Maya

I stood outside their room, torn between entering and retreating to my own. Honestly, the impulse to escape was strong, to distance myself from both the room and its ominous occupants. But what choice did I have?

It’d take them less than a little effort to drag me back here…and the consequences afterward would be far worse; resistance would be futile. They had twisted control over my life, effortlessly capable of shattering me and leaving me powerless.

The absence of their scents hinted at their absence. With reluctance, I entered the room, tears still lingering on my face from my mother's cutting words. I couldn’t stop crying no matter how much I tried to tell myself that it was not worth shedding tears for a woman like her.

I sank onto the bed, drawing my knees to my chest and burying my face in my arms, the first sob escaping me.

How could she know everything and choose not to intervene? Instead, she urged me deeper into this abyss, advising me to become their slave just for a shot at ultimate power. 

What kind of mother does that?!

If I were a mother and my daughter faced such a situation, I would've run away with her to keep her safe. I may not be a mother, but I knew I'd do that.

Did my mother truly not care for me? I had known the truth, but could there really be no sympathy, let alone love, in her heart? 

Tears streamed down my cheeks as her words echoed in my mind.

‘Don’t cry because of her, Maya. Morgana only cares about power and luxury—I have seen it in her eyes. She doesn't care about you. So don’t waste your tears on someone like her,’ —my wolf Olivia spoke after a long silence.

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. "Wow. I can’t believe you're still there. Where were you the whole time? Regretting your decision to end up in the body of someone as worthless as me?"

I felt her sigh, her emotions mirroring my desperation and sadness, ‘No, Maya. I’m not regretting my decision… But you have to understand, I am as helpless as you in this situation. I know what you're thinking. If we had shifted, maybe we could have stood a chance, but that's wrong. We can’t do anything against them. We are powerless in this case because they can overpower us in a blink. They are far more powerful than us in every manner, whether it's manipulating the pull of matebond or controlling our minds. They know it well, and if I had helped you shift, they would've done worse to you.’

She was right..

I hated to admit it, but she was fucking right! We stood no chance against those beasts.

“I hate my life, Olivia…” I sniffled, wiping my tears as a hiccup slipped past my lips, “I don’t want to be here. I don’t belong here, I never did. Mom dragged me all the way, turning my life into this mess. Because of her, my own mates hate me to their core. What was my fault for my mother ruining their family? What did I have to do with it?”

‘It’s not your fault. You have nothing to do with any of this. Whatever they're doing is completely and utterly wrong.’

“But they don’t care about what’s right or wrong. Trust me, I know it. All they care about is revenge, no matter the target. Hatred has blinded them to the truth, and... they'd make sure I end up like Ayla,” I sobbed. “I still can’t believe what they did to me last night. They used me like an object, as if I didn’t have any feelings or couldn’t feel any pain.”

‘Calm down, Maya. I know you're in pain, but don’t give up yet. We can find a way out... Please try to hold it together until then.’

“I'm afraid I can’t…” My voice barely rose above a whisper. “I'm really afraid I'll take a step like Ayla far sooner than she did. I don’t think I'm as strong as her, Olivia. I don’t think I can just hold it all in, hoping there'll be this light at the end of the tunnel when everything around me pushes me into the very darkness I'm trying to avoid.”

‘You have to be strong, Maya. Don’t give up.’

“I know, but how long can I keep fighting, Olivia? Isn’t it better to give up early rather than endure all these torments for nothing?” My voice shook, and so did my hands. “What if, in the end, we're destined to meet the same fate as Ayla, and there’s no change at all? What’s the point of bearing all these torments and gaining nothing in the end?”

‘Don’t think like that, Maya… who said we have to end up like her? We can fight together and make it through.’

“Don’t you think the fight against our mates would be futile? We’d technically be fighting against the other half of our soul, and they're meant to win anyway.”

‘Then it’s the same on your side too. You are also the other half of their souls, so you have the same advantage, don’t you?’

“No, I don’t.” Another sob slipped past me. “Because they don’t love me. They don’t have any feelings for me, and I…”

Olivia fell silent, hesitation and mostly horror…..

‘You have feelings for them?’ She asked quietly.

“No, actually no,” I wiped my tears. “But I don’t know how I can not have any feelings for them. You know it’s the mate bond that’s already got me messed up. Avoiding this mate bond is nearly impossible, and I don’t know how long I can keep avoiding it, especially when they are using it against me. I feel so shitty about myself. I am ashamed to even have the doubts I am having right now! God! I should die!”

‘It’s okay. Don’t blame yourself. It’s okay.’

“No, it’s not okay, Olivia… it’s not fucking okay,” I buried my face in my arms, once again letting go of my sobs.

Suddenly, the door of the room flew open, and I flinched at my spot, my wavering gaze shifting to notice Maximus and Leonardo walking inside.

My eyes widened, breath caught in my throat.

Did they hear me? No, god!

I hastily stood up, wiping my tears, but too late. Their stares told me they had already seen it.

“Well, it looks like someone’s been crying,” Maximus spoke, not looking quite amused. “What’s wrong? Remembering last night?” He took off his watch, putting it on the table before walking toward me.

Leonardo, on the other hand, stood at the doorway with a sceptical look on his face as he observed me—or something on my face.

Wait, was he looking at—

Before I could figure it out, Maximus grabbed my jaw, tilting my face to meet his eye. I pressed my legs against the foot of the bed, trying to back away, but his hand slipped around my waist, preventing me from moving an inch.

An impassive expression settled on his face as his thumb brushed over the cut on my cheek, causing a hiss to tear from my mouth.

Oh no, he noticed the cut.

“Who did this to you?” Maximus's voice was low and composed, scaring me even more.

“No one…” I shook my head, “I just—“

“Stop making fucking excuses and tell me who the hell did this to you?” Maximus’s grip on my waist tightened, his eyes darkened, and I couldn't tell if it was from rage or something else.

Was he angry because I wasn't telling him the truth?

“Isn’t it obvious? Who could be more bothered by the sudden announcement that you and I are taking her as our mate?” Leonardo asked from the doorway, his voice cold, lacking the usual mockery.

What was up with them? Did Alaric say something strange to them?

Maximus's jaw clenched as he looked at the cut, veins standing out, his eyes darkening further while his breathing picked up a pace.

Fuck no! He was angry!

“Max….”

“That bitch….” He muttered under his breath, “How dare she touch what’s ours!”

“I should be more angry, shouldn’t I?” Leonardo finally walked inside the room, sounding equally pissed. Unlike earlier, he seemed more in control of himself. “Your damn sidekick decided to step in for no reason.” Leonardo grabbed my wrist and pulled me close, brushing his fingers over the red marks of my mother’s fingertips right above the cut. “She marked this beautiful face with her mark… where there should have been our marks only.”

Sidekick? What the hell were they thinking?!

I couldn’t even wrap my head around it.

“Leo, it’s not what you think,” I breathed out. “Listen to me, please. I—”

“You what? You bumped into someone or fell, and magically got these marks on you?” Leonardo seethed with anger. “Do not dare to lie, Maya! We've had enough of your bullshit already.”

“Let’s not waste time and get going,” Maximus said, his tone sinister, “Someone needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Guys, no… it’s not what you think. No one did this to me. It’s actually—”

Maximus completely ignored me as he stormed out of the room.

“Leo, please lis—“

Leonardo also stormed out of the room without bothering to spare me another glance, equally fuming like Maximus.

Shit!