ROTTEN LOVE - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

After Maddie returned the book, I took her request seriously. I read it right away that evening.
Zain and Maddie were busy with the pack while Jason watched over her from a distance.
I confessed to Zain I needed to continue my research and he did not argue. Since we've been intertwined with each other, he does not worry about our status.
He is confident I will not go to Maddox at the end of this. For the most part, I don't want to ruin things with Zain.
I am not delusional. He does not care about the Malfattos, yet he wants me to succeed. He wants to avoid me feeling guilty.
To my surprise, Jason never caught on. Maddie kept him occupied. However, I observed him throughout the day during my reading breaks.
He isn't so nonchalant about our friends. I saw him sneak off from time to time with a tormented look on his face. I am unaware if it's over his time with the Ambroses or if he is as stumped about how to solve the problem as I am.
Working with Jason would be ideal, but that would require admitting I have mom's journal. After finishing it yesterday and rereading it early this morning, I am quite confident it's useless.
My mother didn't give much details. She describes the horrors of blood magic but does not give a guide to how to perform it. She kept rambling about Nathaniel and his obsession.
Honestly, she seemed to be more obsessed with him than be in love with my father. But that's my own opinion.
Adding on to my turmoil, not seeing Marisa and Maddox has taken its toll. She hasn't even called. Of course, Maddox wouldn't but she should have. It's like I don't matter to her.
She made it clear she isn't coming here which means the only way I will be able to put out this worry is by seeing them.
It's around noon and Zain is still busy with his pack. I contemplate asking him about going to see them but what's the point? If he says no, then that won't end well because I will go anyway.
Then again, if I leave the premises, our pack will snitch on me. There's no way I can sneak out. Maybe, if I notify him and leave at the same time, I won't get into much trouble.
Probably, not accurate but I'm doing it anyway.
'I'm going to see Marisa,' I link him as I exit the compound and into one of the cars.
There is no point in mentioning Maddox. He is aware Maddox will be there and I'm not trying to make him upset.
'No. Where are you,' he asks. Even in my mind, I can tell he is bitter.
I start the engine, 'I was not asking. I am informing you.'
I put the car in drive and make my way out of the territory.
'I'm on my way,' he links.
'You'll waste your time. I'm already in the car driving. You won't catch up.'
I hear a growl echo across my mind and my hairs stand up. 'Want to bet,' he threatens.
'Alpha, relax. I only have two days left to solve something I'm no way near solving. I need to see them in case I won't be able to later on,' I try to use a sweet tone.
I'm not sure if it was my usage of his title or acknowledging that my time with them is limited but he did not argue further. As much as he wants me not to feel guilty, he likes the idea more of loosing contact with them.
'Be back by 5 or I will go searching for you, Luna,' he answers, not the happiest.
'Yes, sir,' I play around.
I can almost see the face my reply would elicit despite not having him in front of me, the smirk that he probably has on. 'Don't call me that. Just know that there will be consequences later for this act, mate.'
I bite my lip at the response. I won't be coming late. Not because I fear him but because I rather like his form of discipline.
I was let in easily in the Ambrose residence but they had me waiting downstairs by the entrance. I waited for Marisa but she did not showed up immediately.
I could have sworn I heard the service say they notified her about 10 minutes ago and I'm still here.
Is she this upset at me?
I can't say that I haven't slept well without her because I would be lying. The nights with Zain have been intense. So much so that I'm sound asleep at the end of the night. Nonetheless, my mind wonders often with thoughts of her.
Is she sleeping well? Feeding? Has Adam stayed with her? Has Emmett respected her boundaries?
She is all I am concerned about yet she keeps me waiting. I take a glimpse around and am tempted to explore. I want to rush right up and drag Marisa by her hair if that gets her to start talking to me.
I wait five more minutes and I've about had it. I stomp my way upstairs when the air becomes thin. I halt midway and move my gaze up. I take one step down as I catch sight of Maddox at the top looking down at me with a smirk. His hands were behind his back.
"Where's Marisa," I fumble out. Words slightly hard to remember.
He glances down trying to hide the amusement my response has caused him. He steps toward me and my body instantly takes a step down.
"Keep this up and I'll start to think Marisa is your favorite, amica mea," he teases. It's foreign to see this side of him. He continues to descend, his eyes never leaving me.
My heart races as mine instantly latch on to his but I have the sense to continue backing up, away from him.
I nervously blurt, "Of course not..."
I step down.
He interrupts, "So I am your favorite," he raises his eyebrow and the space between us seems smaller. Air seems harder to catch, and without meaning to I pick up my pace.
"Stop," I say. Then take several steps backward until I trip and lose my footing.
