False Expectations - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Adelina's pov:
The days passed slowly, each one dragging on endlessly in this prison of my own despair. The monotony was unbearable, and I spent most of my time sleeping, trying to restore some of the strength that had been drained from me. My mind swirled with dark thoughts about my future in this pack, a future I didn't choose, a future I couldn't accept. This was no way to live. These rules, these conditions, were absurd. Everything about this situation felt like a twisted nightmare.
I had always been disciplined, yes, but I had also been free—free to think, to act, to make choices. This... this oppressive life under Maximus' control? It was suffocating. I couldn't see myself adjusting to it, not ever. The very thought of this being my future made my heart sink.
The day my sentence ended, or so the guards informed me, came at last. Two guards escorted me back to my room, though I could barely walk. The hunger and weakness had sapped every ounce of energy from me. For the past four days, the only sustenance I had been given was a bottle of water a day. No food. Not that it mattered much, I felt like I was withering away.
Once the guards left me alone, I summoned every ounce of strength I had to get up and take a quick shower. My body felt filthy, covered in the grime of my imprisonment, and I couldn't stand it any longer. The water, though cold, felt refreshing against my skin. But as soon as I finished, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted beyond belief, and darkness overtook me once again.
When I regained consciousness, I felt as though I had been pulled from some other realm. My body felt too weak to even open my eyes. There was a faint hum of voices around me, but they seemed so distant. A bright light hung above me, too bright, almost blinding. Was I dead? How had I died? I remembered the shower... lying down on the bed. But how had it happened? How had I gone from that to this?
Then, I heard a woman's voice, soft and frantic, as though relieved.
-"Doctor, doctor, she's awake, she's awake!"
The words were like an anchor, pulling me back to reality, though I wasn't sure what kind of reality I was waking up to. What had happened to me? And why did I feel so weak, so vulnerable?
A figure slowly approached me, and as he drew nearer, I could make out his features. He was tall, with warm green eyes that seemed to radiate concern. His brown hair framed his face, and there was an unmistakable aura of kindness about him. Yet, despite his warmth, he looked worried, almost relieved at the same time.
-"How do you feel, Adelina?" His voice was gentle, and there was an undertone of genuine concern.
My mind raced. How did he know my name?
I blinked, trying to focus. "How on earth does he know my name?" I thought to myself, confusion swirling within me.
-"I feel tired... but also okay... How... how did I end up here?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
The man gave me a soft but knowing look, his brows furrowed as he spoke. "An omega found you unconscious in your room and called an ambulance. They brought you here to the hospital. You were very weak, malnourished... you were out for four days. I also checked your medical file and found something quite strange for a werewolf. You're anemic. Did you know that?"
His words hit me like a wave. Anemia... that wasn't new to me.
-"Yes, doctor, I know. I was diagnosed with anemia when I was two," I said softly. "The doctors told my parents I would outgrow it after my first shift, but... I guess it never went away. No one knows why. But I've learned how to live with it, how to keep going without it affecting my daily life."
The doctor's eyes widened slightly. "That's fascinating... and strange," he muttered. "I'd love to research this more, run a few tests, if you allow me, of course. I assure you, it's strictly for research purposes. Only if you're comfortable with it."
I considered his offer for a moment, then nodded. "I don't see why not, Doctor... I'm quite comfortable here. Besides, I don't have anything else to do at the moment." I added with a slight chuckle.
The tension in the room seemed to lighten, and the doctor smiled at my response. "Excuse me, where are my manners? I'm Alex Stone, nice to meet you." He extended a hand, and I returned the handshake, the warmth in his touch offering a fleeting sense of comfort.
"-Adelina MacArthur. Nice to meet you too, sir."
He shook his head with a friendly smile. "Just call me Alex."
-"Alex, then..." I said with a soft smile of my own, the moment feeling unexpectedly pleasant in such an unfamiliar situation.
Just as we shared a quiet moment, a throat cleared from behind us, breaking the tension. I turned my head to see someone standing in the doorway.
-"Am I interrupting something?" Maximus' familiar heavy voice echoed in my ears, followed by a low growl.
I froze. There he stood, in the doorway, his imposing figure dominating the space. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and his expression was rigid, almost unreadable. Still, there was no denying how good he looked in that black suit, a perfect fit that only amplified his strength. But it wasn't just his appearance that caught my attention—his gray eyes were burning with irritation, a storm behind them.
Maybe it was the Alpha side of him, the one who had to keep up appearances and ensure everyone knew he cared for his pack. But where had that care been when I was locked away in that prison for days? I hadn't seen him, not once, not even a word. He didn't care about me then, and I doubted he cared now. His sudden appearance felt like a performance, a mask for the pack, to show that their Alpha wasn't indifferent to his mate.
