False Expectations

Chapter 5 - Imprisonment

Maximus' pov:

-"I can't believe this woman is my mate..." I muttered to myself. "She's so weak, so pathetic. She didn't even try to defend herself. How could she possibly be the Luna of my pack? She's completely unsuitable for the role."

-"You're overreacting," my wolf, Drako, countered. "Don't underestimate her. I can feel her wolf—she's strong."

-"Yeah, whatever," I snapped. "You can't convince me with just a feeling when the facts show the opposite."

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. The door opened, and the familiar, seductive scent of Gina filled the room. She stepped inside, wearing a tight black dress that clung to her body and accentuated her every curve. She was beautiful, and undeniably strong—one of the most powerful she-wolves in my pack. That was the kind of woman my Luna should be, not someone like Adelina, who couldn't even stand up for herself.

-"Sure, she's capable... but a gold-digger," Drako chimed in, his voice dripping with disdain. "You forgot to mention that she's the most self-serving she-wolf in the pack."

I ignored him, as usual. I wasn't about to let Drako spoil things for me. For days I had been traveling without any opportunity for enjoyment. Yes, I'd been with other women along the way, but with the revelation of my mate in the last pack, it had been impossible to have fun without drawing attention and making a fool of myself. After all, I would soon be their King.

Gina approached me with her usual confident allure, leaned in close, and whispered in my ear.

-"Baby, where have you been?" she asked, her voice dripping with a mix of desire and frustration. "You didn't even greet me when you came in. I've missed you... a lot."

She moved closer, her eyes locked onto mine, filled with an unspoken invitation. I couldn't deny her presence had an effect on me—she was always able to captivate me, her confidence and allure impossible to ignore.

But in that moment, as she leaned in, a thought lingered at the back of my mind. There was something unsettling about it all. I had my mate now, and the distance between me and Gina suddenly felt more pronounced. It wasn't something I had expected to feel, but there it was.

Adelina's pov:

After the guards escorted me to my room, I sat on my bed, completely stunned. What had just happened? Why had he been so harsh with me? I couldn't understand it. I needed to go back and confront him. I had to sort things out. He couldn't just treat me like this—not after everything. Alpha or not, I didn't care!

Fueled by anger and confusion, I left my room and made my way towards Maximus' office, my steps determined. But as I neared the door, an unsettling feeling washed over me. It wasn't fear of his reaction—it was something deeper, an instinct that warned me that something was about to happen, something that would shake me to my core. I couldn't explain it, but I knew.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my chest. I gasped but shook it off, refusing to let it stop me. I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Instead, I heard strange sounds coming from inside... moaning? My heart raced, but I pushed the doubt aside and entered without a second thought.

The sight I walked into left me frozen in place. Maximus was with another woman—a tall, slender redhead. They were entwined, their intimacy so raw and unapologetic that it stole my breath. When Maximus saw me standing there, he let out a growl and shouted for me to leave, his voice thick with anger.

Although Maximus' harsh reaction made my knees weak, I stood my ground, my anger flaring. Enough was enough! It wasn't just the way he had treated me earlier—it was this. I had caught him in the act of betrayal, and then he dared to shout at me, ordering me out. No, I wasn't going anywhere. Not anymore. He had crossed a line I didn't even think he could see.