Nicolas?" My voice was filled with irritation. I couldn't help the wave of jealousy that rushed over me. "Him again?"
-"Yes, Nicolas," she responded bitterly. "Unlike you, he never stopped looking for me. He kept searching, every single day, until he finally found me and saved me."
I bowed my head in shame, unable to find words to defend myself. She was right. I had nothing left to say.
-"Do I have at least one small chance?" I dared to ask, my heart in my throat.
-"A chance for what?" she asked, her gaze cold and unwavering as she locked eyes with me. The anger was palpable in her voice, and I felt every ounce of it. I could see she was still hurt by my past behavior, but I wasn't going to give up.
-"A chance to show you how much I care for you," I said, my voice trembling with vulnerability. "A chance for us to be together again. I know you expected a lot from me, and once again, I let you down, but..." I trailed off, hoping she'd hear the sincerity in my voice.
-"No, Maximus," she cut me off, her tone even harsher now. "I didn't expect a lot. I expected for once in your life for you to be a real mate to me, but instead, I got the usual indifference from you. And for that, I can't forgive you or give you another chance. You obviously don't deserve it." Her words stung, each one a sharp reminder of my failures.
-"But my love..." I whispered, reaching out, desperate.
-"Stop calling me that," she spat, her voice venomous. "I am not your love! In fact, I never was, and I never will be." Her fury was unmistakable, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.
-"Don't say that. I love you, Adelina. I want to be with you! Please... don't give up on us," I pleaded, my heart breaking with every word.
-"There is no 'us,' Maximus," she said, shaking her head, her voice cold and final. "There never was. And that is the result of your decisions. So stop pleading, stop sending flowers and gifts, and accept reality once and for all."
-"B-But... my love—"
-"Adelina, there you are!" Nicolas' voice cut through the tension, and before I could react, he appeared behind her, his presence like a shadow over the moment. "Oh, Drako, you're here too. I should've known you'd be behind her disappearance. By the way, congratulations on your new position. You deserved it after all," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
-"Thank you, Nicolas," I responded, my voice clipped with barely contained anger. "Now, if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you'd leave us alone. We were in the middle of a serious conversation."
-"I'm sorry, Drako, but I can't do that," he replied with a smug grin.
-"What?" I asked, my temper flaring. "You dare question your King?"
-"My King?" He laughed bitterly. "How can I leave my girl alone with a man like you?"
-"Your girl?" The words burned in my chest. "How dare you? Adelina is my mate!" My anger flared, and before I could think, I stormed towards him, grabbing him by the tie, my eyes flashing black as Drako began to make his presence known.
Nicolas struggled, trying to break free, but the tension between us escalated, almost to the point of violence. It wasn't until Adelina stepped in between us, her voice a sharp command, that I released him.
-"Enough!" she shouted, her voice like a whip crack through the air.
We stood there, inches apart, glaring at each other like two bulls preparing to clash. Her eyes were wild with anger, but there was something else there too. Fear? Regret? I couldn't tell.
Adelina grabbed Nicolas' arm and pulled him away, casting me one final glance. I was stunned, unable to move as I watched her walk away.
-"Adelina... what... what are you doing?" I managed to stammer, the weight of her departure crashing over me.
-"We're leaving, Maximus," she said, her voice stiff and filled with an emotion I couldn't decipher.
-"But... but you owe me an explanation!" I protested, desperate for something—anything—that could make sense of this chaos.
-"I don't owe you anything," she said firmly, turning her back on me. With a final glance at Nicolas, she walked off, not sparing me a second glance.
I stood there in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. As I watched her disappear into the shadows of the garden, my heart felt like it was being torn in two.
-"Bring back my mate now," Drako growled in my mind, his voice furious and full of anguish.
Adelina's POV:
We left the palace grounds, making our way to the parking lot, but my anger was still bubbling under the surface. What had just happened back there? Maximus... he'd pushed me to the edge. And then Nicolas, his intervention had only made things worse. Why did everything have to get so complicated?
-"Why did you lie to him?" I asked Nicolas, my voice tight with frustration.
-"It was the first thing that came to mind when I saw how bad things were," he apologized, his voice laced with regret. "I'm sorry if I caused you trouble."
-"It's not that," I said, shaking my head. "I just... I hate lies."
-"I said it so that you could leave," Nicolas explained, his voice soft. "I know how persistent Maximus can be."
-"That's still a lie, and I won't let it continue," I replied firmly.
-"Why not? This lie is the only way for Maximus to leave you alone once and for all," he argued, his voice full of certainty.
-"I didn't ask for your opinion, or your intervention," I snapped, my frustration spilling over. He'd crossed a line, and I wasn't about to let it slide.
-"I'm really sorry, Adelina. I just wanted to help you get rid of him."
-"I didn't ask for your help either," I said firmly, turning away from him as my frustration continued to build.
-"Why do you react like this?" Nicolas pressed, his voice a little softer now.
-"Because I don't want people meddling in my life," I said through gritted teeth, trying to calm myself.
-"Is that really the reason? Or is there something else?" he asked, his tone curious, but also... knowing.
-"Such as?" I shot back, not wanting to entertain any more of his probing questions.
-"Such as... that you still love him. That you want to go back to him."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. "If I wanted to go back to him, nothing could stop me. Believe me," I said with confidence, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper in my voice.
-"I'm glad to hear it," he said, reaching for my hand.
I quickly pulled my hand away, a shiver running down my spine.
-"I should go," I said quickly, trying to shake off the strange feeling creeping up on me. "I have a long trip ahead."
-"I thought we could spend some time together," he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
-"I'm sorry, I can't. I have too much to do back home. Good night, Nicolas," I said, slipping into the jeep and starting the engine. I fastened my seatbelt, my mind racing with thoughts that didn't want to quiet. Nicolas stood there, staring after me, his gaze unsettling in a way I couldn't quite place.
I drove off, but for the first time, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with him. Something about his behavior didn't sit right, but I couldn't put my finger on it.