He stepped further into the room, and his presence was like a palpable force, spreading his Alpha power across the space. His posture was stiff, but there was something beneath the surface—he looked... tired. His face, rigid as ever, had a weariness to it, as if he hadn't slept in days. I couldn't help but wonder what he'd been up to... probably with Gina, his mistress, living the life while I rotted away in a cell.
-"Alpha," Alex greeted with a bow, his voice respectful but calm. "No, of course not. I was just informing Adelina about her condition."
-"Adelina?" Maximus' voice sharpened at the mention of my name. "You mean Miss MacArthur," he corrected, his tone cold, almost distant. "So, is she well? Can she leave now?"
Alex nodded, his expression professional. "Yes, she's stable, but I'd like to keep her here for another night or two, to run some more tests."
-"What kind of tests?" Maximus' tone turned more defensive, his frustration clear. I could almost feel the way this news disrupted his plans to lock me up once again.
Alex didn't miss a beat. "I'm afraid I can't disclose that, Alpha. Medical confidentiality," he said, a small grin tugging at his lips. His words were polite but held a quiet challenge.
Maximus stiffened, his anger flaring. "How dare you?" His voice lowered, a threat simmering beneath. "Do you know who you're talking to? This woman is my... she is my..." His voice trailed off, the sentence left unfinished. It hit me then—I'm unwanted—and that unfinished thought said more than words could ever convey.
Alex, to my surprise, didn't back down. His posture didn't waver as he met Maximus' glare, his eyes full of a defiance that surprised even me. He respected Maximus, yes, but there was something else in the air—a quiet challenge. He wasn't intimidated by the Alpha's position or his wrath.
Maximus cleared his throat, his frustration turning into something colder, more controlled. He seemed angry, but strangely, he didn't lash out. For a moment, I wondered—why was he letting Alex get away with this? Was there something about Alex that held Maximus back? Some reason he wasn't punishing him, like he normally would for anyone who dared to challenge him?
Finally, Maximus gave in, though his words were still laced with authority. "She is a member of my pack," he said with finality, though there was an underlying tension in his voice. "I must know."
-"I'm sorry, Alpha," Alex said, his voice unwavering. "Even though she is a pack member, she is not obligated to inform you about her health status. She can only do so if she wishes to. Adelina, do you want him to know?"
Maximus shot Alex a glare, his eyes narrowing into a furious sliver, but Alex didn't flinch. He stood his ground, meeting Maximus' gaze with quiet defiance.
I couldn't help but feel a small surge of relief as Alex turned to me, offering me a choice in the matter. No matter what, I knew I wouldn't let Maximus in. He'd made it clear that he didn't care about me. I wasn't going to give him any more of my vulnerabilities to exploit.
-"No, doctor," I said, my voice firm. "I don't want him to know. In fact, I don't want him here at all. He upsets me. I want him out of my room immediately."
The words left my mouth with more confidence than I expected. I wasn't afraid of him anymore—not after everything he'd done, not after locking me away and treating me like I was nothing. Why should I fear him now?
Maximus' eyes burned into me, a dangerous glint flickering in the depths of his gray irises. "How dare you?" he growled, stepping forward, his presence overpowering. "Do you want to be jailed again? Or perhaps you'd prefer more drastic measures to learn your place, hm?"
My heart pounded, but I stood my ground. "And what about you? What measures do you think suit your situation?" I shot back, my words sharp with anger.
For a moment, Maximus seemed taken aback by my defiance. The growl in his chest deepened, but his jaw tightened as if he was holding something back—something dangerous, something I wasn't sure I wanted to provoke further.
-"Careful, Miss," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "You're swimming in deep waters."
-"I know how to swim," I replied, my voice tinged with a bitterness I didn't know I was capable of.
Maximus took a slow step toward me, his alpha energy crushing the space between us. "Do not cross the line with me," he growled, his eyes narrowing. "You know what the consequences will be."
-"Am I the one crossing the line?" I asked, the frustration in my voice rising as the anger welled up inside me. "Really?"
Before he could respond, Alex interjected, his tone calm but firm. "Please, let's all calm down. Alpha, Adelina is not in a good mental state yet. As you were informed, she's been unconscious for four days. Don't push her. She needs time to recuperate."
Maximus' lip curled in disdain. "Okay. Whatever," he muttered, though the venom in his words was unmistakable. "I've spent way more time than she deserves already."
With those cold words, he turned on his heel and stormed out, his steps echoing in the quiet room. His presence lingered in the air long after he left, suffocating me with the weight of his disdain.
I exhaled slowly, my chest heavy. Why did he always make me feel this way? Why was he so mean to me, when all I wanted was something simple—understanding, compassion, just... a glimpse of care? What had I done to deserve this constant mistreatment? What was his problem?
I wasn't sure what hurt more—the fact that he didn't want me, or the way he treated me like I was nothing at all.