For a second I thought I was going to fall but a glance to my front and I knew I was safe. Despite there still being several steps between us, a look into those amber eyes assured me he had me.
Still, out of temporary fear, I close my eyes. A stable hand meets the small of my back and pushes my body forward. I gasp at the abrupt pull, and my hands search for stability. They grab onto reassuring arms and my head tucks in closer to a hard chest.
My world stops moving.
There is utter silence as I cling to my anchor. My eyes remain shut tight, the adrenaline inhibiting me from opening them. My breaths are uneven.
I didn't even notice when I stopped falling and my feet made it to the ground until his voice sprang me back to motion.
"A simple no would have been enough. I am aware who you are truly here for," he says into my ear.
I'm here for Marisa I chant to myself.
His breath strokes the outside of my ear and I push away from him. But as I unlatched myself from his arms, his hand at my back jolted me forward. I become a scattered mind.
I have never been so nervous with him. Yet his look is different. He has never been so blatantly forward. I'm not blind. He is flirting and he's doing unjust things.
Things I have recently felt for Zain only. Since he isn't with me, my brain has me thinking I still feel something for Maddox.
I look from side to side. Then decide to take a breath, tired of being flustered. I remind myself, this is just Maddox, the boy I've grown up with. I have always handled him and can do it now.
I look into his eyes, "Maddox," it was an order to be released. He hides another laugh but I give him another stern look.
He lets me go and backs a few feet away. With his hands off me, I gather myself better.
"Right. Where is Marisa," I ask, acting like that was the only reason for this visit. Clearly, I wanted to check on him too but he is well enough to play around.
He shrugs his shoulder nonchalantly, "probably feeding, hiding from her fiancé."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I'm instantly relieved she is eating still.
"Good. I'm glad. I presume Adam is with her then," I ask.
He gives me a hard look and starts walking, "Yes, she insists that be her only feeder."
I have no idea where he is going but I follow. "She knows what she likes," I defend her.
"Mhmm," he agrees.
"I'm glad both of you are being treated generously," I say. We make it inside the kitchen.
A huge white room with golden appliances. It's a mockery. These people don't eat. He continues walking when it hits me.
I place my hand on his shoulder to turn him toward me. He complies and my eyes study him.
I was right. I didn't see wrong. Being in the kitchen just brought it back to the forefront.
The pallor skin. The dark circles. He seems ill. I give him another assessment.
He is hungry.
I cross my arms, "surely, there is not a shortage of feeders for you."
He mimics my movement, crossing his arms across his chest and leans toward me. I lean back.
He smirks, "There never is." He reminds me and I can't help but roll my eyes.
"So has your appetite increased," I ask, clearly aware of his state.
"For other things," he licks his lips. His eyes gain a red tint but do not completely transform.
"Stop that. I know what you are doing and it's not working."
He mocks, "And what am I doing?"
"You are trying to get me nervous. I'm with Zain," I remind him.
He circles me, "I'm aware," and I follow him with my gaze.
He gets back in front of me.
I get closer to him. I put my arms down. "So stop it."
"If you are content with him, then why does it bother you?" He steps into me.
"I didn't say it did. I said to stop."
He raises an eyebrow, "oh," he moves forward and I step back. My determination falters.
He continues, repeating the dance from earlier until my back hits a counter. I look. Not a counter. It's the edge of a dining table.
He smirks. I changed the topic, "Why haven't you fed?"
There is a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I'm not hungry," he quickly replies.
"That is irrelevant. You need to eat. Shall I call on a feeder?" I make to move toward the kitchen door for help but he grabs my wrist.
"I'm not hungry for them but I didn't say I wasn't feeling an appetite."
I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion.
He brings my wrist into focus and gives it a gentle peck before releasing it. He backs away a little.
"You've never gone without food. You're not the type. I'm sure there's a bunch of people willing. Please feed. I don't want to see you deteriorate."
"Do you care?"
I snap, "Why would you even ask that? You know I do," offended that he would suggest otherwise.
"It's not the same anymore, amica mea. I don't want anyone."
Suddenly, I became concerned. Have they tormented Maddox the same as Marisa? He was here for two weeks.
I worry whether Maddox has hidden wounds. My hands meet his face, searching for unseen injuries.
"What did they do to you? Are you okay," I search.
He chuckles and grabs my hands from his face. "No."
I am alarmed still. "Then, have they threatened you? What's wrong? Why can't you feed," I ramble even as he holds our hands between us, "I'm here for you. I'll hurt them if they've done something else to you all. Where are they?"
With new conviction, determined to make them pay for whatever harm they've done to him I try to leave his side. But I don't make it a step away as his lips come crashing onto mine.