Maximus

I inhaled deeply, savoring the acrid taste of the smoke as it clawed at my senses, a cruel reminder that the impending torment I envisioned would be far less bitter than the smoldering resentment within me.

How dare that bitch touch what belonged to me? She’d fucking regret it. I’d make sure she regretted her own existence and she would beg for the mercy she'd never receive.

"I've warned you time and again, Max. Never let others have a turn with your playthings," Leonardo's words slithered out, his irritation evident as he ignited a cigarette, “But you ignored me. The bitches we keep for our amusement—always keep them in line, Max. So how did this one slip through your fingers? Have you seen the fucking fingerprints on Maya's face? Her fingerprints stained that skin, and that cut, don’t you fucking think only we should be the ones creating such details?”

"I had her under control, Leo. I made it crystal clear she'd never lay a hand on her—she was confined to mere words. I didn't see this coming at all because, as you and I both know, that bitch never stood a chance against Maya. How could I even fucking think that a low-life stupid whore would pose a threat?" I snarled, accelerating the car to its limits, my fury escalating with every passing moment.

Camila had committed a grave mistake....

Reducing her to mere ashes wouldn’t suffice and ripping her to shreds would still not be enough. And the truth was, I couldn't fucking kill her.

Lord, give me strength to hold back!

"We're systematically breaking Maya, brother. Destroying her strength both emotionally and physically. With each passing day, she will become more vulnerable, easier prey for anyone with ill intentions," Leonardo sneered bitterly, a cynical laughter escaping his lips. "But we can't let just anyone exploit her weakness. To subject her to the worst, it has to come from us. You and I, we'll fuck other women like we always had, let them insult her, but physical harm? That privilege is reserved for us. None is allowed to touch her. We're the ones who will shatter her. Completely and flawlessly. We’ll see her break and only we should be the ones to be allowed such pleasure.”

He was right.

Only we should be the one to break her—to witness her unravel and grapple to reconstruct herself. Struggling to find the missing pieces and never succeed. We’d be the reason behind her tears, her anguished cries, those moments when the contemplation of self-destruction mirrored the path Mom had taken.

It’d be immensely satisfying to witness her fall apart, the most exquisite pleasure this world could offer.

And by attempting to break her today, Camila had unwittingly dug her own grave. I knew exactly where to find that bitch. I knew precisely how to drag her here and show her her rightful place.

Fate spared us a lengthy drive. I pulled the car to a stop outside the club.

As expected, she stood in line.

Rolling down the window, her eyes caught ours, a smile playing on her lips. She stashed her phone away, ending whatever conversation she was having with some other guy. I'd had seen her texts before but chosen to act oblivious—I had no fucking desire for her in my life.

Yet, she harbored illusions of being the Luna. That misguided belief led her to betray Maya, allowing me to fuck her every night.

She wasn't innocent, she had always been fucking other guys. When I first fucked her, she wasn't a naive virgin. And she hadn't stopped her liaisons with other men, even after meeting me.

"Babe!" Camila ran over as I got out, Leonardo staying put inside. I understood why; someone needed to keep a grip on things, preventing a murder that could cost us our positions.

"What a surprise! Are you here for my birthday party?" Her annoying heels echoed as she hugged me, putting on a show for her friends.

Today was her birthday? Well, then this was actually going to be a surprise for her.

"No, that's certainly not my intention," I chuckled, the laughter void of humor, taking a drag. The thought crossed my mind—should I just end her now and deal with the disposal later? It's not like anyone would bother to intervene. “But instead, I am here to teach you a lesson.”

"What?" Confusion clouded her face.

The audacity of this woman to feign innocence, fully aware of what she did.

Smirking, I slowly seized her jaw, my grip intensifying as she cried out in pain, attempting to pull away. "Alpha... what are you doing?"

"You really don't know what I'm doing, Camila?" I chuckled, preventing her retreat by placing a hand behind her waist, even though the proximity repulsed me, “I'm trying to ensure something sinks into that awfully stupid head of yours... can't you get it?"

Tears welled in her eyes as her jaw began to strain under my hold, my nails digging into her skin—capable of drawing blood at any moment, and it would happen sooner rather than later.

"Alpha, I don't understand. Please let me go," she whimpered, attempting to retreat.

"How the fuck do you still not understand, huh?" Unable to restrain myself any longer, I gripped the back of her head and slammed her against the car. Her forehead collided with the unforgiving surface, drawing blood, and she cried out in pain. "You dare to touch what's mine, and you still don't fucking comprehend what you've done?" I seized a fistful of her hair, forcing her to look at me. This time, my nails dug into her skin, drawing blood.

Perfect...

A crowd of young pack members watched, but none dared to intervene or utter a word. These students wouldn't risk mentioning anything to their parents. The look on their faces said it wouldn't happen.

"Alpha, believe me, I didn't do anything," she stuttered, fear evident in her orbs. "Please let me go."

"If you didn't do anything, then how the hell do those fingerprints end up on our mate's cheek? How is there a cut on her face?" It took all my strength not to lose control and strike her then and there, “Clearly, no one would be more bothered by the fact that Leonardo and I are accepting Maya as our mate, would there be?"

"Maya is your and Alpha Leonardo’s mate?" she exclaimed, sounding utterly bewildered, “Mate?"

"Max, you better shut her act up, or I'm going to lose my shit," Leonardo muttered from inside the car, equally agitated.

My jaw clenched, my breaths became shallow, and I gripped my fist tightly at my side.

Kill her— that's what my instincts screamed, but I knew I couldn't.

"Yes, she fucking is, and you damn well made a mistake by hitting her!" I seized her throat, cutting off her air supply. Her face turned blue as she struggled to breathe, gasping for air.

"I am sorry, Alpha! But I..." She struggled to speak. "I didn't hit her recently. It was in the beginning, when you and I got together, but that was it. I never hit her again."

This woman had to be kidding me.

She dared to harm her behind my fucking back!

"You fucking dared to hit her even before?!” I was losing control, my grip on her throat tightening, eyes darkening as my hunter instincts urged me to tear her to shreds, and I gave into it… “You know what, Camila?" I chuckled darkly. "I hadn't planned on killing you, but you just dug your own grave."

"Alpha, please no!" Horror widened her eyes.

The claws on my left hand extended, ready to plunge into her heart. But just as I was about to act on my violent impulse, Leonardo rushed to my side, yanking me away from Camila.

"Have you lost your fucking mind? Father will cancel everything if we commit murder within the pack!" he exclaimed.

"I don't fucking care. I will kill this bitch today—" I tried to advance toward Camila, who greedily sucked in air, sitting on the ground with her face smeared with blood from the cut on her forehead and my claw marks on her cheeks.

"Even I want to kill her, but you know we can't just do that. You can't give Morgana a chance to take it up with our father and ruin everything. He won't hesitate to hand the position to his nephews!" Leonardo hissed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

This was probably the only time I hated the fact that my brother was right.

"Fuck this!" I kicked the jeep, leaving an instant dent on the surface.

"Get a hold of yourself, Max. I'll take care of the rest.”

"She and I aren't done yet..." My eyes fixed on Camila, who cowered away, pressing herself against the jeep. I craved to see more marks on her skin and face. I wanted to destroy her.

Nobody touches what's mine. None.

"I know, but trust me, I have better ways than you," he chuckled, glancing back at that woman, a smirk playing on his lips. I noticed the lighter in his hand.

Well... I could leave it to him then.

"Okay, but make sure she never dares to step close to Maya ever again." I turned and walked inside the club. The crowd parted, as did the guards.