The Alpha's Gamble - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Maddie had washed her face but her lips were swollen and red from when I had her pressed against the door, eating her mouth like it was my last meal. I dropped my eyes to the envelope in her hands with writing on the front. Maddie dragged the envelope through her fingers and walked down the street, shifting her attention to Olivia with a tense smile.
“Hi, I’m Madeline, my mom’s the new ass that Alpha Jack is tapping,” Maddie said and looked at Mr. Davis who was clearing his throat and trying to brush away the redness in his face.
He was mortified, but not more than his wife who was shrinking in front of Maddie, and reached out a trembling hand to grab the envelope she was handed.
“They want to invite you to dinner tonight. Jack said something about your old friends joining as well, it starts at seven,” a polite smile softened her lips, I think she loved the look of shame on the Davis’s faces, she relished in making them small. I did too. It was a sight to behold, but then her eyes turned to me and Olivia and the joy vanished with a look of disgust twisting her perfect face.
“It was good meeting you,” she turned around, about to leave when Olivia stepped out from under my arm.
“Are you joining as well?” the sugary sweet tone was a façade, like honey luring bugs into a trap, and then when they got stuck, she would stomp her foot down and crush them.
Maddie turned around, there was a clear feisty fire in her eyes but I wasn’t sure the others noticed.
That girl was a master at hiding her emotions behind walls, most people were. Empathy wasn’t a werewolf's priority, but survival was. And right now, Maddie was just surviving.
“I don’t think I’ll make it, I have other plans, but I’m sure you’ll have a great time.” Plans? What other plans? She’s coming to dinner, it’s not an option.
“Or what? You’ll tie her arms and legs and force her into a chair? Spoon feed her Jack’s lobster soup?” Onyx hadn’t been on my side lately, and I wouldn’t be bothered by it if the mutt just kept his mouth shut.
“That’s rude.” He said.
“She’s coming to dinner. I don’t care how.”
“Are you thinking duck tape or cable ties?” I cut him off and pushed him back, ignoring the proud growls and obnoxious comments.
“Me and Logan will head back with you,” I said before Maddie could run away.
I had to force back a smirk when I saw her mask fall an inch and reveal her irritation. That’s it, little girl, let it break. Fuck there’s something satisfying about seeing the cracks in her pride, now might not be the time to test her limits though, not with Olivia here. I’m sure I’ll get an earful later and somehow have to act like I care about her opinions. I had to end it with her but things were more complicated now, I didn’t put it past her to fuck Maddie over if she had an inkling that that was why I ended things. Was Maddie even the reason or am I basing that on those moments we’ve had?
Logan walked up to Maddie, and I was hoping Olivia and her parents would just get into the fucking house.
“I thought you were coming inside?” she whined.
“We’ll see each other tonight for dinner and I have a few things that need to be sorted before then,” I cupped her cheek and swallowed when I felt Mrs. Davis’ eyes on the side of my face.
“Fine, I’ll just come with you,” Olivia squealed and walked up to Logan who glared at me and forced a smile to cover up his disapproval.
Maddie rolled her eyes and started walking back. Olivia took my hand, and I instinctively pulled it back. I couldn’t play like this, it wasn’t fair to anyone, I’d end it tonight.
I grabbed her hand and walked behind my brother, sending him a quick message through the mind link.
‘Don’t let Maddie out of your sight’
‘Sure thing’
Wherever she was going I wanted to know. Every step and every meeting. Not that I trusted my brother to keep her out of harm after the stunt he pulled today, something I still hadn’t talked to him about. But he knew it was coming and so did Maddie, she’s not dumb enough to think I’d let that slide. But every time I’m near her I see her eyes glaze over with pleasure, her body melting under my hands and her whines whimpering for more. It was fucking impossible to get a conversation out when all I wanted to do was throw her down, rip her clothes off, and lick every inch of her skin.
The walk back to the mansion was tedious and long, Olivia went on about her time out of state, the humans she met, and the friends she’d made. After knowing her for the better part of my twenty-one years, I’ve learned that she doesn’t care if you’re listening as long as she gets to talk and hear her own voice. That’s why this arrangement always worked. She used me for status, and I used her for an easy fuck and companionship.
It was never any effort, the only rule was that we stay loyal, and no one fucks around. I still had a reputation to think about.
“Anyway, what do you want to do today?” I missed the question when we headed into the mansion. My eyes were following Maddie’s ass up the stairs and my mind kept spinning around what those fucking plans were that she had.
“Noah?”
“Sounds great,” I said without giving it a thought.
I was yanked to a stop and Olivia turned my head.
“Are you okay? you seem a little out of it,”
“I’m fine,” my tone had a sharp edge to it that made her step back.
“I asked you what you wanted to do today and you said that it sounds great, you’re not fine,” she lowered her voice.
Her eyes rounded like a puppy, and she hunched her shoulders.
“I thought you’d be happy that I was back,” she whined.
All these things she was doing were signature marks for Olivia but the things I used to find cute or tolerable now just pissed me off. Logan had stopped in the entryway with us but hearing her voice turn into a childish begging proved to be too much for him and he left, heading upstairs.
I didn’t want to be a dick, I didn’t, but I wanted to check on Maddie, I wanted to do what I didn’t do earlier. I went into her room before to talk to her, tell her to stay the fuck away from Logan and not get pulled into any more shit but I got distracted. And then I wanted to do something entirely different. All the things mixed in my head into one fucked up mess and I couldn’t compartmentalize this shit.
Olivia batted her lashes and tonight she and her family were coming over for dinner, which meant I couldn’t kick her out and break things off. Not yet.
Without letting my gaze linger too long, I looked to the second floor where Maddie’s room was and then I focused back on Olivia.
“You can sit in on my meeting. There’s some work my dad is getting me ready to take over, and after that, we’ll go for a walk,” I said and took her hand.
My fingers twitched for the release of her hold.
Olivia’s eyes lit up and she leaned into my side when we walked down to the office. The fucking restraint it took not to mind link Maddie was hell. Especially since she might not even answer, I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t but I sure as fuck would hunt her down and make her.