False Expectations - Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Adelina's pov:
-"Step away from her, Nicolas!" Maximus's voice rang out, commanding and full of authority from a distance.
Nicolas, still holding me with a grip that felt like iron, smirked cruelly as he slowly turned his head towards Maximus. His tone dripped with sarcasm as he spoke, "Your Highness, what an unexpected pleasure. Though I didn't anticipate your visit, allow me to assure you, I'll treat you with the utmost respect... in the best way possible, worthy of a King. But first, allow me to take care of your beautiful mate."
His words were calculated and cruel, a venomous undercurrent in his voice. He wanted to provoke Maximus, to show he held the upper hand.
Maximus's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he took a step forward. "This is between you and me. Let... Adelina... go."
Nicolas's smile only widened, his arrogance radiating. "Or else what?" he asked, his tone mocking.
Maximus's voice dropped to a low growl, his patience thinning. "Don't mess with me, Nicolas. You know exactly what I'm capable of."
Nicolas chuckled darkly, clearly unconcerned. "Oh, I'm so terrified right now..." His mocking tone barely masked his fear as he stood there, testing Maximus.
Maximus stepped forward, his eyes flashing with a dangerous fire. "You should be," he said, his voice icy and unwavering.
Nicolas took a deep breath, his eyes flicking to the side, then back at Maximus with a sly grin. "Don't forget about the Council, my King."
Maximus's expression remained cold and unyielding. "What about it?" he asked, a chilling calmness in his voice that only served to heighten the tension.
-"You know as well as I do, the Council won't look kindly on this. They won't approve of someone taking the law into their own hands," Nicolas taunted, clearly trying to bait Maximus.
Maximus's gaze never wavered. "Let me worry about the Council. Put Adelina down and fight me like a man. Or are you afraid of me?" he asked, his voice now laced with an unmistakable challenge.
At the words, something in Nicolas snapped. His eyes flickered with fury, and he abruptly released me, tossing me to the side as he shifted with a snarl. The air seemed to ripple with tension as his body contorted and twisted, fur sprouting from his skin as he became the wolf.
Maximus wasted no time, his own body shifting into his massive black wolf form, his coat shimmering in the fading afternoon light. The transformation was seamless, his power radiating from every muscle. His wolf was a true force of nature, his eyes burning with fury as he scanned his surroundings, searching for any sign of weakness.
Nicolas's wolf, smaller and with dull brown fur, stood at the ready, snarling, his teeth bared. But he was no match for Maximus. In an instant, the battle was on. They circled each other, sizing each other up, the ground beneath their paws trembling with every step they took.
Maximus's wolf was a beast of unmatched grace and strength. Every movement he made was a calculated strike, every turn a deliberate decision. The power behind his attacks was overwhelming, his speed blinding. Nicolas's wolf, in contrast, was erratic, too quick to attack and not precise enough to land a successful blow. With each failed strike, his frustration mounted, and his movements grew more sloppy.
Drako's dominance was undeniable. The massive black wolf surged forward, using his sheer size and speed to avoid Nicolas's wolf's attacks. With a final move, Maximus closed the gap, spinning mid-air, and with precise power, he slammed Nicolas's wolf to the ground. The fight was over in a matter of seconds.
Maximus, breathing heavily, stood tall and imposing above Nicolas's defeated wolf, his eyes never leaving his fallen adversary. His voice rang out, full of authority. "Shift back, Nicolas. Now."
Nicolas hesitated for a brief moment, his pride fighting against the inevitable. He knew that shifting would strip him of his strength, leaving him vulnerable in front of Maximus, but he had no choice. With a growl, he shifted back into his human form, his clothes tattered from the battle.
Maximus stood over him, his gaze unyielding, his voice cold as ice. "You lost. Now face the consequences."
After shifting back into their human forms, both men were a picture of exhaustion and brutality. Dust clung to their bodies, their muscles slick with sweat and blood, the air thick with the stench of the fight. Nicolas lay on the ground, his body littered with deep wounds and bruises, his breathing ragged. It was clear he had lost a significant amount of blood, his body too weak to even attempt to move. The shift had drained him, leaving him vulnerable and broken.
