ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

The normal tranquility I get when looking into Maddox's eyes is gone. All I see in them is red.
The color red does not scare me usually. Red is the color of blood. Almost everyone close to me needs to consume blood to survive and thrive. It's a normal thing.
It is also the color that haunts my dreams. It's the color that seeped underneath the closet door years back, my mother's blood. It was a haunting moment, but who was there to comfort me?
Maddox.
Now, I look into his eyes and see him engulfed with that very familiar tint hue. Yet, it's not comfort I feel. It's fright. Maddox with blood lust is terrifying.
His usual grace was defiled by the tension in his shoulders. His normal calm demeanor was overtaken by anger. His eyebrows scrunched. His lips outlined in a snarl.
I feel a tight squeeze in my hand. Zain is warning me. I try my best not to make any sudden movements. I don't want to set Maddox off.
I lowly call out his name. Maddox studies me with much scrutiny. I don't think he is registering who I am.
His snarl echoes in the forest. I slightly take a step back. Zain gets closer. Both his hands are now around my waist, holding me close and near his front.
He wants to throw me behind him but I am afraid that will aggravate the situation. If Maddox is showing me this amount of unfamiliarity, then he will for sure go off on Zain.
Zain's touch is engraved in my skin. I feel his magic but I don't extract it. I get familiar with the feeling to ensure I am ready at any moment's notice to use it.
I call out Maddox's name again. He takes a step forward. I warn him to stop but he gets closer.
Zain growls. I put my hands up in a plea to stop these monsters from acting out. Although both have a special place in my heart, I don't forget what their true nature is, an immortal bloodsucker and an enhanced wilder beast.
I yell this time, "Stop. Maddox look at me. This is not you. You are fine."
Maddox shakes his head as if trying to get rid of the blood rage.
He clenches his teeth, "I can't control it for much longer. Leave me."
"I will not," I declare.
Zain adds, "Control yourself. I will not leave you to roam the premises on your own in MY territory."
Maddox snarls, "Who cares about your pack? Take her out of here. NOW!"
I see Maddox clench his fists. He is in pain. He is hungry but fighting it.
He forgets I am tethered to him. Even if I wanted to run, I can't without pulling him with me.
We get into this type of standstill. Maddox does not move. We do not move.
Maddox hunches over, loud grunts leaving his lips. He looks so lost. I have never seen him in this condition. I want to comfort him. I get closer.
Zain attempts to hold me still but all I can think is easing Maddox's suffering. So, I do a familiar trick on Zain. I used his touch to keep him in place.
This could be the wrong move but I don't want to leave Maddox in the state he is in. As my hands land on Maddox's cold face, I hear Zain growl.
"Helena release me," Zain grunts through my invisible hold.
"Just give me a minute," I say through shaking hands as I search Maddox's face for any signs of his usual self.
Maddox grabs me by the shoulders and pushes me, "Get away."
I fall on my ass. I hear a loud howl from Zain. Maddox walks toward me and I scoot back as fast as I can.
Zain yells, "Of course, you are interested in an easy meal. Coward."
Maddox snaps his attention from me to Zain. I shake my head no. Maddox is not thinking straight.
Just as Zain intended, Maddox shifts his focus onto him. In a blink of an eye, Maddox closes the distance between them. I can feel the anger radiate off him, the need for blood. More like the need for violence.
It is then that I realize the difference. Marisa felt an immense amount of thirst. She was consumed with the need of want. She was uncontrollable. She was shadowing my feeling for Zain.
Maddox has that same amount of thirst but not for blood. He wants violence and wants to draw blood not consume it. A different type of blood lust which means Jason is in a similar state.
But what can that mean?
Is Jason being tortured and that anger is what Maddox is feeling? There are so many negative things that can be happening to him and Maddox is proof of that.
Maddox grabs Zain by the neck. Zain's nails elongate, half morphing. I realize then the mistake I have committed. I grounded Zain. He cannot move.
I gave Maddox my mate on a silver platter. I quickly make it to my feet.
Maddox attempts to rip Zain's neck with his teeth but Zain draws his claw across Maddox's face. Maddox curses.
Zain can't move from his spot. He did what he had to do to defend himself, but seeing him injure Maddox makes me slightly angry.
Maddox was aiming to harm too. Had he achieved it, I would not have been able to handle it either.
Maddox holds his face in his hands. The anger doubles. I quickly move.
Maddox is closer. At the risk of him hurting me, I make brief contact with his back to cipher him.
I use his essence to release Zain from his hold. I am lucky that Zain was able to defend himself. I could have lost him, if he did not act quickly.
Now both of them have equal grounds. I aim for another touch to put Maddox on hold. But before I can process another thought, Maddox turns to me and grabs me roughly, entrapping me in his arms.
Zain shifts completely to his wolf form and howls. I hear other howls in the distance. His pack is coming for Maddox which means Marisa has probably picked up on a problem.
The vamps will come too. This problem will get out of hand.
Maddox snarls into my neck. He has me looking at Zain's wolf form as he holds me from behind.
"Think twice. By the time you get to me, she would be drained dry," Maddox warns.
My heart breaks. He is not himself, but I thought it would take more for him to turn on me.
With his body contact, I can do many things. Yet, I am hurt. I can't think. His eagerness to kill me has me doubting everything, including my ability.
Zain stays in his place, analyzing the situation or perhaps waiting for his pack. He is afraid Maddox will go through with his threat.