Maximus, on the other hand, though also injured, was still standing tall. His wounds were shallow—scratches, cuts, and abrasions—but his imposing presence remained unshaken. He towered over Nicolas, his form radiating authority, his fury far from spent.
-"Now tell Adelina the whole truth! Tell her!" Maximus roared, his voice a mixture of anger and raw emotion, like a storm waiting to break. Despite his obvious exhaustion from the battle, he still had a dangerous fire in his eyes.
Nicolas remained silent, his lips tight, defiant despite the blood seeping from his wounds. His refusal to speak only pushed Maximus further into a frenzy. Maximus's fists connected with Nicolas's body, each strike fueled by years of betrayal and rage, each punch punctuated by a curse, a scream, a demand for the truth.
-"Tell her that you were the one who ordered the attack on my pack, that you orchestrated my poisoning with an arrow," Maximus spat. His voice grew more frantic as he continued, "Tell her about the deal you made with Lupo! Tell her about Adelina's imprisonment in her old pack's dungeons, hidden right under our noses! Tell her how you tracked her down like a rat!"
Maximus's voice broke, his pain clear for the first time. His every word was a strike, each accusation more damning than the last. He was so close to breaking, so close to losing control, and Nicolas's continued silence drove him to the brink.
Nicolas was barely able to move, blood pooling beneath him as he lay there, broken. Maximus, still relentless, continued to lash out at him, his fury unrestrained.
I couldn't stand to watch any longer. My heart was heavy with regret, but I knew it had to be done. "There's no need for him to tell me anything, Max," I said, my voice shaky, but clear. "When he confessed that my father had informed him about the attack on my pack, everything clicked. My wolf knew he was lying from the start. It was my fault I didn't listen to her sooner... and now I'm here."
Maximus looked at me in disbelief, his expression one of utter shock. "You know?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
-"Yes," I nodded solemnly. "Please, stop hurting him. Let justice decide his fate."
Maximus stood frozen for a moment, his gaze still locked on me, his eyes softening. For a brief second, his rage seemed to fade, replaced by something else—something tender, something raw. He looked at me as if I were the only thing in the world that mattered.
His gaze held mine for a heartbeat, and though his emotions were still wild, there was a moment of connection between us. I broke the silence first, my heart full of emotion. "I'm so happy you came for me," I said, my words full of gratitude and warmth. My smile was wide, full of relief and love.
Maximus's lips curled into a smile, and without a second's hesitation, he closed the distance between us. His strong arms enveloped me, pulling me into him, and his lips crashed onto mine with a passion that made my heart race. His kiss was fiery, full of yearning, and I responded willingly, eager to feel him close, to feel the bond that had always existed between us but had never truly been explored.
As we kissed, everything else faded away. The world, the fight, the danger—it all became irrelevant. In his embrace, I felt safe, cherished, and above all, loved. It wasn't just the bond between us—it was something deeper, something that had always been there, just waiting for the right moment. A sense of belonging, of completion, as if we were two halves coming together, whole again.
The sensation was overwhelming. My skin tingled with every touch, every brush of his lips, and my stomach fluttered with a thousand butterflies. I had missed him more than I could ever put into words. It wasn't just the desire. It was the connection, the unity that made us one in ways that were beyond physical. It was our souls finding peace in each other.
For a moment, we stayed there, lost in each other's arms, kissing, breathing, and reconnecting. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement. Nicolas, weak but determined, was getting up, a menacing look on his face. My heart raced as I saw the silver knife in his hand, the glint of danger in his eyes.
-"Max, watch out!" I shouted, panic flooding my chest.
In an instant, Maximus reacted. He shoved me out of the way, his powerful body twisting to face the threat. I stumbled, crashing to the ground, my head spinning as I struggled to regain my bearings. The world around me was a blur, and I tried to stand, to help, but I couldn't. My limbs felt like lead.
Then, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of a body crumpling to the ground. Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, and I could feel myself slipping away, my body betraying me.