"Maddox get your shit together," I scream at him.
He holds me tighter and snarls against my neck. I shake in his arms.
Seconds later I hear the patter of paws and trees snapping. We get surrounded by pack members with the vamps following suit.
This has all the makings of total bloodshed. All I see is a glimpse of white long hair before I am grabbed harshly and feel Maddox release me.
He was thrown by Marisa. I was not expecting it and he less. I catch my breath as I look into her eyes.
The calmness ends the moment Maddox gets to his feet and attacks the closest pack member. Zain growls and his pack starts to move.
The vamps snarl. They want to protect their lord but Marisa gives them a stern look to stay in place. The pack surrounds Maddox as he flings another pack member across the field.
I see beta Max attempt to take a chunk out of Maddox. Maddox dodges it but the move allows for Zain to draw his claws against Maddox again. This time across his back.
I scream out Zain's name in desperation. That's twice Maddox has been injured by him.
Maddox is not making it easy. I see multiple people make their way toward him now.
"Stop! Stop! Stop," I yell but no one listens to me.
Marisa leaves my side and makes it to her brother. She fights him viciously to contain him before he does more damage to the wolves, and there is no amendment.
Maddox is strong. He moves as if his face and back are not clawed up. He tries to throw Marisa. She moves out of the way and punches him.
He snarls at her. Pissed off, Maddox attempts to draw blood quickly. He reaches for one of my coven members who had made their way to the field.
He wants to power up and he went for the people he saw as easy. I call out Marisa to come to me but he made it to two of my members before she got to my side.
He snaps their necks and took some quick sips. Treated them like they were nothing but snacks.
For the first time, I think I hated Maddox. He will hate himself when he comes down from the blood lust which is what keeps me from letting my emotions get the best of me.
I grab Marisa's hand to cipher. As he finishes off that second coven member, he falls to the ground on his knees.
He grabs his head in pain.
He yells, "It burns."
The wolves surround him and aim to finish him off. Marisa makes her move before them. She signals the vamps to make a perimeter around Maddox first and I signal my coven to aid.
They give me a look of 'seriously.' I don't blame them for being scared and angry. However, most of them know who Maddox is which is why they did not argue and cooperate.
The vamps and wolves stare at each other. I keep my attention on Maddox, but look out in the crowd for Zain so that he can tell his pack to stand down.
The situation is handled. I see Zain morph back to his human form from the corner of my eye. I did not miss out on the fact that he is unclothed.
I try not to stare. No one else seems to have a problem with it. I'm sure nudity is something his pack is all familiar with.
Zain speaks, "Tell them to back off. Maddox injured two of my members. He must pay."
Marisa snaps, "Not going to happen dog. The situation is controlled."
"Controlled? He injured my people. He threatened my mate," Zain says madly.
"All of which he can no longer do," I answer him.
"Why defend him? He was going to kill you," Zain answers.
"So he claims but we don't know that. Plus, Maddox is under the influence of emotions that are not his. Let's not forget the true problem," I respond.
My brother is probably fighting for his life somewhere.
Zain fists his hands, "he has to pay for what he did."
"He killed two of MY witches. More damage has been done to his alliance than your pack. At least, those two wolves have breath. They will see another day," I say bitterly.
The pack does not appreciate my tone of voice. Zain seems to get more and more aggravated with me.
Since my necklace is on, he does not find me irresistible. The same goes for me. We have too many differences. I have to make sure not to forget it.
Maddox pulls my attention, "amica mea."
I turn to face him. His eyes back to beacons of light. I run to him, releasing him from the pain. He gets to his feet.
I look up at his face and I see confusion. He looks around. Then, I see regret.
"How many," he asks.
I shake my head dismissing his inquiry, "We'll talk about that later. How are you feeling?"
I fuss over him, touch his face to examine any sign of a returning blood lust and his injuries.
He grabs my hands, "how many?"
I make a big sigh, "Two."
He looks behind me toward the pack that still wants to tear him to shreds. He sees Zain, who is already walking toward us.
The vamps don't open up the circle but Maddox gives them a nod to allow him in. Zain gets to us and I stare at him. Zain's eyes are disapproving.
Maddox starts, "I am sorry..."
Before he can finish his sentence, Zain sucker punches him, "That's for hurting my pack."
Maddox moves his jaw around before looking back at Zain. Then, Zain pulls back his fists again.
"And that's for threatening my mate," he lands another hard one. Then, reaches for me. He wraps his arm around me.
Maddox looks at me alarmed, "Did I hurt you, Helena?"
"No, I am fine," I say.
"Don't excuse him. He could have killed you," Zain argues.
"I would never," Maddox replies angrily.
"That's not what it appeared like moments ago when you held her in your clutches," Zain growls.
"Amica mea," Maddox calls to me.
I could not lie to him not even to make him feel better.
"As I said, we will talk about this later. What were you feeling," I ask.
I need to know exactly what was going through his head. I need anything that can give me a clue as to where Maddie and Jason are at.
"I can't remember anything. I felt an immense sense of anger," he says.
So Jason is angry? He is not someone to lose his temperament. There has to be a way to use Maddox to get to Jason.
Maybe I can get in Maddox's head. Feel or see exactly what he was sensing at the moment of the blood lust.
"Bite me," I tell Maddox.
Maddox is unable to answer my request before Zain gets to me and yanks my necklace off harshly, breaking the pendant.